MPSanSouci
Senior Member
Happy New Year to All!!!
I recently purchased a new Nikon D5200 ( Bronze ) for the Mrs. Along with it came the usual 18-55mm and I purchased the 55-200mm for her as well. She started playing around, getting some usage tips from me ( not that I'm any good at it ) ..
She has mostly been using the 18-55mm at 55mm for close up shots of her pets .. fish, dogs, and birds. Then came the macro question. She can get somewhat close, and pretty good pictures, at 55mm.
I checked the settings for both the 18-55mm and the 55-200mm. Minimum focal distance for the 18-55mm is 0.9 feet and the 55-200mm is 3.6 feet.
Then she was reading 'Tropical Fish Magazine' and came across a great shot. The picture also stated the camera, lens and settings used for the shot .. 105mm macro lens. That lens lists for approx $1K USD. Since she has been shooting at 55mm, I suggested the 85mm macro lens; which list for approx $530 USD.
On her fish forum, a member suggested getting an "Extension Tube Set", listing for approx $200 USD.
Kenko Auto Extension Tube Set DG for Nikon Lens A-EXTUBEDG-N B&H
I have never heard of these and they come highly recommended from her fish forum. From B&H's reviews, users have come back with 4-1/2 starts. I am putting this out there .. pros and cons of these? She wants to used these with her D5200 and the 18-55mm lens. Will she have to switch everything over to manual settings?
Would the "Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-20E III" be a better option?
I have suggested she start shooting in 'Aperture' mode; which she has been using and loves the outcome of her shots with an 'adjustable' dept-of-field. If she'd have to go manual at this point in her DSLR usage, I'm not sure how that would go over.
Any helpful comments would be greatly appreciated.
Michael
I recently purchased a new Nikon D5200 ( Bronze ) for the Mrs. Along with it came the usual 18-55mm and I purchased the 55-200mm for her as well. She started playing around, getting some usage tips from me ( not that I'm any good at it ) ..
She has mostly been using the 18-55mm at 55mm for close up shots of her pets .. fish, dogs, and birds. Then came the macro question. She can get somewhat close, and pretty good pictures, at 55mm.
I checked the settings for both the 18-55mm and the 55-200mm. Minimum focal distance for the 18-55mm is 0.9 feet and the 55-200mm is 3.6 feet.
Then she was reading 'Tropical Fish Magazine' and came across a great shot. The picture also stated the camera, lens and settings used for the shot .. 105mm macro lens. That lens lists for approx $1K USD. Since she has been shooting at 55mm, I suggested the 85mm macro lens; which list for approx $530 USD.
On her fish forum, a member suggested getting an "Extension Tube Set", listing for approx $200 USD.
Kenko Auto Extension Tube Set DG for Nikon Lens A-EXTUBEDG-N B&H
I have never heard of these and they come highly recommended from her fish forum. From B&H's reviews, users have come back with 4-1/2 starts. I am putting this out there .. pros and cons of these? She wants to used these with her D5200 and the 18-55mm lens. Will she have to switch everything over to manual settings?
Would the "Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-20E III" be a better option?
I have suggested she start shooting in 'Aperture' mode; which she has been using and loves the outcome of her shots with an 'adjustable' dept-of-field. If she'd have to go manual at this point in her DSLR usage, I'm not sure how that would go over.
Any helpful comments would be greatly appreciated.
Michael