[Hoo Haa]

Have a Nikon D50 & would love to get into Macro, but have a limited budget.

What do people reccomend & any example shots of what can be achieved with the said lens ?

Thanks in advance

[Joe T]

Two choices as far as I see it:

Nikkor 50mm and a set of extension tubes (cheapest, 50mm has lots of other uses)

Sigma 105mm macro (more expensive, but sharper, and generally supposed to be better).

I have a Sigma 105, and I like it.

Some example shots:







I'm not the most experienced macro photographer, and like all types of photography its the photographer not the equipment that counts.

NB: the Tamron 90mm is an alternative to the Sigma.

HTH.

[dod]

I'd agree with Joe on the options available. If you do get tubes make sure they're automatic so you retain metering and aperture control. Otherwise the exposure calculations are a bit time consuming to work out.

[MickB]

Good detail onthose Joe. Any of insects, as I've seen some scary pictures in magazines of these things but not sure if you need really expensive lenses to capture them ?

[Joe T]

Originally Posted by MickB

Good detail onthose Joe. Any of insects, as I've seen some scary pictures in magazines of these things but not sure if you need really expensive lenses to capture them ?

I havent really had a go with insects with this lens.

TBH the 105 is slightly short for insects, you have to get really close!

I actually got some reasonable insect shots with a Sigma 70-300 APO which has a macro function. See here: Macros 17 July 2005

The 70-300 isnt the sharpest lens on the planet, nor is the focusing that great, but it can suffice. Obviously it functions as a good budget telephoto zoom also.

[Hoo Haa]

Thanks Joe & Dod

[northernstar]

I too have the Sigma 105mm macro lens that Joe T mentioned. I can't remember how much i paid for it as I bought it secondhand from fleabay. Here's a recent shot from it:

[Dave]

That dragonfly needs a shave !!! .....look at all those hairs. Great detail there NorthernStar.

Do you use flash as Dod recommends ?....or are you going to treat yourself to one? .....a flash I mean, not a Dod

[MickB]

Great shot Northernstar.

What about extension tubes, or reversing rings for existing lenses. Only read about them but have no idea if any good or not. Can you also get close up filters ?

[silkstone]

If you really want to take your life in your hands you can use the 50mm f/1.8 and an extension tube. I took these a few days ago, using the built-in flash.

Not ideal though - you have to get very close - so I'm thinking of getting the Sigma 150mm macro (with lots of letters after its name ) to avoid getting stung.

[northernstar]

Originally Posted by Dave

That dragonfly needs a shave !!! .....look at all those hairs. Great detail there NorthernStar.

Do you use flash as Dod recommends ?....or are you going to treat yourself to one? .....a flash I mean, not a Dod

Maybe I will treat myself to a Dod
That shot was taken in available daylight, but a flash is on my wishlist.... not for a long time yet though as I've just treated myself to a Sigma 10-20mm lens

[Dave]

Originally Posted by northernstar

...as I've just treated myself to a Sigma 10-20mm lens

Your the girl !!!! Bet you love it. Like the rest of us with that lens did it shock you just how wide it is ? Took a while to get used to it. Stillmakes me laugh at the weird effect you get through the viewfinder when you zoom from 10 -> 20mm

Looking forward to some cracking shots from you with that lens I dare you to use it for the Fortnightly Theme - 3