Macro Lens - which focal length to buy?

Advice/comments please..........

I see many superb macro shots on the forum (love the spiders & bugs) and I wish to buy a macro lens in the very near future.

My query is, which focal length lens should I go for?

I have been considering the new Sigma EX DG 50mm and 105mm lenses.

Any advice on the pros and cons of each of these focal lengths (or similar, doesn't have to specifically relate to Sigma lenses), would be most welcome.

paulk said:

Advice/comments please..........

I see many superb macro shots on the forum (love the spiders &
bugs) and I wish to buy a macro lens in the very near future.

My query is, which focal length lens should I go for?

I have been considering the new Sigma EX DG 50mm and 105mm lenses.

Any advice on the pros and cons of each of these focal lengths (or
similar, doesn't have to specifically relate to Sigma lenses),
would be most welcome.

Click to expand...

Paul, I believe you really need to consider both your subject matter and your budget. Longer focal length lenses such as105, 180, 200 allow you to achieve macro images but at a greater distance from the subject matter. This is crucial for subjects such as insects that may be frightened easily. Flowers, on the other had, don't mind you getting close to them with a lens! In addition, longer focal length lenses are bigger and heavier than smaller ones and they are also more expensive.

HTH!

Linda V.
http://www.dynamicdesign.biz/gallery
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/digitalnuts/
http://www.pbase.com/lvich

paulk said:

Advice/comments please..........

I see many superb macro shots on the forum (love the spiders &
bugs) and I wish to buy a macro lens in the very near future.

My query is, which focal length lens should I go for?

I have been considering the new Sigma EX DG 50mm and 105mm lenses.

Any advice on the pros and cons of each of these focal lengths (or
similar, doesn't have to specifically relate to Sigma lenses),
would be most welcome.

Click to expand...

Why not concider the sigma 70 to 300mm lpo macro ( dont forget to get the close-up lens attachment which will make it one to one magmification).

I use this with the D70 and with the lens fully extended the on board flash does not cause a shadow. Borrow one from a friend. I use it to take pics of flowers and insects. So far with a fair amount of sucsess.

It is quite cheap to buy and does the job.

I'm very happy with the Sigma 28-200macro

http://www.pbase.com/pooch/sigma28200

Good luck, Gary

paulk said:

Advice/comments please..........

I see many superb macro shots on the forum (love the spiders &
bugs) and I wish to buy a macro lens in the very near future.

My query is, which focal length lens should I go for?

I have been considering the new Sigma EX DG 50mm and 105mm lenses.

Any advice on the pros and cons of each of these focal lengths (or
similar, doesn't have to specifically relate to Sigma lenses),
would be most welcome.

Click to expand...

GLP said:

http://www.pbase.com/pooch/sigma28200

Good luck, Gary

paulk said:

Advice/comments please..........

I see many superb macro shots on the forum (love the spiders &
bugs) and I wish to buy a macro lens in the very near future.

My query is, which focal length lens should I go for?

I have been considering the new Sigma EX DG 50mm and 105mm lenses.

Any advice on the pros and cons of each of these focal lengths (or
similar, doesn't have to specifically relate to Sigma lenses),
would be most welcome.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Do not foget the Nikkor 70-180 micro. Hard to find, but apparently quite good. Not to mention the Nikkor 60, Tamron 90 etc. There is a plethora of outstanding macro lenses out there for some reason. Also, don't forget that the dof of longer lenses is smaller (if that's possible) making focussing more difficult in some cases.
--
D70, 5700, 995
patrickh

paulk said:

Advice/comments please..........

I see many superb macro shots on the forum (love the spiders &
bugs) and I wish to buy a macro lens in the very near future.

My query is, which focal length lens should I go for?

I have been considering the new Sigma EX DG 50mm and 105mm lenses.

Any advice on the pros and cons of each of these focal lengths (or
similar, doesn't have to specifically relate to Sigma lenses),
would be most welcome.

Click to expand...

I'm really getting surprised at some of the quality of the Sigma 105ex. on my D70

it is then a 155 2.8 . I compared a 100% crop with the Nikon 60mm and the Nikon wins,

but The Sigma has other qualities, it may be better at longer distances than the Nikon, it is lighter, check the comparison:
http://www.alisonsart.com/papabear2_3.html

I went through this when I bought a macro lens just recently. I went for the Tamron SP 90. Also looked at the Sigmas and Nikons. I found the 105 too long as it is equivalent to 158 mm 35mm lens ie quite telephoto and gave too narrow view for me taking photos of the family. Only the Sigma 50 mm did I find a relatively poor review.

The 60 mm Nikon was too expensive.

The Tamron had the balance of longer focal length and macro cabability. If you are hunting insects handheld bear in mind that to get sharp photos you need to have a fastish shutter speed eg for the Tamron 90 about 1/120th, for a 105 I guess 1/160th?
Regards,
David

paulk said:

Advice/comments please..........

I see many superb macro shots on the forum (love the spiders &
bugs) and I wish to buy a macro lens in the very near future.

My query is, which focal length lens should I go for?

I have been considering the new Sigma EX DG 50mm and 105mm lenses.

Any advice on the pros and cons of each of these focal lengths (or
similar, doesn't have to specifically relate to Sigma lenses),
would be most welcome.

Click to expand...

and what does it cost?

MikeS said:

paulk said:

Advice/comments please..........

I see many superb macro shots on the forum (love the spiders &
bugs) and I wish to buy a macro lens in the very near future.

My query is, which focal length lens should I go for?

I have been considering the new Sigma EX DG 50mm and 105mm lenses.

Any advice on the pros and cons of each of these focal lengths (or
similar, doesn't have to specifically relate to Sigma lenses),
would be most welcome.

Click to expand...

Why not concider the sigma 70 to 300mm lpo macro ( dont forget to
get the close-up lens attachment which will make it one to one
magmification).
I use this with the D70 and with the lens fully extended the on
board flash does not cause a shadow. Borrow one from a friend. I
use it to take pics of flowers and insects. So far with a fair
amount of sucsess.

It is quite cheap to buy and does the job.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the comments everyone.

I intend to take pictures of bugs more than plants, so I guess the longer focal lenghts will suit me better.

The Nikon lenses might have the edge in sharpness, but I think they are a bit more than I wish to spend on a macro lens.

I already have the Sigma APO 100-300mm f4 EX IF HSM lens, but it itsn't a macro lens and I don't want another lens of similar zoom range.

I think the Sigma EX 105mm macro is still top of my list, but I need to take a look at the Tamron 90mm too.

Still a few weeks away from purchasing, so I have a bit of time yet to decide.