Cheap Macro for FX

[oldhippy]

Does one exist. Thanks Ed

 

[Mach0]

Tamron 90 2.8.
http://www.keh.com/camera/Nikon-Aut...Focal-Length-Lenses/1/sku-NA08999077076N?r=FE

I have one and it works well.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[tirediron]

What camera are you using Ed?

 

[480sparky]

Define 'cheap'. For some, $50 is too much. For others, $500 is chicken feed.

 

[oldhippy]

D600
price range about 200

 

[480sparky]

Not much available in the dedicated macro lens department.

Maybe reverse a 50/1.8D on an existing lens. You'll have a nifty fifty out of the deal.

Or a set of Kenko tubes.

 

[tirediron]

Well... IMO, the best one that comes closest to that price is the Nikkor 60mm f2.8D; you should be able to find it used for ~$300 or a little less, which kind of blows your budget out of the water... I know NOTHING about 3rd party macro lenses, so I can't help you there.

 

[Dao]

For low cost dedicated macro lens, the only one I can think of is the Cosina 100mm f/3.5. (rebranded as Promaster, Vivitar, Phoenix ... I think Pentax and Tokina have one version too) That lens is a 1:2 but shipped with a diopter to turn it into a 1:1 macro lens. It is a out of production lens so make sure the lens comes with the diopter if you locate one. I had seen the price of the lens ranging from $7x to $1xx used from local Craiglist and ebay.

I just search on ebay, there is one for Nikon mount but it is on the high side for the cost
Mint Vivitar 100mm Macro Lens for Nikon D1 D2 D3 D50 D70 D80 D90 D200 D300 D700 019643163744 | eBay


Some reviews:
The Poorman's Macro: Cosina 100 F3.5 macro lens review
Vivitar Lens: Primes - Vivitar 100mm f/3.5 AF Macro - SLRgear.com!
Phoenix 100mm f/3.5 Macro lens

Flickr group:
https://www.flickr.com/groups/cosina/

 

[Derrel]

For low cost dedicated macro lens, the only one I can think of is the Cosina 100mm f/3.5. (rebranded as Promaster, Vivitar, Phoenix ... I think Pentax and Tokina have one version too) That lens is a 1:2 but shipped with a diopter to turn it into a 1:1 macro lens. It is a out of production lens so make sure the lens comes with the diopter if you locate one. I had seen the price of the lens ranging from $7x to $1xx used from local Craiglist and ebay.

I just search on ebay, there is one for Nikon mount but it is on the high side for the cost
Mint Vivitar 100mm Macro Lens for Nikon D1 D2 D3 D50 D70 D80 D90 D200 D300 D700 019643163744 | eBay


Some reviews:
The Poorman's Macro: Cosina 100 F3.5 macro lens review
Vivitar Lens: Primes - Vivitar 100mm f/3.5 AF Macro - SLRgear.com!
Phoenix 100mm f/3.5 Macro lens

Flickr group:
https://www.flickr.com/groups/cosina/

YESSSSSSSSSSSS! The Cosina/Promaster/Phoenix/Vivitar 100mm f/3.5 macro was sort of a cult classic lens for a while, back in the early 2000's, but it was quietly discontinued as the d-slr craze hit full stride, and the market for MORE-expensive macro lenses suddenly expanded once the Digital Rebel and the Nikon D70 both broke the $1,000 price barrier. I actually saw a LOT of work done with the Phoenix version--and it was a capable lens.

My suggestion might be to look into something like a used Nikon 200mm f/4 Ai lens with a quality + diopter lens "aka close-up filter" aka "close-up lens", of the two-element, achromatic design, like the Canon 250D or the ones made by Raynox, or the old, discontinued Nikon 5-T close-up lens. Of a 200 f/4 Ai and a 20mm extension tube. Not talking about the ultra-cheap close-up filters that were sold in sets of three for $19 30 years ago, but the REAL, high-quality, two-element designs like the anon 250D and 500D,the Nikon 5-T, and so on.

One from Panasonic: Amazon.com : Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 10x High Definition 2 Element Close-Up (Macro) Lens (52mm) : Camera Lens Diopters : Camera & Photo

The Canon 250D Amazon.com: canon 250d close-up lens

 

[pixmedic]

AI 55mm f/2.8 micro.
manual focus, but for macro work, MF is fine.
you can pick one up around $100

 

[djacobox372]

I recommend the 105mm f4 micro ais

 

[astroNikon]

I'm having fun with my Nikon 24-85 / f2.8-4 lens which has a macro switch on it. It's a neat flexible lens but normally in the $300s.
There's other lenses out there like that too that also have macro.

I also have a set of macro filters for my 50mm 1.8D (52mm ??) I've used them before but haven't compared them to my 24-85

but I like the idea of getting an old AI / AI-S macro lens. I think you would get a better quality image.