Best 1:1 Macro lens for a good price

dearlybeloved · Sep 18, 2012

im trying to find a relatively inexpensive macro lens to take pictures of plants and bugs yet would like to use it for other things as well.

i was looking at the nikon 60mm 2.8 macro but i think 60mm would leave me with little natural light since i would have to get a lot closer to the object that i would take pictures of. i was also looking at a tamron 90mm 2.8 lens and im wondering if you guys could tell me a little bit about it and what you think about me getting it since its a little cheaper. id like to spend less than 400 on it if that give you my price range. thanks guys!

Newegg.com - TAMRON AF272NII700 90mm f/2.8 SP AF Di Macro Lens for Nikon AF

sovietdoc · Sep 18, 2012

Tamron 90mm is a very good lens.

dearlybeloved · Sep 18, 2012

so if i could buy it for 279 i should?

Michiyo-Fir · Sep 18, 2012

tamron 90mm f/2.8 is amazing. It was my favorite lens for both macros and portraits for a long time. Extraordinarily sharp, amazing bokeh. The only complaint is that in extreme low light it doesn't focus well. In daylight works perfectly. I got mine for about $250 used. Can't say enough good things about it.

Infinite_Day · Sep 18, 2012

I have the Tamron as well. It's a very good lens for the money and I suggest you give it good consideration.

cgipson1 · Sep 18, 2012

Tamron 90 is a good lens, as mentioned! Also.. the Tokina 100 is an excellent lens, but a trifle more costly.

dearlybeloved · Sep 18, 2012

just picked it up off of ebay! thanks guys!

Dao · Sep 19, 2012

Pretty much most of the dedicated 1:1 macro lens I read about are good optically. Canon, Nikon, Tokina, Tamron or Sigma. Even some of the old manual focus macro lens also good (based on the result I saw)

DecoraLux · Sep 20, 2012

Bear in mind the focal length of your macro lens when making your choice as they can double up as a superb portrait lens due to be being a high quality prime lens. I had a Sigma 105 for quite some time and got some super macro and potrait shots, however the AF can be a lot slower than a standard portrait lens

catalina73 · Oct 13, 2012

I'm new to this, just got a Nikon D3200 and am learning to use it. I think I'm looking for the same lens as you. This is the info that I found. Tamron 70-300 might be just as good, but for less money?

[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][TABLE="class: diffs, width: 784"]
[TR="bgcolor: transparent"]
[TH="bgcolor: transparent, colspan: 8, align: left"][h=3]Reasons to consider the Tamron 90mm f/2.8 SP Di Macro Nikon-f[/h][/TH]

[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Is a prime lens[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent, align: right"] Yes [/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent, align: center"]vs[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"] No [/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Prime lenses have a single focal length, they are typically sharper and have wider apertures[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Significantly more magnification[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent, align: right"] 1:1 (1x) [/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent, align: center"]vs[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"] 1:2 (0.5x) [/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Take macro shots with subjects 2x larger in your photo[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Wider aperture[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent, align: right"] f/2.8 [/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent, align: center"]vs[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"] f/4 [/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]At its widest, the 90mm f/2.8 SP Di Macro Nikon-f captures slightly more light, 1 f-stop[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: transparent, colspan: 9"]

[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

tamron-90mm-f2.8-sp-di-macro-nikon-f_front_icon60h.jpg

[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"] Learn more about
the Tamron 90mm f/2.8 SP Di Macro Nikon-f [/TD]

[/TD]

[TH="bgcolor: transparent, colspan: 8, align: left"][h=3]Reasons to consider the Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Nikon-f[/h][/TH]

[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Significantly better telephoto[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent, align: right"] 300 mm [/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent, align: center"]vs[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"] 90 mm [/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Around 3.5x more reach, less perspective distortion[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]More zoom[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent, align: right"] 4.3x [/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent, align: center"]vs[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"] 1x [/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Around 4.5x more zoom, giving you more flexibility for photos[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Slightly better wide angle[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent, align: right"] 70 mm [/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent, align: center"]vs[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"] 90 mm [/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]More than 20% better wide angle[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Slightly cheaper[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent, align: right"] $192.84 [/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent, align: center"]vs[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"] $459.95 [/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]The best price we've seen is $267 cheaper (2.4x less)[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: transparent, colspan: 9"]

[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]

tamron-70-300mm-f4-5.6-di-ld-macro-nikon-f_front_icon60h.jpg

[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"] Learn more about
the Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Nikon-f [/TD]

[/TD]

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

TheFantasticG · Oct 13, 2012

The Tamron 70-300 doesn't go to 1:1 like the Tamron 90mm 2.8 sp di.

catalina73 · Oct 13, 2012

Ah, ha, very good point, thanks!

swiftparkour94 · Oct 16, 2012

If it doesn't break your budget, look into the Sigma 150mm, the newer version has OS as well as HSM

coastalconn · Oct 16, 2012

There is NO comparison between the 70-300 Di LD and the Tamron 90mm F2.8. They are for completely different uses. I had the 70-300 when I started out and for the price it was good for what it was. Slow AF, relatively sharp, heavy CA/PF but friendly price and a good entry lens. The Macro lens is in a different league. It is tack sharp, great bokeh and true 1:1...