Is this a good deal?

Dangerspouse

Senior Member
I've wanted the NIKKOR 105mm Micro AF-S f/2.8 ED VR for a while, but it's way outside my budget. Cruising around Craigslist I found this D model. Can anyone tell me if this is a good deal for this lens, and if they have any positive or negative feelings about it (for my D5500)? Thanks!
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
Does the D have a focus motor in it because with out it it will not AF on the D5500, i know some say you dont need AF for macro but things like this i use AF for, not a Nikon shot.

p6120057_42754621181_o.jpg
 
Last edited:

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
Just so you're aware, as @mikew mentions, that camera body doesn't have a focus motor, and neither does the 'D' series of lenses, so that lens won't auto-focus with that body.
 

nickt

Senior Member
I'm another that likes autofocus for macro. Unless I'm on a tripod, 99% of my macro shots are autofocus. Single point using bbf.
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
If you are shooting on a tripod - whether at home or subjects such as flowers, the body should still give you focus confirmation inside the viewfinder even though AF isn't supported. If you are trying to capture something moving like Mike's insect, then you would have more trouble. When I shoot flowers, quite often I use a tripod and a macro rail (a rail will allow you to move the body/lens combo forward, backward, and sideways to fine tune your focus point). And I use Live View along with manual focus.

Your other option would be to look for a Tamron 90mm macro lens. It looks like there are a couple of different models - unfortunately I don't know the differences. But several members have that lens. It costs less than the Nikon lens. Just a thought.
 

Dangerspouse

Senior Member
Thanks very much, Cindy! I do use a rail for macro work when I'm shooting my wife's products - very handy for focus stacking at that scale. Live View + Manual Focus is also my go-to method (great minds, huh? lol).

I'll look into that Tamron, thanks! I'm not all that familiar with other brands' offerings, so I appreciate the suggestion :)
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Offhand [MENTION=9753]Scott Murray[/MENTION] is one member who uses the Tamron 90mm. He isn't around too often, but let's hope he will respond and let you know which Tamron 90mm lens he has. When I looked them up, there are 2 different ones available for Nikon. One is listed as 1:1. The other doesn't list the ratio.
 

nickt

Senior Member
I lost track of the Tamron generations long ago. Not sure when the focus motor came along. Focus motor aside, another notable change over the years was going from external to internal focusing. The external focusing means that the lens barrel extends as you focus closer. Its hard to pick this up from the specs. Normally they list minimum focus distance in the specs. That is the distance from the sensor plane to the subject. This tells you nothing about the barrel length. The spec known as 'working distance' does take the barrel into account. Working distance is the distance from the front of the lens to the subject. They often don't list this parameter, you have to go digging for it. I think Scott had the extending barrel and never complained. Some bug shooters don't like the extending barrel.
I have the Tamron 60mm and the Sigma 105
 

Scott Murray

Senior Member
I've wanted the NIKKOR 105mm Micro AF-S f/2.8 ED VR for a while, but it's way outside my budget. Cruising around Craigslist I found this D model. Can anyone tell me if this is a good deal for this lens, and if they have any positive or negative feelings about it (for my D5500)? Thanks!
As hark mentioned I used to shoot with the Tamron 90mm Macro, using manual focus. It was the older lens but I managed a few ok shots with it. So long as the lens is 1:1 or better then it should be good.

20150424-SHM_8453 by Scott Murray, on Flickr

SHM_2049 by Scott Murray, on Flickr

Robber Fly by Scott Murray, on Flickr

Untitled by Scott Murray, on Flickr

Jumping Spider Portrait by Scott Murray, on Flickr
 

Scott Murray

Senior Member
I lost track of the Tamron generations long ago. Not sure when the focus motor came along. Focus motor aside, another notable change over the years was going from external to internal focusing. The external focusing means that the lens barrel extends as you focus closer. Its hard to pick this up from the specs. Normally they list minimum focus distance in the specs. That is the distance from the sensor plane to the subject. This tells you nothing about the barrel length. The spec known as 'working distance' does take the barrel into account. Working distance is the distance from the front of the lens to the subject. They often don't list this parameter, you have to go digging for it. I think Scott had the extending barrel and never complained. Some bug shooters don't like the extending barrel.
I have the Tamron 60mm and the Sigma 105

I never had issues with the extending barrell, but then again I am very patient.
 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
$750 is the going price for that lens in very good to excellent condition... That lens is not even close to the 105 2.8D... The DC in the higher priced one stands for Defocus Image Control... That 105 is probably the absolute sharpest lens Nikon ever made... The DC causes the out-of-focus parts to have a very sought after bokeh effect, while maintaining absolute sharp focus on the in-focus parts... It is not a macro lens...
 

BF Hammer

Senior Member
I know, old thread. I have used in the past an early 1990's Tamron 90mm that autofocused with the screw-coupler. Nice images, but the focus was sloooooww and hunted a lot. I used mainly for photographing my wristwatches, so I could take time in a studio setup.

I upgraded to the most current version "017". Internal focus motor, vibration compensation, and improved optical coatings that don't show reflections of the camera sensor off of the back lens element (a problem I notice with many pre-DSLR lenses). I love the lens, and it has gained added usefulness now that I have a FX body to use it on. It now doubles more readily as a portrait lens.

Macro shot intentionally showing the bokeh
qwfKpYu.jpg

And a significant crop-in
1J3OBrt.jpg
 
Top