Macro Lens on a D800 - Lens choice

[muroshi]

Things might be a little different with the VR lens because it's an internal focusing lens, and I suspect that it's optically increasing it's focal-length to achieve greater magnification while keeping a greater distance from your subject than the older non-internal focus lenses. I think this is how it's achieving 1:1 magnification at a greater distance than the older non-internal focus lenses.

What's meant with internal focusing? So the VR would be the best bet on the remaining 105mm lenses if the 200mm is too much.

 

[muroshi]

The old poor mans way to cheat at macro is to reverse mount your lens (mount the lens filter threads to the the camera body with an adapter). You can get some excellent macros this way, but the down side is that your rear lens element is unprotected (unless you get a special adapter to protect it). If you do a lot of macros, you might wan't to get an actual macro lens. The only Tokina lens a I have is an 11-16mm 2.8, so I can't comment on their macro lens, but my 11-16mm is top notch and better than a number of my Nikon lenses.

I would have a 135mm 2.8 Nikkor lens. Is there a way? And what about close focus distance? In normal ussage it was over definitely above 1.5m.

 

[TheDingo]

What's meant with internal focusing? So the VR would be the best bet on the remaining 105mm lenses if the 200mm is too much.

Internal focusing means that the outside of the lens does not move or extend, so the lens stays the same length and the actual focusing is performed by moving the optics inside the lens itself. This has a couple of advantages: the front of your lens is always the same distance from your subject so it's easier to position lights and reflectors without the lens getting in the way, your camera and lens will always keep their balance on your tripod because the lens does not get longer as you focus

To me it does sound like the new 105mm VR lens is better in that it's a little sharper and provides a greater working distance than the older 105mm Micro lenses.

 

[muroshi]

Internal focusing means that the outside of the lens does not move or extend, so the lens stays the same length and the actual focusing is performed by moving the optics inside the lens itself. This has a couple of advantages: the front of your lens is always the same distance from your subject so it's easier to position lights and reflectors without the lens getting in the way, your camera and lens will always keep their balance on your tripod because the lens does not get longer as you focus

To me it does sound like the new 105mm VR lens is better in that it's a little sharper and provides a greater working distance than the older 105mm Micro lenses.

Thanks a lot for your recommendations and explications. Let's see if there is a way to adapt my 135mm and if not, I will rent or get the VR.

 

[TheDingo]

Thanks a lot for your recommendations and explications. Let's see if there is a way to adapt my 135mm and if not, I will rent or get the VR.

You can use Nikon extension tubes to focus much closer with your 135mm lens, but don't expect the same amount of detail that you will see with a real Micro lens.

Also, you can get very good results by reverse mounting an old darkroom enlarging lens like an 80mm Nikon or Rodenstock enlarging lens. ( focusing is difficult without a camera bellows though )

 

[muroshi]

Thanks a lot, then the Sigma or VR seems the way to go.