Macro on a budget

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Ironwood

Senior Member
I started off with a Nikon AF55 D f2.8 on my d3100. It cost me just over $100 off eBay. It is a 1:1 lens and very sharp. It meant manual focus on my D3100, but I soon realised that wasn't a problem.
I also have a Nikon 105 VR macro as well now, I prefer it for insect because you don't need to get so close, but I find myself using the 55 more and more now because it is such a good lens.

if you like I could find a few photos taken with the 55 and post them for you to look at.
 
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Ironwood

Senior Member
Here are a few shots taken with the AF55 D on the D7100.
The close-up of the leaf shows how sharp this lens is.

For macro shots on the D7100, I still use manual focus.
I also use this lens for small product photography, I use AF for this.

DSC_1776.jpg


DSC_1781.jpg


DSC_8759.jpg
 
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Elliot87

Senior Member
Thanks for posting those Ironwood! I was almost sure I was going to get this lens but you've sold it to me. D7100 will follow not too long afterwards I hope.

I'm leaning towards the 2.8 AIs version as I believe that will meter with the D3200 but the 3.5 AI won't, unless I'm mistaken.
 
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Ironwood

Senior Member
Just be aware that mine is a newer version than the one in your link. Mine has a 1:1 reproduction ratio, the ais version has 1:2 reproduction ratio, meaning you will need extension tubes to get full life-size images.
 
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Elliot87

Senior Member
Ironwood said:
Just be aware that mine is a newer version than the one in your link. Mine has a 1:1 reproduction ratio, the ais version has 1:2 reproduction ratio, meaning you will need extension tubes to get full life-size images.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I believe the pk-13 tube is what I need, keeping an eye on them too on ebay. Never used ebay before and I'm hating the waiting for auctions to end!
 
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nzswift

Senior Member
Buy the PK-13 tube by all means... I find I only use the tubes to get 1:1 if the subject is static and that is certainly less than 10% of the time. The rest of the time my micro lenses are used naked.
 
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Elliot87

Senior Member
So I bought a 55mm 2.8 ai-s lens today, now I just have to wait for the postman to deliver it. Not the ideal lens for insects but patience will be the key as they sometimes let you get close.
 
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wornish

Senior Member
If your priority is to get a 7100 body then the next decision is do you want a lens that will dual purpose as a macro and general purpose on that body.

A/F for non-moving macro is certainly not essential as said in an earlier post , but if you are chasing twitchy butterflies or other insects it can be very useful just to get the shot.
 
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Elliot87

Senior Member
Won the auction on ebay yesterday, get home today and my neighbour presents me with a parcel containing my 55mm f2.8, I wasn't expecting to get it until some time next week! I haven't had much chance to use it yet but first impressions are that its a great little lens. Easiest lens I've used for manual focusing and you can tell its a quality glass. I'm very happy to have added this to my camera bag, I think using it will teach me a lot, so that when I do come to get a longer modern macro lens it should be a piece of cake.

My only slight disappointment, which is not a fault of the lens but of my knowledge, is that it doesn't meter on my wifes F80 SLR. I had assumed what with it being an older film camera it would be fully compatible but on further investigation the F80 is more fussy than I'd thought.

In any case I like the challenge of having to do everything manually on my D3200. I've read that the D7*** range and upwards will meter TTL with this ai-s version but can anyone confirm this for me?
 
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nzswift

Senior Member
Yes it meters with D7****, D6**, D8** and all the pro bodies. Yours should meter with it by using the stop down method I mentioned earlier...
 
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nzswift

Senior Member
Right, I've done some research and the D3200 does not have a preview button so the 55mm can't use the stop down method.
A solution for you would be to take a meter reading with your 50/1.8D lens at an aperture of say f16. Note the speed.
Remove 50mm and replace with 55mm. Change to M mode and transfer the speed to the 3200 with the lens set at f16 and that should give you a good starting point for exposure settings. You'll probably need to up ISO or lower speed as you'll be closer
 
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rocketman122

Senior Member
btw that tube set is way overpriced. its mostly plastic and stacking will cause flex and wobble and throw your whole tiny adjustments off. the Af doesnt work well if it ever does and I had returned mine.
I bought a set like this which is much more stable. I never used AF when doing any macro work because the af cant do minor adjustments well. its so much faster to just adjust the focus ring. fast precise and youll catch the moment you need faster than relying on your AF to lock.
its all metal and no flex or wobble at all. it does its job very well. I also had the kenko set but I have no idea where I put it and didnt see a reason to spend $120 for macro rings. thats crazy.

Macro Extension Tube Ring Adapter for Canon Nikon Sony Olympus M42 Mount Camera | eBay

this is shown on a canon lens but its the same for nikon. very well made and cheap as chips.
btw the kluncking from him wobbling the gear is the lens internals. not from the mount or the macro tubes. the tubes are metal and very solid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h4jT3kpykI
 
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Elliot87

Senior Member
nzswift said:
Right, I've done some research and the D3200 does not have a preview button so the 55mm can't use the stop down method.
A solution for you would be to take a meter reading with your 50/1.8D lens at an aperture of say f16. Note the speed.
Remove 50mm and replace with 55mm. Change to M mode and transfer the speed to the 3200 with the lens set at f16 and that should give you a good starting point for exposure settings. You'll probably need to up ISO or lower speed as you'll be closer
Click to expand...

It's frustrating that features such as a preview button don't get put on entry level bodies, presumably for the sole purpose of encouraging people to upgrade or spend more in the first place.
In the limited time I've had the lens, its not been too much trouble to dial the lens in with a couple of test shots. Should encourage me to take note of the histogram more and to learn how to interpret it.
 
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Elliot87

Senior Member
rocketman122 said:
btw that tube set is way overpriced. its mostly plastic and stacking will cause flex and wobble and throw your whole tiny adjustments off. the Af doesnt work well if it ever does and I had returned mine.
I bought a set like this which is much more stable. I never used AF when doing any macro work because the af cant do minor adjustments well. its so much faster to just adjust the focus ring. fast precise and youll catch the moment you need faster than relying on your AF to lock.
its all metal and no flex or wobble at all. it does its job very well. I also had the kenko set but I have no idea where I put it and didnt see a reason to spend $120 for macro rings. thats crazy.

Macro Extension Tube Ring Adapter for Canon Nikon Sony Olympus M42 Mount Camera | eBay

this is shown on a canon lens but its the same for nikon. very well made and cheap as chips.
btw the kluncking from him wobbling the gear is the lens internals. not from the mount or the macro tubes. the tubes are metal and very solid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h4jT3kpykI
Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads up, I wouldn't want to spend over the odds and I may well look at getting extension tubes in the future. Learning this new lens should keep me busy for a while though.
 
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Elliot87

Senior Member
Here's an early test shot. First the original image, with minor PP and then a tighter crop of the same shot.

12GA-1.jpg

12GA cropped-1.jpg

Looks promising to me,can't wait to try it out in daylight tomorrow.
 
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Elliot87

Senior Member
rocketman122 said:
that the 50 f/1.0? thats an awesome lens ;) haha
damn sharp! btw only shoot people you really hate, not those u somewhat hate ;)
Click to expand...

Yeah, I don't know where its getting 50 f/1.0 from?? I think even shooting those you really hate is frowned upon, so I'll try to stick to just shooting people with a camera ;) or did you mean with this super sharp lens. Some folk seem to get tetchy when you take their picture, something about highlighting their flaws....
 
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