Good starter macro lens?

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aroy

Senior Member
The Nikon 60mm is a great macro lens and is the best for technical shots, as there is minimal geometric distortion and very little CA. Ideal for coins, stamps and small flowers.

Though longer focal lengths like 90, 105 and 200 give you working space, they have their own problems, primarily shake and CA. At the longer end one of our members was having difficulty in lighting the subject up with flash.
 
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Panza

Senior Member
hrstrat57 said:
Hey @Panza don't know where you are in NE but there are both a 60 AF D F/2.8 and a 105 AF VR F/2.8 macro listed right now on Boston Craigslist, might be worth a day trip to check them out and demo.

rhode island photo/video "nikon macro" - craigslist
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I'm in NH but I work in Boston. There's a decent Tamron there as well along with the 60 AF D. Ashamed to say I spent more on said camera body than I should've afforded which left very small budget for lenses. :rolleyes: I've just been using what I have for my film Nikon and my older Nikon cameras. Hehe
 
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hrstrat57

Senior Member
Ha ha @Panza you have the 2 best bits of D glass ever in your sig I just noticed....50 AF 1.4 D (which I have) and 80-200 AF D F/2.8 (which I am hunting for cheap) Not sure how I missed that before!

Add the Nikon 60 AF D F/2.8 to your quiver of D glass and love life.....it is a great walk around short tele too, I used it as a stealth weapon this holiday season for sneaky family pics at ISO 6400 it was awesome!

Check with Hunt Camera in Cambridge too I'll bet they can hunt down a used one cheapo for you by searching all the stores! The Hunt's in Providence on the east side is awesome!
 
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Panza

Senior Member
hrstrat57 said:
Ha ha @Panza you have the 2 best bits of D glass ever in your sig I just noticed....50 AF 1.4 D (which I have) and 80-200 AF D F/2.8 (which I am hunting for cheap) Not sure how I missed that before!

Add the Nikon 60 AF D F/2.8 to your quiver of D glass and love life.....it is a great walk around short tele too, I used it as a stealth weapon this holiday season for sneaky family pics at ISO 6400 it was awesome!

Check with Hunt Camera in Cambridge too I'll bet they can hunt down a used one cheapo for you by searching all the stores! The Hunt's in Providence on the east side is awesome!
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I have more D and Nikon glass like the 35-70/2.8D as well but I don't use it since I have the 50mm's. I didn't want the sig to be too long, especially for lenses that rarely see the light of day.
I'll swing by and check out Hunt Camera tomorrow : ) Maybe they'll have something that catches my eye. Thanks for the tips about local stores.
 
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hrstrat57

Senior Member
Ha ha @Panza I have 35-70 AF D F/2.8 as well. Love it on D700! With the MB - D10 attached it makes for one heavy piece of kit tho!!!

I will be putting my last remaining bits of A mount (including collection of mint Beercan era Maxxum glass ) on craigslist soon. At that point I will complete my collection of F mount glass!

Please let us know here what u find!!!
 
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nzswift

Senior Member
You could also look at a Nikkor Micro 105/2.8 AIS lens. That should be cheaper than many options listed above. Have never figured out the need for AF in close up work...
 
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Panza

Senior Member
nzswift said:
You could also look at a Nikkor Micro 105/2.8 AIS lens. That should be cheaper than many options listed above. Have never figured out the need for AF in close up work...
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oh yes, I very much like the AI-S line of lenses. Thanks for bringing them up as I had almost completely forgotten about them.
 
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hrstrat57

Senior Member
Ha ha brakes on my truck moved me off the 300 AFS F4 and Nikon 1.4 TC I was eyeing to my other needed pc of kit = a fast mid/semi long zoom = Nikon 80-200 AF ED D F/2.8 ( for way less than half the money)

My 300 F4 is on the back burner now for sure.....being on a budget stinks!

Keep us posted.
 
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Fortkentdad

Senior Member
Even though the brakes put the brakes on this purchase for the moment let me chime in. (Don't you just hate it when reality interrupts your playtime?)

I love my 60mm F/2.8G ED lens - it is the most expensive lens I own, the rest are older - vintage - legacy lenses or DX ones.

I'm looking at an AF 105mm F/2.8 D tomorrow - will see if it ends up in my kit bag or not.
 
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hrstrat57

Senior Member
Fortkentdad said:
Even though the brakes put the brakes on this purchase for the moment let me chime in. (Don't you just hate it when reality interrupts your playtime?)

I love my 60mm F/2.8G ED lens - it is the most expensive lens I own, the rest are older - vintage - legacy lenses or DX ones.

I'm looking at an AF 105mm F/2.8 D tomorrow - will see if it ends up in my kit bag or not.
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I almost sent mine off in a trade without giving it a chance - glad I didn't the Nikon 60 AF D F/2.8 is an awesome lens....and not just as a macro. I love it as a fast walk around. Great length too for low light indoor sniping!!!
 
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