This maybe my first new lens and would like an opinion

I would like a lens to do close up photography and I've never owned one for this purpose. My intended subjects include insects, mushroom/toadstools, and similar sized objects. My camera is a D5000 dx. The lens I'm considering is this one: [h=1]AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G[/h]
I would like your opinion. Am I on the right track or would there be a better choice?

Thanks

On the right track but to get close enough with that lens for macro, you would almost need to be touching the subject with the front of the lens, which might work with mushrooms but not so well for insects. Its a fine lens, just not ideal for insects. I prefer a telephoto macro lens so I don't need to get so close.

As TwistedThrottle mentioned, something a little longer will allow to you be back further from your subject. There are a few people here who have some type of Tamron 90mm f/2.8 macro lens although there might be more than one available. Personally I have the Nikon 105mm f/2.8 VR which is amazing, and others have the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 OS - and those images also look stellar. I handhold a lot of my macro shots so VR is important to me.

If possible, try to choose a macro lens with a 1:1 ratio. That means what you shoot will appear true to size on your sensor. A 1:2 macro lens means the image will appear to be 1/2 its true size on the sensor.

Just for reference these were shot with AF 60mm Micro and a AF 105mm Micro at about 12 inches.





These lens will not auto focus on your camera.
@Dangerspouse do you have the 40mm Micro? Anything to add?

With insect macro photography be prepared for a high failure rate. That's not to say great images can't be captured but it's just very difficult as a tiny fraction of movement from the insect or wind will mean missed focus. It just requires a lot of patience and practice. Here is a couple using a 1:1 ratio macro lens.

I have that lens, but as Twisted Throttle and others have noted, you do need to get quite close to the subject to fully realize the 1:1 (or better) quality. That's not an issue for me as I purchased it specifically to take macro shots of my wife's stitched designs for her busines. Getting an inch away from a piece of cloth is no problem. I couldn't imagine getting that close to anything that might move though, or anything where you need a deeper DOF (unless you're focus stacking). I will say that I've taken some great flower macros with it, but based on my experience I would like a macro between 60 and 105mm if I was doing insect shots.

I will say this is my favorite street photo lens. It's a very good size for portraits also, and although it won't give you the shallow DOF of a 1.8 or 1.4, for the price it's an excellent lens at f/2.8.

Here's a few macro and street shots I've taken with it. Even an insect shot...when it didn't move!

Does anyone recommend using the "reverse macro" setting? (and share your experience)

blackstar said:

Does anyone recommend using the "reverse macro" setting? (and share your experience)

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I take it you are referring to reversing a lens with a reversing ring. I have done this quite often and it works very well, especially with slightly wide angle (35mm) lenses. There are some drawbacks to this approach, however, though all can be overcome. This approach works best with a manual lens instead of an AF one, however. Since the focus now becomes fixed, a macro focusing rail is a necessity. I have been using the same one I got on eBay for about $30 for years and it works like a champ. Focusing should be done with the lens wide open, and then closed down to working aperture before taking the image. If you are using a manual focus lens, Nikon makes an attachment called a BR-4 which allows you to open and close the diaphragm using a manual cable release. It works equally well if you place a lens on a bellows attachment.

The image was taken with a D850 and 35mm f/1.4 AIS Nikkor reversed. The final image was composed of about 60 images focus stacked in Zerene Stacker. The spider looks large in the photo was was in reality only about 4mm long.

blackstar said:

Does anyone recommend using the "reverse macro" setting? (and share your experience)

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Reverse macro setting? Do you mean a reverse lens mount? Maybe I just haven't heard of that setting, or my entry level D5500 doesn't feature it. But yeah, I'm unfamiliar with it.

I do have the reverse mount ring, though. It's come in handy a few times, but because none of my other lenses are as fast as my 40mm 2.8, the resolution is nowhere near is good. And of course you have to manual everything, as there is no electrical contact with the body. But as an inexpensive bit of kit it's worth having it in the bag for those odd occassions, I've found.

I don't know if I'm really slow at composing messages or not, but I seem to keep being logged out before I can finish.

Anyway, I want to thank all of you who have given your insight to my question. I'm glad I didn't make a purchase prior to asking. I'm going to continue looking for the right macro lens for my purpose, based on your suggestions and comments. I appreciate the fine photos that have been included with some of your responses, and that is exactly the kind of photography I want to experiment with. I'm wondering now, if I should be considering a full frame camera.

PLM said:

I'm wondering now, if I should be considering a full frame camera.

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There is no need to have a FF camera to shoot macro images. If you want auto focus on the d5000 what is needed is a lens that contains an auto focus motor. Any one of the Nikon lens listed here https://www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-and-explore/a/products-and-innovation/macro-lenses.html and list as AF-S contain this motor. You can use a FX lens on a DX camera, as I do. Other manufactures also make lenses containing this motor.

PLM said:

I'm wondering now, if I should be considering a full frame camera.

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As much as we love spending other people's money... lol!
Some would argue that crop sensors are better suited for macro. The challenge with macro is the depth of field, (the area of a pic that is reasonably sharp) is so shallow, a challenge that is minimized when using a crop sensor camera. Many people shoot multiple shots, (full frame or crop), moving the focus back or forward in increments and then stacking the photos in post to increase the DOF, make the subject appear "deeper". Full frame just means you should probably stack more photos. If you are more of a one-and-done shooter, the crop sensor may be your best bet.

