clarnibass
Senior Member
Hi
I'd like to know what options are there for a macro lens I'm looking for.
Right now I use a Nikon 55mm f/3.5 which is excellent. The reason I want something different is mainly because I have to use a tube to allow x0.5-x1.0 magnification and remove the tube when I want less than x0.5 magnification. It's too often that I need to change between just under x0.5 (not enough to use any of my other lenses) and up to x1.0. It's becoming too annoying to keep removing and remounting the tube.
So I'm looking for a macro lens that gets to x1.0 without needing an extension tube. It can be either AF or MF, but the MF ring has to feel at least decent since I use MF for macro at least 90% of the time. I'll accept a downgrade from my lens in this regard but it can't be terrible (an example of a decent one is the Tamron 70-300 VC and an example of a terrible one is the Nikon 28mm 1.8G). Aperture of f/2.8 is an advantage but not necessary. Longer focus range is a plus but anything above 50mm is ok.
Here is the issue... I'd rather not spend much more than the cost of my current lens (I might even keep it). The only lens I'm aware of is the previous model Tamron 90mm (not the new VC model). Are there any other options?
Thank you
I'd like to know what options are there for a macro lens I'm looking for.
Right now I use a Nikon 55mm f/3.5 which is excellent. The reason I want something different is mainly because I have to use a tube to allow x0.5-x1.0 magnification and remove the tube when I want less than x0.5 magnification. It's too often that I need to change between just under x0.5 (not enough to use any of my other lenses) and up to x1.0. It's becoming too annoying to keep removing and remounting the tube.
So I'm looking for a macro lens that gets to x1.0 without needing an extension tube. It can be either AF or MF, but the MF ring has to feel at least decent since I use MF for macro at least 90% of the time. I'll accept a downgrade from my lens in this regard but it can't be terrible (an example of a decent one is the Tamron 70-300 VC and an example of a terrible one is the Nikon 28mm 1.8G). Aperture of f/2.8 is an advantage but not necessary. Longer focus range is a plus but anything above 50mm is ok.
Here is the issue... I'd rather not spend much more than the cost of my current lens (I might even keep it). The only lens I'm aware of is the previous model Tamron 90mm (not the new VC model). Are there any other options?
Thank you