A lens upgrade recommendation?

Roy.T

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I use my D7500s for product photography. I mostly photograph A/V cables and small cable accessories. The camera is permanently mounted on a tripod, and the photos are taken using a shooting tent, so I have complete control of the lighting. I also can adjust the tripod position, so a zoom lens isn't required.

This is the only purpose of the camera, and it's used for nothing else.

Since the quality of the pictures has a crucial impact on selling, I want to use the best possible lens for this purpose. I'm currently using a Nikkon AF-S DX 40mm F/2.8 Micro lens paired with the D7500 camera.

Is there a lens that would be considered a significant upgrade? Or is this pretty much the best it can get using the D7500 camera?

Thanks in advance.
 
Not quite sure what the 40mm isn't delivering for you. I have the lens. No beefs.
 
The lens you have is a great one, you can of course get faster with a Nikon 35mm f1.4 prime lens, but if your controlling the light then the faster lens is a big cost, A rule I have always used is never use the lens at its fastest or widest, so an f2.8 I would use at f4 etc
 
You don't mention the shooting angle of the subject. For example if you are shooting straight down a regular Micro lens will work just be cautious of f-stops past f11 where diffraction can play a role in less sharpness. However, if you are shooting a 3/4 angle to the subject then a tilt shift lens would make a significant difference. It would allow you to employ the Scheimpflug principal to gain DOF on your subject. The Nikkor 85mm F2.8PC is a great choice for this type of work and used ones pop up from time to time. The 45mm F2.8PC-E is another great choice.
 
Those are pricey lenses. Think the OP was after macro optics--not PC lenses. There's a bunch of Chinese-made optics on the market now that are good value--Laowa and 7Artisan for starters.
You don't mention the shooting angle of the subject. For example if you are shooting straight down a regular Micro lens will work just be cautious of f-stops past f11 where diffraction can play a role in less sharpness. However, if you are shooting a 3/4 angle to the subject then a tilt shift lens would make a significant difference. It would allow you to employ the Scheimpflug principal to gain DOF on your subject. The Nikkor 85mm F2.8PC is a great choice for this type of work and used ones pop up from time to time. The 45mm F2.8PC-E is another great choice.
 
Macro lenses don't solve the scheimpflug issue. The older 85mm f2.8 PC non-E version could be had used for a decent price. It's all a matter of what quality is one looking for.
Those are pricey lenses. Think the OP was after macro optics--not PC lenses. There's a bunch of Chinese-made optics on the market now that are good value--Laowa and 7Artisan for starters.
 
Macro lenses don't solve the scheimpflug issue. The older 85mm f2.8 PC non-E version could be had used for a decent price. It's all a matter of what quality is one looking for.
So? OP wanted a macro upgrade. Not sure why your NPS affiliation matters here,,,
 
I use my D7500s for product photography. I mostly photograph A/V cables and small cable accessories. The camera is permanently mounted on a tripod, and the photos are taken using a shooting tent, so I have complete control of the lighting. I also can adjust the tripod position, so a zoom lens isn't required.

This is the only purpose of the camera, and it's used for nothing else.

Since the quality of the pictures has a crucial impact on selling, I want to use the best possible lens for this purpose. I'm currently using a Nikkon AF-S DX 40mm F/2.8 Micro lens paired with the D7500 camera.

Is there a lens that would be considered a significant upgrade? Or is this pretty much the best it can get using the D7500 camera?

Thanks in advance.
Not many lenses will equal that lens - you might consider upgrading the camera.
 
So? OP wanted a macro upgrade. Not sure why your NPS affiliation matters here,,,
Your comments suggest you have an opinion but zero knowledge on the topic of product photography. I guess you should do some homework, the PC lenses I mentioned focus down to 1:2 and with an extension tube they can do 1:1.

As far as the NPS affiliation, I'm a working pro since 1981.
 
Your comments suggest you have an opinion but zero knowledge on the topic of product photography. I guess you should do some homework, the PC lenses I mentioned focus down to 1:2 and with an extension tube they can do 1:1.

As far as the NPS affiliation, I'm a working pro since 1981.
That's not what they're after.
Enough of the NPS stuff--it's not an award or membership-by-invitation.
How much do you pay annually?
 
That's not what they're after.
Actually, you don't know what they are after, only they do. But as a product photographer for 40+ years using all photographic formats, a flat field lens such as a Macro lens is not that useful unless you want to use focus stacking. A TS lens gives you much more flexibility in DOF using scheimpflug which is why commercial photographers use them.

FTR and to clear up your delusions regarding NPS, only in the last couple of years have Nikon set up a 'paid' program which still requires minimum equipment restrictions. Prior to that it was on merit requiring published tear sheets and minimum equipment guidelines.
 
Actually, you don't know what they are after, only they do. But as a product photographer for 40+ years using all photographic formats, a flat field lens such as a Macro lens is not that useful unless you want to use focus stacking. A TS lens gives you much more flexibility in DOF using scheimpflug which is why commercial photographers use them.

FTR and to clear up your delusions regarding NPS, only in the last couple of years have Nikon set up a 'paid' program which still requires minimum equipment restrictions. Prior to that it was on merit requiring published tear sheets and minimum equipment guidelines.
Malarkey. Merit? Seriously? Delusional if you think it's anything other than what it is now. Faded glory+self-congratulation. Give it a rest. "Minimum equipment guidelines?" Please...
 

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