FX lens for medical photography

I have what may seem to be a silly question - I'm a surgeon and I do a lot of medical photography. I've been considering an upgrade from my D70 to a D700, for a number of reasons - a tripod isn't practical during surgery, so I have to take a lot of freehand shots with suboptimal lighting, despite the use of a ring flash or ring light. I need a macro lens that allows me to take shots of the entire operative field, as well as closeup shots that may bring the lens as close as 5 inches from the subject. Bascially, I'm looking for macro zoom lens that I could use with the D700. Some have suggested that I upgrade to a DX format camera instead of the FX, but I need the low noise and low light capabilities of the D700. Any suggestions? Thank you.

The only macro zoom by nikon is the 70-180mm. However this lens is hard to find nd commands a tidy sum around $1000 i believe. As a veterinarian myself i photograph my ER cases and surgeries as well. The lenses i use are the 55mm/2.8 micronikkor ais lens, 105mm/4 micro nikkor ais lens and my sigma 24-60mm f2.8. Bodies that i use are the d300 and d3. The exact combo depends on the situation. For example if one of my technicians are taking the photo then the sigma will be mounted typically on the d3 b/c of the superior low/ambient light capability. For flash when needed i use a sb-800.

Lens choices include:
tamron 90mm
Nikkor 105mm micro nikkor the laterast G VR version
Micro nikkor 60mm the newer G version
Sigma has 50, 70. 105. 150 and 180mm macro lenses.

You will want to check the specs of each and see if a lens meets your close focus requirement of 5 inches.

HTH

Viperdoc said:

I have what may seem to be a silly question - I'm a surgeon and I do
a lot of medical photography. I've been considering an upgrade from
my D70 to a D700, for a number of reasons - a tripod isn't practical
during surgery, so I have to take a lot of freehand shots with
suboptimal lighting, despite the use of a ring flash or ring light.
I need a macro lens that allows me to take shots of the entire
operative field, as well as closeup shots that may bring the lens as
close as 5 inches from the subject. Bascially, I'm looking for macro
zoom lens that I could use with the D700. Some have suggested that I
upgrade to a DX format camera instead of the FX, but I need the low
noise and low light capabilities of the D700. Any suggestions?
Thank you.

Click to expand...

--

Thanks for the advice. I take almost all of my operative photos myself, and I often take shots deep within cavities that require coaxial light, such as from a right light or ring flash - my SB-600 doesn't work well in this situation, even if slaved to my pop-up flash. The two primary types of shots I take are A/P (anterior/posterior or head-on) shots in which the nose or the mouth may fill the frame while the patient is lying down. With the lens that I currently use on my D70 (Sigma DG 28-300 1:3.5-6.3 D), I have to stand on two stepstools stacked up in order to get the shot (otherwise, I'm too close to focus). The perspective shots are then taken at 28mm, but I get somewhat of a fish-eye effect that distorts the proportions that I'm trying to capture with the shot.

I appreciate the guidance - any other tips you could lend would be much appreciated.

If 1:2 macro is enough, and i imagine it may be think about the older nikon 28-105 f3.5 - f4.5, on FX it would be ideal, should have some cropping ability for much smaller em ..... parts

You will need to pick one up 2nd hand but they are quite cheap these days.

--
Gerry,
http://gerryd.smugmug.com/ discount code on homepage

'There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.' - Steven Wright

For FX, I would use the 105 macro, you would be able to get full face and also 1:1. I have the D700 and use this with the Sb-29s. If you don't need to get full face, i.e., just the mouth, this set up would work on DX (I have a D70 also). On my D70 I can fill the frame with a 2 molars. The Sb-29s give you the option of moving the ring light to the main unit mounted on the hot shoe to get the light back a bit. (The new twin flash set up is very nice and it give you some shadows for depth).

What focal lengths are you using for your facial shots? The 60mm macro may work for you, but it may put you very close to your subject. hth

I use the 70-180mm macro zoom, a sample from it can be seen at
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1030&message=31539069

Viperdoc said:

Bascially, I'm looking for macro
zoom lens that I could use with the D700. Some have suggested that I
upgrade to a DX format camera instead of the FX, but I need the low
noise and low light capabilities of the D700. Any suggestions?
Thank you.

Click to expand...

Hey! Don't they use D90s and modest zooms on CSI?

Last time I worked in an OR the lights were giving me f11 at 1/180 at ISO 400 which was fine for my 120 Medical Nikkor, no flash, but I do eye surgery. With a D700 a 50mm Sigma would be my choice, or a 55 Nikon, the 60 is a little too long, for full face shots in the OR. If you need close detail a 105. While 180 would be useful 70 is not wide enough so I wouldn't go with the 70-180. The 28-105 has a good reputation, focuses very close and is cheap so that is also a consideration.

The SB29 will only work on manual with the D700, takes some getting used to but doable with practice. The current macro flash is the R1 which uses the commander settings with the D700. Really a neat no wires flash. I use it for our plastics work with a 105 AFD.
Hope this helps,

Tom

If no macro zoom lenses fit the bill, maybe the thing to do is buy a zoom that covers a favorable focal length with enough speed, and a set of extension tubes?

I would also suggest the 105 VR.

Since you are hand holding a lot of your shots, you get the benefits of VR, and on FX it should't be so long that you can't get a picture of the entire head unless the room is quite small.

The 60mm macro would probably work just as well, and perhaps better for the head shots, but it lacks VR.

Unfortunately there aren't many macro zoom lenses to choose from.

Mark

In medical photography, 1:1 magnification is not necessary.

I don't have a good suggestion for full frame but for DX, the Sigma 17-70mm would have been perfect. It has wide and mid tele zoom with a macro function up to 1:2, I believe. I've owned that lens before.

I think the D300 would have also been sufficient for low light photography.

I was a medical photographer for 20+ years so I know something about stool stacking in the OR. It was something I never liked to do but often had to do to get the shot. I don't think there is one perfect lens for your needs but do suggest you look at the previously mentioned Nikkor 28-105 3. 4.5 lens.

It isn't made anymore but you can get them used on Bay for about $160 in excellent condition. I have one and still enjoy using it. It is sharp and best of all (for you) its distortion levels are VERY low. On top of that it weighs a mere 16 oz. and has a handy macro switch. The front element will turn a bit as you focus so keep that in mind if using a ring light. Try it. I think you'll like it.

Best wishes,
Richard
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Equipment: 1 camera, 1 lens, 38 years
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