Fisheye and macro lens recommendatiions for 5100

Mediaman09

Senior Member
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, I am looking to soon purchase the following leses for my 5100:
- a fish eye lens
- a macro lenes for closeups

This is for non-professional hobbyist use. My budget is up to $1500 in TOTAL.

Some initial questions -

1) NIKON - Should I be sticking with, or staying away from Nikon lenses ( Nikon would be my natiural preference)

2) AUTOFOCUS- Depending on the choice, is having no autofocus a problem in practice?

3) FISHEYE - Is there a specfic FISH-EYE lens I should look at, eg :
  • Nikon Fisheye AF Nikkor 16mm f/2.8D Autofocus Lens
  • Nikon 10.5mm f/2.8G ED DX Fisheye Nikkor Lens

4) MACRO - Is there a specfic MACRO lens I should look at , eg :
  • Nikon AF-S Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G ED Macro Autofocus Lens
  • Nikon AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/3.5G ED VR Lens
  • Nikon AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED Lens
 

stmv

Senior Member
you can burn thru 1500 dollars in no time, for the 5100, guess I would recomend sticking with the 60mm micro G.. and hear that lens is really nice (I have the older D version).

Fisheye often adds a ton of distortion, really heard with a DX lens, I would say start with ultra wide angle like 10-20,, Nikkon has a lens, or sigma. I have the sigma 10-20, do like, but not the same quality as the Nikkor lens.

some after market fisheyes. Rokinon 8mm is low price, and might be fun to play with, and that would translate to 12 mm which is on the edge of fisheye.

On FX, I consider down to 14 mm to be ultra wide angle,

and then below that getting into the fisheye world, I have a 8mm, but that creates the circle, and well, limited applications (but so much fun).
 

Dave_W

The Dude
I can't speak much on fish-eye lenses but I do know a bit about macros. For the money, the 60mm f/2.8D is an exceptional deal for the price. The 105mm may have slightly better IQ but it's not 2x better like the price tag is.
 

gqtuazon

Gear Head
Re: Fisheye. Your only Nikon option that will AF with your camera is the Nikon 10.5 mm f2.8DX lens. The 16mm f2.8D will not AF with your camera but will work using MF.

Macro lens: Depending on what you intend to shoot but the lenses that you've listed are all good. I own the 105mm f2.8 VR and it is a very nice lens.
 

Mediaman09

Senior Member
Thanks for helping me narrow down the field. Almost there.

1) On the FISHEYE, re the 10.5mm recommendation (Ref: Nikon 10.5mm f/2.8G ED DX Fisheye Nikkor Lens 2148 B&H Photo ) I note this lens is AF-S/ED/DX but does not have VR. Not sure it it even avaiable in VR. I assume I need not be concerned given the fisheye is not exactly an 'action' lens.

2) on the MACRO, what disinguishes these two ( both same price):
a) NIKON 60MM F2.8 MICRO D
Nikon AF-S Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G ED Macro Autofocus Lens 2177
Minimum focussing distance - 8.66" (0.22 m

b) NIKON MICRO 85MM F3.5 ED VR DX LENS
Nikon AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/3.5G ED VR Lens 2190 B&H Photo
Its AF-S/ED/DX/VR
Minimum focussing distance - 11.25 " (0.286m)

As with my other current/planned new lenses, dont I want AF-S/ED/DX/VR ?


3) For my own reference , I note a basic 18-55mm lens also has a minimum focussing distance in the 11" ranges.. I had naively thought that close up macro lens would get me much closer. What obvious fact am I missing?
 

gqtuazon

Gear Head
There are no lenses that offers VR with Nikon fisheye lenses. It is recommended that VR is NOT used if you are using a shutter speed above 1/320 or when using a tripod. VR does not matter if your subject is moving such as in sports application. VR works best when hand holding using slower shutter speed such as 1/80 or lower in order to lower your ISO.

Sample picture using the Nikon 10.5mm

Nikon 10.5 f2.8 fisheye by gqtuazon, on Flickr



For normal lenses, you can take pictures of flowers as an example like this one below.


Cherry blossoms 2 by gqtuazon, on Flickr

With a macro lens, you can get extremely close but you'll need a tripod to get the best results.

Nikon 105mm f2.8 VR macro lens


D800E purple rose by gqtuazon, on Flickr
 

Mediaman09

Senior Member
So, half my issues are now solved...i just unwrapped a birthday present from my sneaky wife,,,and its a NIKON 105MM 2.8 MICRO AF-S VR . Haven't yet opened the box, but this is pretty exciting!

Curious question..
My 18-200mm lens is an AF-S/ED/VR/DX.
The 105 mm macro is AF-S/ED/VR/N.
What's the difference between DX and N?

 

gusflores

Senior Member
Congratulation on your New 105mm. Don't know about the N. I Have the AF-S VR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED Lens. Very good lens, deliver razar-sharp images. sharper pictures all the way.
 

Mediaman09

Senior Member
Okay, per How to Read Your NIKKOR Lens Barrel from Nikon Photography Tips Techniques and Tutorials | Nikon Learn and Explore .
  • To the right of the distance indicator window is the letter N, meaning the lens has Nikon's Nano Crystal Coat, an incredibly effective anti-reflective coating.
  • the letters DX next to the Nikon name, which means this lens is optimized for cameras with a DX-format sensor—the D300S or D7000, for instance. If you don't see DX, then the lens is optimized for FX-format cameras.

Hmmm, so as the 5100 is a DX formatted camera, should I be concerend that is 105 mm lens is NOT optimized for a DX-format ??

A lens optimized for DX formatted camearas, sounds like there is some disadvantage in buying an FX lens vs DX lens - What is it?


If I went pure DX, I would go fo the 85mm macro (less expensve, VRII ,lighter, though f3.5).
 
