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Close-Up with Nikkor 70-300mm F4-5.6 VR

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Steve Mullarkey

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Any suggestions for shooting close-up with the Nikkor 70-300mm F4-5.6 VR ?

The lens closest focus is only 1.5 meters. I don't need to do macro but I would like to focus as close as 0.5 meters.

What would be better a close-up screw-in lens or extension tubes ?

Any ideas most welcome.

--
Best regards,

Steve.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/85162210@N00/
 
I've used a Canon 500D filter with 70-300 VR and I'm happy with the result. I THINK the combo can focus as close as 0.5m (i used the short end actually)

I also 've extention rings, but since it's a slow lens, adding a tube will make the lens way too slow. and the longer the lens, the smaller its aperture... also the less effective the ext. tube is.... and you need a long tube with long lens so it'll became a very slow combo unless you're shooting under strong sunlight.
Steve Mullarkey said:
Any suggestions for shooting close-up with the Nikkor 70-300mm F4-5.6
VR ?

The lens closest focus is only 1.5 meters. I don't need to do macro
but I would like to focus as close as 0.5 meters.

What would be better a close-up screw-in lens or extension tubes ?

Any ideas most welcome.

--
Best regards,

Steve.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/85162210@N00/
Click to expand...
--
Wilfred
 
Go for a two element close-up filter, since the IQ loss is minimal. I use the Nikon 5T and 6T (discontinued) but the Canon 500D is equivalent. It depends on the magnification of the filter as to how much it reduces the min focus distance, but with these it is roughly 1/3 so you're in the ballpark. Don't be afraid to get a smaller filter than the 67mm of the lens, there will be no vignetting. Then you can use your dedicated hood for protection, which you really want to do with these filters.
--
Lora

I've been on Dpreview since June 2006. Unfortunately, some posting history has been lost along the way...

 
0.5m will be the maximum. Minimum distance is a bit less. If you want to focus at 10m you take the close-up lens off.

I have just got (yesterday) a Marumi achromat 3 diopter for my 70-300 and 16-85. This gives a max focus distance of 0.33m. First trials look excellent but I will need a tripod at the 300mm end if the light is poor. The onboard flash is no good as the lens shades half the picture.
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WSSA member #252
 
I also use the Canon 500D in combination with the 70-300VR and I am happy with the results. And compared to a normal (prime) macro lens, the ability to zoom is really very, very convenient with macro work

Eric.
 
What I forgot to mention: I use a Tamron 90mm but would sometimes like more working distance on FX.

Does anyone know if I'd take a big drop in quality if I used a Canon D500 in front of my 70-300mm?
 
I use a 70-300 VR with a 5T and 6T for most of my macro work, although I also have a Tokina ATX 100mm. The quality is great, not very different than a macro lens at the apertures used for macros.

Here are two 100% crops, I don't remember the specs exactly but they are somewhere around 1/80 handheld, so keep that in mind when evaluating sharpness:





The reach together with the VR makes this lens superb for butterflies or dragonflies, the Tokina 100 makes 1:1 at 30cm while the 70-300VR gives me the same at 52cm, it’s quite a difference in the field. And for dragons or butterflies I mostly use the 5T, doesn’t give me 1:1 but roughly 1:1.4, witch is more than enough for these shots and the working distance is even better.

Unfortunately there’s no free lunch, and this lens has a bit of focus shift after F/9, I have to remember and compensate for that, or my photo will be back focused.
Whois said:
Can you tell how the image quality is compared to a macro lens?
Click to expand...
--
Regards,
Fernando

http://fernandobatista.smugmug.com
 
With macro work, bokeh can also be a factor. Get a Sigma 150 macro if you need more distance from the subject.
--
Chris J
D300 - since 16 Dec 2008
Nikon 70-300 VR
Nikon 50mm f/1.8
Nikon 18-70 kit lens
Sigma 150mm f/2.8 macro
SB800 flash
 
Chris Joubert said:
Get a Sigma 150 macro if you need more distance from the subject.
--
Click to expand...
That's exactly the lens I'd like to get but I've just ordered a PC-E 45mm and really can't stretch to another lens at the moment. Have to prioritize. I'd be interested in how a 70-300 + 500D and the Sigma compare. Of course the Sigma is going to be better but how much better?
 
Since you have both the Sigma 150mm and the 70-300VR do you mind telling me how is the 150's AF compared to the 70-300VR. I've been considering trading my tokina for the 150mm but I'd like to know how good (speed and accuracy) is the AF on the 150 first.

Thanks.

--
Regards,
Fernando

http://fernandobatista.smugmug.com
 
FernandoBatista said:
Since you have both the Sigma 150mm and the 70-300VR do you mind
telling me how is the 150's AF compared to the 70-300VR. I've been
considering trading my tokina for the 150mm but I'd like to know how
good (speed and accuracy) is the AF on the 150 first.
Click to expand...
I know this is not addressed to me, but I own and use the Tokina 100mm macro, the 70-300mmVR plus Nikon 5T and 6T for quasi macro work, and the Sigma 150mm macro. I wouldn't want to part with any, as they serve different purposes. The Sigma is the sharpest hands down, but it makes for a heavy package hand held. I use it hand held a lot, but the weight does get tiresome. No comparison between the AF-S of the 70-300mmVR and the HSM of the Sigma 150mm. No macro lenses are speed demons with AF and the Sigma having such a long range tends to hunt a bit, depending on the light. I love the Sigma, but I wouldn't want it for my only macro lens, because of the weight and not wanting to be married to a tripod.

