what lens should i buy in addition to kit lens for macro / potrait ?

[cws77]

Trying to learn macro or potrait photography and looking to buy a lens for either macro or portrait (for nikon d7000)
with budget of only around $600 Any suggestions as to what should i buy ,or with the budget is it even possible?

(read somewhere that macro lens can be use for potrait, not sure if its true...)

Kindly advise any recommendation.

Thanks in advance and sorry if I asked a stupid question!

 

[spree86]

Trying to learn macro or potrait photography and looking to buy a lens for either macro or portrait (for nikon d7000)
with budget of only around $600 Any suggestions as to what should i buy ,or with the budget is it even possible?

(read somewhere that macro lens can be use for potrait, not sure if its true...)

Kindly advise any recommendation.

Thanks in advance and sorry if I asked a stupid question!

Yup, its totally possible. The Tamron 90mm macro can be used for both and it costs around $540 new, cheaper if you buy it 2nd-hand

 

[crystal1993]

Yes a macro lens can be used for portrait, in fact a kit lens can be used for portrait as well. Not familiar with nikon lenses so can't help you there, however with your budget might be a lil hard i guess.

 

[Elite77]

You may wanna try the 50mm F1.8D for potrait. It will give u very nice bokeh with good working distance. U can get it 2nd hand around $130-150 or new around $200. And Tamron 90mm with the extra budget of $500 for macro.

 

[cws77]

Thanks spree86, crystal1993 and Elite77!!!

 

[fmeeran]

Nikkor 60mm micro.
You can get it for ~600 sgd at BnS.

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/thre...2.8-Micro-with-Hoya-HMC-Filter?highlight=60mm

 

[fmeeran]

You may wanna try the 50mm F1.8D for potrait. It will give u very nice bokeh with good working distance. U can get it 2nd hand around $130-150 or new around $200. And Tamron 90mm with the extra budget of $500 for macro.

50mm 1.8D can be quite good for macro with an extension tube.

 

[gundamseed84]

Digirev seems to favour the new 50mm f1.8G over the 'D' version. Not a Nikon user so I am not sure whether those AF extension tube can stop down aperture of the 'G' lens. I know Canon's can. AF extension tube is being sold at $50+ or $70+ through ebay depending on the build quality. The 'D' version has the aperture ring so stopping down can be done manually.

However you must be clear what is the focal length you are comfortable with for portraits. To some, using 90mm on crop body might be too tight for portraits.

 

[DM101]

Nikkor 60mm micro.
You can get it for ~600 sgd at BnS.

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/thre...2.8-Micro-with-Hoya-HMC-Filter?highlight=60mm

This LENS no VR... I would not recommend it

 

[Cowseye]

This LENS no VR... I would not recommend it

VR won't help u that much in a macro shoot.

 

[D-Wade]

VR won't help u that much in a macro shoot.

agree, tamron 90mm doesn't have VC as well right?

 

[luckyorange]

hmm maybe ts can try af 50mm 1.8d with raynox? cheap and good...

you can try getting a used af 50mm and raynox will cost around $230-$250? and if u dont like it u can sell it off without losing much..

and with the $350 u can get a 35mm too (if you want), or you can just save the $350 for a better lens =)

 

[SkyStrike]

VR won't help u that much in a macro shoot.

Really ar....I tot it will help in reducing handshake :bsmilie:

*still trying to learn macro...*

hmm maybe ts can try af 50mm 1.8d with raynox? cheap and good...

you can try getting a used af 50mm and raynox will cost around $230-$250? and if u dont like it u can sell it off without losing much..

and with the $350 u can get a 35mm too (if you want), or you can just save the $350 for a better lens =)

If getting the Raynox, and also to be used on ~50mm, get the Raynox 250. Anything > 100mm, I recommend Raynox 150 instead...

 

[rhino123]

A cheaper alternative would be to get a 50mm prime lens for portrait and a add-on Raynox 250 (around $2xx) which you can fit to your kit lens or 50mm lens. This would be the cheapest combination I can think of and it works wonders. After you have practice enough (the techniques, etc), then move on to a dedicated macro lens.

Also, please put away some of your budget for a good external flash that is very useful for both macro and portrait photography.

 

[SkyStrike]

A cheaper alternative would be to get a 50mm prime lens for portrait and a add-on Raynox 250 (around $2xx) which you can fit to your kit lens or 50mm lens. This would be the cheapest combination I can think of and it works wonders. After you have practice enough (the techniques, etc), then move on to a dedicated macro lens.

Also, please put away some of your budget for a good external flash that is very useful for both macro and portrait photography.

The separate cost of the Raynox is $125: http://www.mcgill.com.sg/shop/product_info.php?products_id=121

 

[spree86]

This LENS no VR... I would not recommend it

Like what others said, VR is not necessary for macro. Make me curious though, so you would not recommend any lens that has no VR?

 

[ZerocoolAstra]

Like what others said, VR is not necessary for macro. Make me curious though, so you would not recommend any lens that has no VR?

I heard that with VR, even during earthquake can get super-sharp images!


seriously though, lens stabilisation is not the be-all-and-end-all of lens technology. It's certainly beneficial at times, though perhaps users have come to rely on it as a replacement for good technique.
And lens manufacturers seem to be catering to this demand as well, putting stabilisation into ultra-wides (cue Nikkor 16-35VR) :dunno:

 

[Sgdevilzz]

This LENS no VR... I would not recommend it

As long as you've got good lighting, VR is not necessary.

 

[rhino123]

I shoot macro alot of time with my 100mm macro lens (without IS) and still get sharp pics. It boils down alot to your techniques.

 

[Cowseye]

VR only helps with situation when u shift the lens left right up or down while keeping your lens in the same focal plane. Once you start to jerk forward or backward, which ppl tends to do this cha cha when shooting macro, VR is next to useless.