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Mediaman09

Senior Member
Related question .... have I got this right?

100mm lens on conventional SLR = 100 mm in 35mm format

100mm FX lens on FX camera = 100 mm in 35 mm format
100mm FX lens on DX camera = 167 mm in 35 mm format

100mm DX lens on FX camera = not compatible
100mm DX lens on DX camera = 167 mm in 35 mm format
 

§am

Senior Member
Related question .... have I got this right?

100mm lens on conventional SLR = 100 mm in 35mm format
Correct

100mm FX lens on FX camera = 100 mm in 35 mm format
Correct

100mm FX lens on DX camera = 167 mm in 35 mm format
Incorrect - Nikon has a 1.5x crop factor, so this would be a 150mm in 35mm format

100mm DX lens on FX camera = not compatible
Incorrect - the FX camera will step down to DX sensor size so you will get a cropped picture, and at a lower resolution (assuming the FX camera/sensor is capable of doing so)

100mm DX lens on DX camera = 167 mm in 35 mm format
Incorrect - Nikon has a 1.5x crop factor, so this would be a 150mm in 35mm format

I've added answers in the quote above
 

Dave_W

The Dude

Hmmm, so as the 5100 is a DX formatted camera, should I be concerend that is 105 mm lens is NOT optimized for a DX-format ??

A lens optimized for DX formatted camearas, sounds like there is some disadvantage in buying an FX lens vs DX lens - What is it?

Interestingly, FX lenses perform best on DX sensor cameras. Why? Because the DX sensor is only recording light coming from the "sweet spot" section of the lens and thus your images contain little to no vignetting as well as little to no barreling or pinchushing.
 

Mediaman09

Senior Member
Thank you for the corrections re equivalent focal length.

I updated the list accordingly...but have some new questions re (4) and (6) ...

1) 100mm lens on conventional SLR = 100 mm in 35mm format
2) 100mm FX lens on FX camera = 100 mm in 35 mm format
3) 100mm FX lens on DX camera = 150 mm in 35 mm format ( Nikon has a 1.5x crop factor)
4) 100mm DX lens on FX camera = 66 mm ?? ( FX camera will step down to DX sensor size so you will get a cropped picture, and at a lower resolution)
5) 100mm DX lens on DX camera = 150 mm in 35 mm format ( Nikon has a 1.5x crop factor
6) 100mm Legacy F-mount lens on a DX camera = ?? mm. For example I have an old 28 mm wide angle
Nikkor f2.8 No. 486439. What is the equivalent focal length on the 5100?
 

Dave_W

The Dude
4 - a 100mm DX lens on an FX will be 100mm
5 - I do not believe a DX lens will work very well on a 35mm camera. If it does I suspect you will actually see the areas not covered in the DX lens.
6 - It will also have the same effect as an FX lens on a DX camera with a crop value of 1.5. So your 28mm lens will have the same field of view as a 42mm lens.

Keep in mind that a DX camera does not increase the focal length of a lens. We typically referring to a 100mm becoming a 150mm but in fact it just crops out the sides of the image to give the equivalent view that a 150mm lens on an FX camera body would give.
 

Mediaman09

Senior Member
So, if I understand this correctly (what are the chances !! ... ANY lens that I put on my 5100, be it legacy, DX or FX, will have a focal length/field of view as stated on the lens ! And if I interchange them all I will see no difference... ie 100mm DX lens, 100mm FX lens or 100 mm legacy lens will all look the same on my 5100....and all three will look the same as what a 150mm lens would like on an FX camera. Correct? Almost?

With all these 1.5 multipliers, I had initially (incorrectly) assumed that my new 18mm-200 lens would have the same 'wide angle' view my old legacy 28mm lens ( eg 18 x 1.5 = 27 m which close to 28mm). But in fact, the old 28 mm lens also gets the 1.5 factor as its equivalent to 42mm !. Indeed when I interchange both lenses, the new 18mm is a much wider angle than the old 28mm (ie I am essentially comparing 27 mm to 42mm).

The point being that, if I got this right (and at the risk of oversimplifying) , I need not be concerned about calculating equivalent focal lengths if I have a mix of DX, FX and legacy lenses ; they will all behave as expected, ie my new 18mm zoom is that much wider than my old legacy 28mm, which is that much wider than my old 43-86 zoom, which is that wider than my new 105 FX macro.
 
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Dave_W

The Dude
By gummy...I think you've got it!! Nothing you wrote can I disagree with - A DX camera treats all lenses the same. It's only FX cameras that makes any changes to a lens, the DX just powers on.
 

Dave_W

The Dude
One thing I would like to add is that an FX lens will perform better on a DX camera than on an FX camera due to the fact the DX imaging cuts out the corners and edges where lenses suffer the most distortion and vignetting. So from my point of view, buying only FX lenses for your DX camera is both good for your IQ and as well as paves the way to move to FX if you ever choose to.
 

Mediaman09

Senior Member
Re: Fisheye and ultra wide angle for 5100 DX

Interestingly, FX lenses perform best on DX sensor cameras. Why? Because the DX sensor is only recording light coming from the "sweet spot" section of the lens and thus your images contain little to no vignetting as well as little to no barreling or pinchushing.

Old thread I started a while back, but still relevant.

A nagging question I have is this - How does one reconcile the statement "DX lenses are optimized for DX cameras", with "FX lenses perform best with the DX sensor"

That is, when choosing a lens for a DX camera, is there a rule of thumb as to whether FX or DX is the wiser lens choice ?


My next lens purchase, will be an ultra wide angle. Should I be looking for DX or FX or does it not matter at all??

(Another purchase after that might be a fisheye for special/distorted effects ; less concerned there as I would likely go with a cheaper nin-Nikon choice. )
 
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