60mm f/2.8 Micro Nikkor for the DX camera D90?

Mike D90

Senior Member
I am thinking about snatching up one of these used on eBay and I wonder if the 60mm is the right choice for my DX camera D90? Should I go for the 40mm instead or even go older and get the 55mm f/2.8 Micro manual focus?
 

RON_RIP

Senior Member
I think the 60 will do well on your D90. The 55 would probably be alright also since most macro shooters like to use manual focus.
 
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Moab Man

Senior Member
Get the 60mm. I recently did some shooting with Wendy's 60mm and was impressed and loved the sharpness. I like it better than the 40mm (which I have).
 

ShootRaw

Senior Member
If you want to shoot insects, the 40mm is not the way to go..If you want a sharp as hell prime and you don't own the 35mm 1,8g..Then get it..This could be used for street photog and in general macro shots of rings, cuff links, eyes, details etc...
 

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
If I'm allowed to give you advice Mike, it would be to wait, save up a little more and get a 105 macro. The shorter lenses are good and sharp, but, and it is a huge BUT, if you want to fill the frame with your subject, you'll have to get so close that the lens itself will be cutting your light. And/or you will scare the little bugs away. I bought the Sigma 105 and I don't think I would even think of trying macro shots with a shorter lens.

So, if if was me, I'd wait until you find the right lens, and to me, anything below 90mm is just too short.
 

Mike D90

Senior Member
If I'm allowed to give you advice Mike, it would be to wait, save up a little more and get a 105 macro. The shorter lenses are good and sharp, but, and it is a huge BUT, if you want to fill the frame with your subject, you'll have to get so close that the lens itself will be cutting your light. And/or you will scare the little bugs away. I bought the Sigma 105 and I don't think I would even think of trying macro shots with a shorter lens.

So, if if was me, I'd wait until you find the right lens, and to me, anything below 90mm is just too short.

I am in that same frame of mind myself but I was asking about the 60mm due to DX crop factor. But, I guess that doesn't change the focus distance of the lens itself and it would still be short.
 

Mike D90

Senior Member
I might need to be a little more clear on my wishes here. I thought about what I want and it really isn't macro. I want to be able to focus pretty close and fill the finder with the image and not necesarily be 1:1 or greater.

I looked at a lens I think I want to buy instead. Nikon AF-Nikkor 28-105mm "D" lens with macro setting. Supposedly very sharp and close focusing.
 

Ironwood

Senior Member
I have seen the older Tamron 90 macro going pretty cheap (2nd hand) By all reports it is a great lens. Also have a look for a 2nd hand Tokina 100 macro.
 

aroy

Senior Member
Even I think that for shooting outside studio longer focal lengths give you more space to shoot. 105mm is a very versatile lens. Another thing is that most of macro shoots need manual focusing to get it just right and AF does not help, so get a MF lense for macros. I got the 105mm F2.8 AIS MF lense from KEH and it is excellent - robust build, excellent optics and no electronics to go bad. That lense coupled with a few non-AF extension tubes (which are quite inexpensive) will get you macros from 1:1 to 10:1 with plenty of working space between the lense and the object.
 

Scott Murray

Senior Member
I have seen the older Tamron 90 macro going pretty cheap (2nd hand) By all reports it is a great lens. Also have a look for a 2nd hand Tokina 100 macro.
Thats the one I use and if you know how to light your subject and manual focus then you get some great shots.
 

Scott Murray

Senior Member
I might need to be a little more clear on my wishes here. I thought about what I want and it really isn't macro. I want to be able to focus pretty close and fill the finder with the image and not necesarily be 1:1 or greater.

I looked at a lens I think I want to buy instead. Nikon AF-Nikkor 28-105mm "D" lens with macro setting. Supposedly very sharp and close focusing.
You know the Raynox DCR-250 close up filter will allow your other lenses to focus closer.

dcr-150size.jpg
 
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