I am one of those people with the Tamron 90mm. I mostly use it to photograph my wristwatch collection. I have tried other subjects, but you really need to get close-in even at 90mm range. For insects or hummingbirds, I seriously would more consider the 105mm micro-Nikkor or better the Tamron 180mm 1:1 macro.

The reverse lens adapter does work, but you must work in full-manual mode. I consider lens extension tubes to be the superior way to do that. They shift the focal point closer to the camera at the cost of losing infinity focus. I do sometimes use extension tubes with my 90mm lens. The photos I will include did use the tubes to get in closer.

First, I have to apologize to PLM (OP) for the high-way robbery of this thread to discuss "reverse macro" instead of "macro lens" (all because just want to jump in now and need some advice and helpful info... )

Just received a Fotodiox Macro Extension Kit and found it's a mistake: it's for macro lenses not for reverse lenses! So just ordered a reverse ring for experiments hoping the extension tube will work with the reverse ring on my d3500 and kit lens.

Still face two bumps into experiments: 1. my camera and lens (no aperture ring) can not set aperture in reverse macro. According to what known, the aperture will be the smallest one when in reverse macro... wondering if the lens is normally installed and in A mode, the aperture is set to wide open and turn off the camera, de-touch the lens, will the aperture remain wide? or can the lens be de-touched when the camera's still on to keep the wide aperture? Or any other way to set and keep lens aperture open wide in reverse macro?

2. STM mentioned focusing rail to help DOF in macro photo. I have been considering getting one. But from my imagination, when you move your camera (and lens) forward or backward to change focal planes, will the image size of the subject also change respectively? If it will, how will the later focus stacking work? Or it won't because the lens is reversed? (Assuming STM's example photo was focus stacked from multiple different focus-plane shots in reverse macro using a rail, it seemed to have no such issue?) Thanks

PLM said:

I don't know if I'm really slow at composing messages or not, but I seem to keep being logged out before I can finish.

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I don't think it is you as I have been getting logged out on several occasions over the last few days.

BF Hammer said:

The reverse lens adapter does work, but you must work in full-manual mode. I consider lens extension tubes to be the superior way to do that. They shift the focal point closer to the camera at the cost of losing infinity focus. I do sometimes use extension tubes with my 90mm lens. The photos I will include did use the tubes to get in closer.

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If cost is a factor, this is decent option. Kenko and Vello both make extension tube sets that are supposed to be fully compatible when it comes to using a camera's exposure meter (best to confirm first to be sure). These will allow non-macro lenses to focus much more closely (and can also be used with macro lenses if desired). In the video, he compares the images of an 85mm lens with extension tubes to images taken with a 90mm macro lens. With the 85mm lens, he's able to take photos that come very close to the view that the 90mm macro offers.

If interested, just be sure to find out if these tubes will offer full compatibility with your current bodies and lenses. There are other extension tubes on the market that aren't compatible with TTL metering.

Kenko Extension Tube Set: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/375238-REG/Kenko_AEXTUBEDGN_Auto_Extension_Tube_Set.html

Vello Extension Tube Set: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/787224-REG/vello_ext_nd_auto_focus_ext_tube.html

In this video, Matt Granger compares an 85mm lens coupled with extension tubes to a 90mm macro lens.

Thanks, Cindy. Now, not starting experiments yet, I think it's cleared up there are at least four options (or alternatives) to take macro photos: macro lens, reverse ring with regular lens, macro coupling ring, and extension tube (for both regular and macro lens). The main disadvantage of the reverse ring is no AF and only the smallest aperture available if lenses with no aperture ring. The coupling ring option seems lucky enough to avoid this issue (primary lens directly contacts body and the secondary lens reversed). There are two types of extension tube set: contact and no contact. Macro lenses are way more costly but easy to operate I reckon. I'll first get a reverse ring (55mm) and a coupling ring (55mm, 58mm) to start my macro experiment soon. Already played reverse lens to visualize the tiny computer screen pixels in a clear color display... like you are looking into a microscope! I think this is a fun and exciting adventure.

blackstar said:

Thanks, Cindy. Now, not starting experiments yet, I think it's cleared up there are at least four options (or alternatives) to take macro photos: macro lens, reverse ring with regular lens, macro coupling ring, and extension tube (for both regular and macro lens).

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You're welcome. Of the options listed, the only ones I am familiar with are the macro lenses and the extension tubes. But then there is something rlse - close up filters. I believe they screw onto the front of a lens and allow you to get much closer. The down side is they seem to be blurrier than most or all of the other options. Good luck and have fun with whatever you decide to try.

This has turned out to be much more informative than I had originally intended when I asked about one particular lens. I had no idea there were so many alternatives to choose from. When Hark mentioned the close up filters, it reminded me of my old photography days when I had experimented with those filters. I wish I could recall what I felt about the results. Considering what I have learned from you very helpful folks, I'm seriously considering the lens Hark mentioned owning, the Nikon 105mm f2.8 micro. It's more money than I had intended to spend, but if I understand this correctly, used with my DX camera, it would be the equivalent of a 157.5mm. That means it would give me a telephoto lens to go with my kit lens. Before I spring for it though, I'm going to explore some of the other macro lenses. I would have done that already, but I was without Internet service yesterday, except for very brief periods, using my phone's hotspot.

Again, I appreciate everyone's input and helpfulness, thank you!

@PLM - Just to add to your thoughts, a lot of people seem to like this brand - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Raynox-DCR...hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584413736739732&psc=1

Above link is a UK one but I would suspect Amazon US should sell them.