Macro lens for my Nikon D7200 on a budget

[Ray Deen]

Hi Guys

Im new to this forum and need some advise as a keen amatuer photographer.

I have recently treated myself to a Nikon D7200 with the 18 -140mm lens kit. I also have a 18-55mm lens from my old D3000.

I am looking to get myself a Macro lens with a budget of about £250.

The only use for the lens will be detailed close up shots of wrist watch dials and movements as I am a watch collector. Currently when using my standard 18-55mm lens I have to crop right into the image with starts getting too pixilated and not very detailed or sharp.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated

Thank you

 

[fbuis]

Take a look at this:

- Nikon AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G Lens (£239.00 at Amazon GB).

 

[bjn70]

Fortunately macro does not require a large investment.

I bought a Phoenix macro for my D300. It is an autofocus lens that goes to 1:2, plenty close enough for watch dials. You can add a cheap extension tube or closeup lens to get to 1:1 if you want to do closeups of small parts of dials or movements. These lenses have cheap plastic barrels but work well and are sharp.

I was doubting my Phoenix so I bought a Nikkor 105mm f4 micro lens (manual focus). In tests I'm not sure I could tell the difference between it and the Phoenix. The Phoenix automatic is probably available for less than $100 and the used manual focus Nikon for about $150. If you want to spend more then the current Tamron 90mm, Sigma 100 (105?) or Tokina 100mm are all very good and available used for close to your budget. They are AF and most or all of them go to 1:1 without outside help.

If you have a lens that lets you set the aperture with a ring you can buy cheap extension tubes and try it that way. Cheap extension tubes are closer to $10 through online auctions.

(Now that I've inserted the image the website says my Phoenix lens is 100mm. BTW the watch is the discontinued Seiko White Knight.)

 

[SiFu]

Hello!

... will give you a very budget friendly way to do stills of inanimate objects. Here is a set with a simple AFD 50/1.8 meant to give an idea of how close it will get you (1.5 crop body), standard orientation, reversed, reversed on PN-11 (women watch, 36mm dial):



Best,

Alex

--
carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero

 

[SiFu]

Hello!

... to control reflections and light with anything that has a short working distance (such as reversal). For that matter I usually prefer long working distances for watches.





Here the domed glass proved tricky, and you can still spot a tiny reflection of the camera in the screws (in the untouched full res shot; this is a highly compressed downsampled full frame).

How far away are you now with your lens?

Best,

Alex

--
carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero

 

[embie]

Hi,

This is the way I do this :

-select macro lenses (for D7200) on your favorite camera store websites,

-pick out the ones within your budget,

-check each of them in DPR reviews and look at the available samples of them

-buy the best.

Succes,

 

[a_c_skinner]

Eagles of Sunderland. 105mm f4 Micro-Nikkor. £150. I've been tempted. Buy it to save me.

 

[Alex Permit]

Hi Guys

Im new to this forum and need some advise as a keen amatuer photographer.

I have recently treated myself to a Nikon D7200 with the 18 -140mm lens kit. I also have a 18-55mm lens from my old D3000.

I am looking to get myself a Macro lens with a budget of about £250.

The only use for the lens will be detailed close up shots of wrist watch dials and movements as I am a watch collector. Currently when using my standard 18-55mm lens I have to crop right into the image with starts getting too pixilated and not very detailed or sharp.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated

Thank you

I would suggest a longer telephoto lens, so you can shoot at a comfortable distance. This will make lighting easier as well. Unfortunately good macro telephotos are expensive.

One approach would be to go with a used lens. A clean micro Nikkor 105mm f/2.8D should be within your budget. Here's an example on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-Micro...134153?hash=item2f0539c1c9:g:oiAAAOSw~XpZOu2G

Another well regarded lens is the Tamron 90mm f/2.8 SP. It can be had for quite a bit less

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ex-TAMRON-S...444973?hash=item1c889363ad:g:ykMAAOSwRUhY9c2~

 

[gnet158]

Tamron 90mm f2.8 non VC can be had for $100 or less if your patient on Ebay.

 

[Michael Benveniste]

Eagles of Sunderland. 105mm f4 Micro-Nikkor. £150. I've been tempted. Buy it to save me.

Well over 30 years ago I broke up with my then girlfriend and she took the 105mm f/4 with her. I still occasionally miss the lens. It's simple, relatively light, and sharp. That said, it will not reach 1:1 unaided. You need to add an extension tube or fairly strong close-up accessory lens. Either way, that could put the total cost at higher than the O.P.'s £250 budget.

For Watch photography on a budget with a D7200, my choice would either be a 60mm f/2.8D or a Tamron 90mm f/2.8 172E or 272E model. Used copies in nice condition regularly sell at around £200.

 

[a_c_skinner]

They have a PK12 tube for £29 too.

1:2 on APS is close enough for what the OP wants, and in any case is apparently not reading.

Andrew

 

[Michael Benveniste]

They have a PK12 tube for £29 too.

1:2 on APS is close enough for what the OP wants, and in any case is apparently not reading.

A PK-12 tube only adds 14mm of extension. With the 105mm f/4, that only gets you to 0.63x, so one wouldn't be able to fill the frame with a 22mm women's watch, for example. At least a couple of my wife's watches are even smaller. But by all means go for it if it meets your needs.

 

[Alex Permit]

They have a PK12 tube for £29 too.

1:2 on APS is close enough for what the OP wants, and in any case is apparently not reading.

Andrew

 

[a_c_skinner]

I know that, I had allowed for it.

It will fill the frame with a 25mm object on an APS sensor, which is what the sadly absent OP is using.

1:1 on full 135 frame will fill the frame with a 24mm object.

If the suggestion had been a 1:1 macro for a full frame camera there would have been no demurral. Anyhow at £180 it is difficult to go wrong. I'm even tempted to buy it myself to add to my 60mmG, 105VR and 85mmPC, but truthfully I'm macro-ed out.

 

[a_c_skinner]

I was suggesting adding it to their 105 f4 micro.

 

[bjn70]

I was suggesting adding it to their 105 f4 micro.

I used a real short extension tube with my 105mm f4 to copy mounted 35mm slides, but the set came with longer tubes too. I think the entire set cost around $10 on ebay. Shooting macro with a tripod there is no problem using a manual lens with simple extension tubes and setting the aperture yourself, but with G lenses you're pretty much out of luck.

 

[ZedDoctor]

Here's a helpful video, and it also doubles as a wonderful portrait lens. If i were still into macro, this would be my goto lens on my D750.

--

Der Herrgott nimmt und der Herrgott gibt

 

[Ray Deen]

Hi Guys

Thank you all very much for all the information. It has been very helpful