 Sharon Day |
Macro equipment question Does anyone know of a good lens that has a macro mode? I have a Sigma 70-300 APO lens as well as a Nikon 105mm macro. The Sigma does 1:2 and in some situations I am able to get better DOF (deeper) than with my Nikon. I'd like to get a better lens than the Sigma. While it's a fun lens to play around with it doesn't produce the same quality photos as a more expensive lens. Thanks!
|
|
|
|
||
|
robert G. Fately |
Sharon, your best bet would probably be to get a dedicated macro lens, perhaps a longer focal length than the 105 you have already. Nikon used to make the only zoom macro - the 70-180 Micro Nikkor (actually, I believe it's still made and sold in Japan but it's not available for sale new in the US market any longer). This puppy gets rave reviews, and costs in the neighborhood of $1200. There are no other true macro zoom lenses. And any lens that gets to "macro" focus distance wll necessarily be compromising in other aspects. The 18-200 Nikkor can focus pretty close, but I don't think would be considered a Macro lens. It is pretty good, considering the optical magic of an 11x zoom ratio as well, but again does not compare to a lens designed for close-up work.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Sharon Day |
Thanks, Bob! Focusing to half life size would be fine since I have the Nikon 105mm macro for 1:1 work. I've been considering the 18-200. I have heard it has zoom creep. I'm hoping if I wait a while Nikon will do something about that. I would love to have that lens but I hate lens creep.
|
|
|
|
||
|
robert G. Fately |
The 18-200 does indeed have zoom creep - which is quite annoying if your camera is mounted on a tripod and is pointed downwards at the subject. I have heard rumors that Nikon has taken the 18-200 off the market until they fix the creep, but who really knows if that's true? Nevertheless, while the 18-200 is very good (I really like mine, though I've only had it for a month now) and is an excellent all-purpose optic, I have no plans of getting rid of my macro lenses as they simply have better imagery in close-up shooting.
|
|
|
|
||
|
This old forum is now archived. Use improved Forum here
Report this Thread |
||