Good affordable macro lens for starters

[bigone5500]

I'd like to know what a good affordable macro lens for someone who doesn't have one would be. The lens should be compatible with the Nikon D60.

Thanks!

[firebox40dash5]

How important is it to you to get a Nikon lens vs. a Sigma or other 3rd party lens? Does it matter to you if the AF works with your D60, or if the lens has AF at all?

If both answers are yes, then you only have a few choices- the 60mm f/2.8, the 85mm VR f/3.5 DX, or the 105mm VR f/2.8. 'Affordable' pretty much rules out the last one. The first two are practically the same price- the 85mm adds 25mm of focal length (obviously), and VR, but loses 2/3 of a stop of aperture, and it is a DX lens, so it wouldn't work on an FX body, or with film, if that matters. I'll tell you later this week if it's well made and performs well, once the UPS man drops mine off.

If you don't mind losing AF (with your D60, at least), you could get the older 60mm or 105mm AF-D, if you don't mind a used lens. The 60mm AF-D new isn't much less than the AF-S version, so probably not worth it. There are also more 3rd party macro lenses available if you're willing to focus manually.

[bigone5500]

Autofocus is nice, but I am willing to use manual focus. I'd like to stay with Nikon lenses. I'm not really worried about the VR feature. Usually when I'm taking closeups, I'm braced against something that is sturdy or I have a tripod/monopod.

What 3rd party brand of lens is good for beginners? (if that makes sense)

I just looked at this lens: http://imaging.nikon.com/products/im..._28g/index.htm and really like what I see.

[vandergus]

If you're just looking to play around with macro a little bit to see if you like it, you could check out an old manual focus lens like the 55mm f3.5. You'll have to set the exposure manually (i.e. operate in "M" mode), but optically, it's still a fantastic lens and can be had for under $100. But if you see yourself doing it a lot in the future, you might just want to go ahead and invest in something like firebox suggested.

If you like the Nikon 60mm f2.8, you could also check out the Tamron 60mm f2 macro. You gain a stop of aperture (not really useful for macro bit it is for other stuff) but lose the ability to use it on a full frame camera (DX only). And it will autofocus on the D60. It also has more working distance than the Nikon. You'll be about 4" from you're subject at the highest magnification with the Tamron vs only 2" with the Nikon.

[bigone5500]

Originally Posted by vandergus

You'll be about 4" from you're subject at the highest magnification with the Tamron vs only 2" with the Nikon.

So the farther away from the subject with a macro lens, the better? I don't quite understand macro lenses.

[vandergus]

It just makes it easier to photograph some subjects like skittish bugs or butterflies. You get too close and they bugger off. Also, if you're trying to light the subject with a flash or something, it's easier to do without the lens in the way.