macro lens recommendation for my slr

[gindobuck]

hi i have a nikon d40
i was wondering from your recommendations which macro lens would you recommend and why?

[sphelps]

Depends what you're looking for.

I bought the Sigma 150mm Macro cause I wanted a powerful macro of coral polyps among other things.

My next purchase will be a 50 or 60mm macro for nice sharp pictures of full colonies and FTSs and of course other things related and not related to the aquarium.

The Nikon 105 Micro is also super nice, and it will be my third macro lens purchase. It will give you best of both, plus it has the VR which I wish my Sigma had. It also seems to be a very popular choice for the aquarium hobby.

[nickb]

Have a browse through this forum. There have been several closely related threads int he past 2-3 weeks.

The Nikon 105mm is a very good lens and, if you have the money, would be a good choice. However, the VR isn't of great use with macros (you will tend to use a tripod) and it costs almost double the price of third-party lenses which almost as good.

[gindobuck]

are we talking about the:
Nikkor AF 28-105mm 3.5-4.5 D Lens
or
Nikon AF Nikkor 35-105mm 1:3.5-4.5 lens

[Misled]

neither, this one

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/424744-GREY/Nikon_2160_105mm_f_2_8G_ED_IF_AF_S.html

[gindobuck]

dang.. 700 bucks
i might need to save up for a while

thanks for keying me into the right direction
any other possible macro lens?

[Jar*Head]

If you don't mind manual focus lens, Nikon has the 105mm f2.8 Ai-S lens which work very well. I was lucky enough to find one on Ebay for $275 new.

[nickb]

An excellent, but cheaper macro, is the Tamron 90mm f2.8. After rebate, about $360.

[drauka99]

Sigma 105 f2.8
Tamron 90 f2.8
Nikon 105 f2.8

those are basiclly your main three options

some people have used the 60 f2.8 but most who got it complained that it didn't have enough "reach" for corals (perfect for flowers though)

[gindobuck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13920557#post13920557 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drauka99
Sigma 105 f2.8
Tamron 90 f2.8
Nikon 105 f2.8

those are basiclly your main three options

some people have used the 60 f2.8 but most who got it complained that it didn't have enough "reach" for corals (perfect for flowers though)

the three that you listed are they manual focus or auto?
are they set at 105mm? or can you adjust from like iono 35mm to 105mm

[southstar066]

these are prime lenses so they are set...i have the Tamron 90mm macro and it is wonderful. It actually has better reviews than the Nikon 105. It has AF but cant be used because its not AF-I or AF-S.....but great for tanks

[nickb]

There is a new version of the Tamron 90 for Nikon mounts which contains an AF motor in the lens. Hence, it will AF on all Nikon cameras. But, for macro work, you will nearly alwat use manual focus anyway.