--
Lora

I've been on Dpreview since June 2006. Unfortunately, some posting history has been lost along the way...

 
Well, actually this is addressed to anyone who owns both, so... thank you for the info.

I really don't shoot handheld with the Tokina that much, I shoot on a monopod most of the time, not that I can't handhold it, but I like to use the slowest speed possible so I can get the most of the available light. OTOH I always use the 70-300 handheld , with the VR I can use very low speeds with it with no problems. So I think I wouldn't have a problem using the Sigma on a monopod, I'm pretty sure I'd manage.

But I can't keep all of these lenses, at least one would have to go I'm just not sure witch, on the 70-300 I wouldn't like to lose the AF and the reach for dragons, butterflies and reptiles (that's the only thing I use it for actually), and the Tokina is quite nice for portraits too.

I think I have to found someone with one to try it out and make up my mind.

BTW Witch do you prefer for dragon and butterflies? The 70-300 or the 150?
 
FernandoBatista said:
Well, actually this is addressed to anyone who owns both, so... thank
you for the info.
Click to expand...
FernandoBatista said:
I really don't shoot handheld with the Tokina that much, I shoot on a
monopod most of the time, not that I can't handhold it, but I like to
use the slowest speed possible so I can get the most of the available
light. OTOH I always use the 70-300 handheld , with the VR I can use
very low speeds with it with no problems. So I think I wouldn't have
a problem using the Sigma on a monopod, I'm pretty sure I'd manage.
But I can't keep all of these lenses, at least one would have to go
I'm just not sure witch, on the 70-300 I wouldn't like to lose the AF
and the reach for dragons, butterflies and reptiles (that's the only
thing I use it for actually), and the Tokina is quite nice for
portraits too.
Click to expand...
FernandoBatista said:
I think I have to found someone with one to try it out and make up my
mind.
Click to expand...
Good idea if you have someone that will loan you the Sigma 150mm. I wish I could do the same with a monopod before buying, since I've never used one.
FernandoBatista said:
BTW Witch do you prefer for dragon and butterflies? The 70-300 or the
150?
Click to expand...
I use the 70-300VR plus Nikon 5T/6T mostly in the 200-300mm range, so I know what you mean about the reach. The weight of the Sigma is of no consequence if you are using a monopod. Given the shallow DOF afforded using the close-up filter, I would have to say I favor the Sigma 150mm between the two. It is so sharp that some cropping of images will show no IQ loss and bring you into the equivalent of maybe 200mm plus FOV?

I said before that I like all three lenses for various reasons, the Tokina 100mm as a light weight general purpose macro, the Sigma 150mm for more working distance and faster focus than the Tokina as in shooting bees in flight etc, and the 70-300VR for general birding and coupled with close-up filters for a one lens shooting day solution. I can imagine for macro use being happy with just the Sigma if it were mostly used on a monopod. It is razor sharp with the most creamy smooth bokeh imaginable. I hope you get an opportunity to try before you buy to make sure the Sigma will satisfy your needs. ; )
--
Lora

I've been on Dpreview since June 2006. Unfortunately, some posting history has been lost along the way...

 
I do not find the Sigma AF slow for normal use, while for macro work, I use MF anyway. It does have a focus limiter as well. I do find that on the D300 it will focus at macro distances, which it could not do on the D70 though. I still have to practice using the dynamic focus facility of the D300 with this lens when shooting dragon flies or bees.

Weight is not a problem to me, but again, for macro work I use either a tripod or a monopod (which is such an excellent tool when following quick moving targets).

A close-up example:



A portrait example showing a bit of the bokeh.



And another close-up:



And one more:



I find the bokeh on the 70-300VR messy - especially with green grass or trees in the background.

--
Chris J
D300 - since 16 Dec 2008
Nikon 70-300 VR
Nikon 50mm f/1.8
Nikon 18-70 kit lens
Sigma 150mm f/2.8 macro
SB800 flash
 
Steve Mullarkey said:
Wilfred Wong said:
I've used a Canon 500D filter with 70-300 VR and I'm happy with the
result.
--
Click to expand...
Hi Wilfred,

Thanks for the input.

What size 500D filter did you use ?

I can't see a 67mm size available so I guess you had to use either
something bigger or something smaller ?

--
Best regards,

Steve.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/85162210@N00/
Click to expand...
Well, this questions was not asked to me, but here's my answer anyway :-)

I purchased the 500D in 77mm diameter, since that is the Nikon pro lens size. With the 70-300VR I use the 500D with a step-up ring. If I eventually upgrade to a 70-200VR lens (with 77mm filter diameter), I can still use my 500D. That was my reason to go for the 77mm dia. One disadvantage: because of the larger diameter you can not attach the hood at the same time as the 500D. Not a problem for my macro work, but it's something you need to know....

Regards,
Eric.
 
Steve Mullarkey said:
I can't see a 67mm size available so I guess you had to use either
something bigger or something smaller ?
Click to expand...
The Marumi Achromat lenses come in a large selection of sizes including 67mm, which is what I got. It fits on the 18-70, 16-85 and 70-300 and can take a lens hood. They are available in 3 and 5 diopters -- I got the 3 diopter one.

The IQ of the Marumi is said to be as good as Canon and Nikon. I don't have the others to compare but am very impressed with the Marumi.

--
WSSA member #252
 
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