Macro for D3100

[Poider]

Can someone tell me what is a good macro lens for my Nikon D3100, and at a reasonable price, what numbers do i look for on the lens?
Peter

[ravncat]

The numbers to look for, are almost the same, you still want to know aperture and focal length, but the aperture is a little less important, as you need to stop down quite a bit for more depth of field in alot of macro work.

The new numbers that are important are the reproduction ratio and the working distance.

Reproduction ratio, is the ratio of object size to image size -- so a 1:1 ratio means you are working at life size. Most Purpose designed macro/micro lenses can give you a 1:1 reproduction ratio. (the image of a penny on the sensor would be the same size as an actual penny)

Working distance, is the amount of room between the end of the lens and the subject (and is usually measured at the highest reproduction ratio.) More working distance is good for insects or trying to control lighting - as your camera is farther away from the subject. Less working distance is usually good when you have to work in a very small space - but will often scare insects, and be hard to evenly light your subject - with the camera shadow falling in the way.

In the Nikon realm, with a d3100, if you want autofocus, you want an AF-S type autofocus lens. That leaves you with the usual nikon suspects --

60mm AF-s g (Cheaper - shorter working distance and 60mm fl) (90mm dx effective focal length)

**105mm af-s g (More expensive than the 60 - Longer working distance, 105mm fl) (160ish dx efl)


And then the off brand lenses -

tamron 90mm 2.8 (Which should AF with a d3100) I don`t know anything about it

Tokina 90 macro (Excellent reputation as a Great lens, but I think you lose AF)

Sigma 105 ( good cost balance, good working distance, i think you lose AF)



Otherwise you`re looking at older Nikon Macro/micro lenses where you will certainly lose AF (though, generally with macro, loss of AF isn`t too big a deal, as you`ll probably want to be on a tripod and manually focusing anyway... - but for non macro shooting can be annoying if you rely on AF)


Or you look at:

Close-up filter attatchments (image quality reductions - more issues with flaring and loss of contrast) (Cheap way to use existing lens, and you keep autofocus)

(lose autofocus on the following)
Extension tubes - (No IQ reductions, but lose infinity focus, and generally work best with telephoto lenses)

Lens Reversing - (High reproduction ratios, short working distances, quality depends on lens reversed) (Need lens filter size to mount adapter.

Lens stacking (Need a ring to reverse a second lens attatched to the first) (really high reproduction ratios!

Bellows (Great control over final image, requires a macro - rail for focus adjustments, hard to find, expensive)



Just about any other solution is a combination of these - or a lens I left off the list, as this is not a completely comprehensive post
** is what I would recommend, assuming you want to do general macro work. Though there are many other good options. I would actually recommend the 60mm macro and a copystand if your goal was to make duplicates of artwork / documents / stamps / etc...

[bruceliv]

Also for about $500:

AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR
85mm f/3.5G ED VR

[Poider]

well i guess i am very quickly learning just what an expensive hobby photography really is.
Peter

[ravncat]

It's only really expensive when you start chasing optimal image quality, or go for specializations. (macro is one of those areas)

As I mentioned - you could go with close up filter attatchments, or a reversed 50mm lens, and spend between 30 and 150 dollars .. you'll get macro results, they won't get you results as nice as a dedicated macro lens - but if you're not too picky, they will let you get nice results.

[sr71]

You can also go with a reverse lens adapter with any manufacturs lens. You will lose AF/and will have to meter manually, you could possibly get into that for less than 90 bux..
if you go this way be careful as the distance from the lens element to your subject is gonna be close, but that is the nature of the game.


Wylie