brokenz
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Veteran Member
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Posts: 9,098
Re: 105 Macro VR or 200mm Macro
Dennis Shouldice
wrote:
Aside from the zoom range, what are the pros and cons of these two
lenses for Macro work? I am tempted by the VR capabilities but have
no experience with either lens.
Keep in mind I don't own either.
What do you consider macro? Handheld as well as you can do? Off of a tripod? Static objects only? Insects?
My experience with macro is limited to the Vivitar Series 1 90mm 2.5 (and I really haven't played with it as much as I'd like), a Nikon 60mm 2.8D Micro, a Nikon 120mm f/4.5 (fixed apeture and 1:2 max) some old Nikon 55mm's (I've got one in the closet I should dig out and try with my D200 actually), and a pile of high speed lenses I've converted for various reproduction ratios.
I agree that anything over 100mm becomes really tough to handhold. Even at 60mm I'm usually shooting at 1600ISO and wide open to get useable shutter speeds even in decent light. Is that what you really want? I like abstract but most folks don't. The 200mm you are looking at with f/4 and considering the focal length I just can't imagine using handheld at anywhere near 1:1 even with a flash.
The 105mm seems interesting for the addition of VR although I still question it's usefullness for the type of macro and flower photography I like to do. AFS should be a non-issue. If someone finds AFS useful then they really aren't doing high magnification probably IMO.
Honestly I wouldn't choose either. Like others I've been generally unimpressed with the image samples I've seen of the 105mm VR. Additionally I hate tripods (although I do use when I absolutely have to) so for how steady I am anything over about 120mm (I'm slightly past my steadyness limit wide open with my Nikon 120mm at only 1:2 even!) is out of the question for what I want to do.
If I wasn't having to gear up for the wedding season I'd already have a Voigtlander 125mm f/2.5 Macro. For someone starting out I'd recommend either the Nikon 60mm 2.8D Micro or Tamron 90mm 2.8. Do a search and you'll find some stunning image samples get posted regularly with folks using the Tamron. I do mean stunning in color, bokeh, contrast, you name it. I think I actually might have been served better with one myself over the Nikon 60mm. I love the sharpness and to the edge contrast I see with my Nikon but would love to directly compare it to the Tamron wide open. I do believe the Tamron has better bokeh.
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Fit for release from a mental institution but banned from the 3-0-0-D forum since 6-2005.