Macro Lens For D40

adot45

Senior Member
My old camera is supposed to arrive tomorrow which is fine because I'm an old guy. It just has the two basic kit lenses included with it and I'm trying to find a macro lens for it. I just want to make sure I'm looking for the correct mount. I can only use AF-S DX or AF-I mounts correct? (manual is 2006) Lenses just designated "for Nikon Auto Focus" (ebay) aren't going to do it right? Or lenses that are AF XXmm/1.4D would not work either correct? My intention is to retain the auto functions, at least for now...manual stuff can come after I leave the shallow end of the pool. I have to say I'm getting amped up about getting back into photography. Thanks for putting up with my questions.
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
You will most likley find its a FX lens you get,if you camera is like the D70 then the early sigma 105 AF would be a good buy,it would use the motor in your camera for focusing.
 

adot45

Senior Member
Hi Mike I'm sure I read that the D40's focusing motor(s) are in the lenses.......I will have to find that info and re read it again, I might have that very important fact wrong.
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
Your right it would need AFS lenses to AF but i dont think there are any DX macro lenses so you would need FX,it will still fit but act like a slightly longer lens,this could be better for macro,giving you more distance from the subject.
 

adot45

Senior Member
Ah..Thanks for clearing that up for me.......I realize that this is old technology, and things change rapidly in a lot of fields. Computer, phone and camera fields especially.
 

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
As much as I've used my Sigma 105 macro lens without vibration control, I don't think I remember using the auto-focus. Macro's limited depth of field is better controlled wit manual focus. So, if I was you, I'd just go with what your budget allows. Even if you're old, you might find that you will buy a newer camera in the future and then it probably would have a focusing motor in the camera.
 

adot45

Senior Member
As much as I've used my Sigma 105 macro lens without vibration control, I don't think I remember using the auto-focus. Macro's limited depth of field is better controlled wit manual focus. So, if I was you, I'd just go with what your budget allows. Even if you're old, you might find that you will buy a newer camera in the future and then it probably would have a focusing motor in the camera.

I agree Marcel, focusing manually is the way to go....my concern was with exposure control. I'm getting this for a copy stand and would be using the same lighting all the time so I imagine once I got that dialed in I'd be pretty much set. Still wondering about what macro lens to look for though.
Thanks for your response.
 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
Actually a Nikkor 60mm 2.8D would be an excellent lens for what you want. The D series lenses won't auto-focus because there's no focus motor in either the D series lenses or YOUR D40 body... but the light metering will work fine...the focal length of 60mm is perfect for document copy work... and is frequently used in purpose-built copy systems.
 

adot45

Senior Member
Thank You Fred for your post...in reading about this lens it seems like just the thing. I may try extension tubes or something for a time while I budget for that lens. That will give me some time to think it over as well. Thanks again for posting.
 

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
I agree Marcel, focusing manually is the way to go....my concern was with exposure control. I'm getting this for a copy stand and would be using the same lighting all the time so I imagine once I got that dialed in I'd be pretty much set. Still wondering about what macro lens to look for though.
Thanks for your response.
If you could get an older 55 macro, it probably would be the best for a copy stand. Or a newer 40 sf-s. With the crop factor, for copying I'd probably try to go with the 40 since it would be equivalent to a 60 mm on a full frame (FX).
 

adot45

Senior Member
I appreciate your suggestions Marcel and thought I would clarify my intent. What I'm really interested in doing is taking full frame coin close ups. I have a USB microscope for getting really close, like just taking the mint mark but it doesn't have the quality I'd like for a nice close up picture of a quarter or nickel. When you say older 55 are you speaking of the 55's say for an old Photomic T, like Nikkor or Nikkor-S?
 

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
I appreciate your suggestions Marcel and thought I would clarify my intent. What I'm really interested in doing is taking full frame coin close ups. I have a USB microscope for getting really close, like just taking the mint mark but it doesn't have the quality I'd like for a nice close up picture of a quarter or nickel. When you say older 55 are you speaking of the 55's say for an old Photomic T, like Nikkor or Nikkor-S?
Yes, that's the one.
 
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