Macro Lens suggestions needed on Nikon D7000

[madanuprashanth]

Hi All,

I would like to buy a macro lens, to shoot flowers, insects, butter flies...etc.

I was wondering incase of insects what would be the best macro lens...

Is the combination of Sigma 150mm + Raynox DCR 250 + Kenko 1.4X TC works better? Can I achieve 2:1 with good sharpness....

Or should I go for Tamron 180mm + Raynox DCR 250...which option should be better? Of course I would like to take potraits as well with good bokeh...

On of my friend adviced me not to go for Tamron 90mm as it doesnt have enough reach, thats why I am thinking about above two lenses. Anybody have good inputs before I spend lots of $$$....

Your help will be appreciated much....Thanks guys for your time...

[Windcharm]

Hi,

I have been using Tamron 90mm with my D7000. I will say it is really value for money and serving me well for both portrait and macro. You may want to go from nikon 100mm macro lens as it is internal focusing and sharp, if your budget allows.

If you are mainly using it for macro you may want to think of how you want to mount your flashes so that it can reach your subject especially if you are doing night macro. It may be a challenge but there may want to hear from those using 180mm for macro. There is however a great advantage of using 180mm is that you do not need to go too close to the insect (more reach as you have mentioned).

180mm may be good for portrait, but it really depend on your shooting style.. I personally like to go closer to the people to have more interaction.

Below are an example of using Tamron 90mm for both portrait and macro.

Portrait Taken with D7000 with Tamron 90mm


Macro taken with D7000, Tamron 90mm and extension tubes


Thanks

With regard
Windcharm

[madanuprashanth]

Hi Windcharm,
Thank you so much for your reply.

The macro shot is awesome. Did you go really close to the objects or little far away?
Because I am expecting the same type of macroshots to buy a good lens. My doubt is that the distance from the pbject to the camera.

When you use extension tubes, we have to move closer to the subject isnt it?. If yes, I want to avaid going very close to the subject.

Let me wait till what others also says, who are using 150mm/180mm lenses...

Thanks for your time bro.

[Cowseye]

No matter how long the lens is, the MFD working distance is abt 30 to 40cm from the sensor. Ur lens probably takes up 10 to 15cm, the rest is really not that much room to play with. Unless u can settle for 1x magnification or lesser, you have pretty much little room to shoot. Of cos this won't matters if the subject is larger.

[oystershred]

Hi! I'm a fellow d7k user
first thing's first, you might wanna check if your camera has an issue with oil droplets splashing on the sensor. mine had and it broke my heart. fortunately, nikon service centre repaired it FOR FREE even though MY WARRANTY EXPIRED. when i called up the service centre (with the mindset to fork out a considerable sum) the lady sounded like she expected this problem, so i think it's a nice thing that nikon is doing

i'm currently using a micro nikkor 105mm f4, with extension tubes (cos the old lenses only go to 0.5 mag). but i'm fine with the working distance
here's one sample shot taken at night



I'd encourage you to grab the tamron 90mm.
but as windcharm said, you should start thinking about how you intend to mount the flashes. i'm using an O bracket attached to a 3rd party tripod collar that nicely fits around my lens/extension tube.

pm me if you'd wanna know more

[madanuprashanth]

Hi Cowseye and Oystershred,

First of all, apologies for the late reply, coz I have been away from Singapore and couldnt get time to visit Clubsnap.

Second, Thanks for your precious replies.

@Oyster, what do you mean by "issue with oil droplets splashing on the sensor", I didnt know anything about this. May be I havent understood. could u please explain.

As you all suggested, I think I should better go with either Tamron 90mm or Nikkor 105mm. I think for startup I will go with Tamron 90mm.

So its all about MFD..which is not far for any lens. I thought 180mm/150mm may have little longer distance MFD. May be I was wrong....

I was explecting the pics like Spiders posted by Oystershred and Flies by Windcharm. I think even with the extension tubes(I havent used yet), I believe I need to go very near to the subject. isnt it?

I was thinking of buy Sigma 150mm f2.8 macro but its over 1000+.

Thanks for your all precious replies.

[spree86]

Hi Cowseye and Oystershred,

First of all, apologies for the late reply, coz I have been away from Singapore and couldnt get time to visit Clubsnap.

Second, Thanks for your precious replies.

@Oyster, what do you mean by "issue with oil droplets splashing on the sensor", I didnt know anything about this. May be I havent understood. could u please explain.

As you all suggested, I think I should better go with either Tamron 90mm or Nikkor 105mm. I think for startup I will go with Tamron 90mm.

So its all about MFD..which is not far for any lens. I thought 180mm/150mm may have little longer distance MFD. May be I was wrong....

I was explecting the pics like Spiders posted by Oystershred and Flies by Windcharm. I think even with the extension tubes(I havent used yet), I believe I need to go very near to the subject. isnt it?

I was thinking of buy Sigma 150mm f2.8 macro but its over 1000+.

Thanks for your all precious replies.

The extension tubes are purely optional. With the D7000, you can do some cropping and still get very good resolution pics. So unless you need extreme close-ups, you don't really need the extension tubes.

[Mr Khaw]

why dont you check out the highly rated and reviewed sigmas? Macro Lenses - SigmaPhoto.com

[Cowseye]

Longer macro lens do have longer MFD, which is ard 10cm more than other shorter ones such as the 105mm VR. However, that's 10 cm, which the lens is longer than the 105mm VR by almost abt 10cm.. So the advantage?? Haha

[blackchua]

Sigma 150 cannot use with raynox unless u use a step down ring. cos sigma 150mm filter size is 72mm and my raynox cant fit in without a stepdown ring.

[fmeeran]

Sigma 150 cannot use with raynox unless u use a step down ring. cos sigma 150mm filter size is 72mm and my raynox cant fit in without a stepdown ring.

Why would you want to use Raynox with a macro lens?

[spree86]

Why would you want to use Raynox with a macro lens?

To get greater magnifications. You can add a Raynox or extension tubes to a macro lens.

[kane-rulez]

To get greater magnifications. You can add a Raynox or extension tubes to a macro lens.

by adding a raynox will the quality be affected or its still within acceptable limits ? also for Dof i have heard some prefer the 105 v/s the 205 any experiences with that ?

[spree86]

by adding a raynox will the quality be affected or its still within acceptable limits ? also for Dof i have heard some prefer the 105 v/s the 205 any experiences with that ?

The image will be of very acceptable quality, Raynox filters are made very well compared to other close-up filters. The one that most macro shooters is using is the 250, I guess for the balance of magnification and working distance. If you are going only for the eye, I wouldn't worry too much about the DOF so much, as the eyes are likely to be more or less on the same focal plane.