Cheap Nikon Macro

MrBrownstone · Mar 26, 2014

Hello all, I'm brand new to photography and have been doing it for about 1 month. I'm pretty much only interested in wildlife photography and want to get a cheap macro lens for my d3200 to photograph bugs and flowers for when spring finally hits. If I'm only going to be using the lens for this purpose, does it matter if I don't get an AF lens? I'm totally fine with used gear, even vintage lenses. I've been reading tons of articles but wanted to ask you guys. Third party lenses are fine too. Thanks!

tirediron · Mar 26, 2014

You normally manual focus macro lenses because of the very shallow DoF you often have to work with. My suggestion would be the Nikkor Micro 60mm f2.8D. It can usually be found used for ~$300 or so.

MrBrownstone · Mar 26, 2014

Anything for $150 or less?

tirediron · Mar 26, 2014

For that money, you could get a set of Kenko extension tubes which will let you effectively turn your current lens into a "macro" lens. Those are new, but if you search eBay, or your local Craig's List, you should be able to find them for $100 - 125.

Derrel · Mar 26, 2014

D3200 will accept almost ANY Nikon lens made since 1959. The lowest-price lens would be the 55mm f/3.5 Micro~NIKKOR, in a pre-AI or "non-Ai" state, in perhaps BGN [bargain] condition, from KEH.com.

I own two of these. One has a rough exterior with a lot of scratches and scrapes and rub marks, but immaculate glass. This particular lens was built VERY tough. It was made for a good long time, and the BGN or UG [ugly] ones are dirt cheap. Think $35-$55 or so (last time I looked).

This lens will have ZERO light metering and ZERO automatic flash metering/flash control capabilities on a D3200. You need to set everything by hand: f/stop on the lens, shutter in M mode on the camera. The built-in flash will work only in Manual power modes.

MrBrownstone · Mar 26, 2014

Derrel, do you know any good resources to learn about lighting and flash? I've been reading about macro for the last week and there seems to be a lot of emphasis on lighting. Would I need to invest in a speedlight? Even in sunny conditions is flash required?

Derrel · Mar 26, 2014

MrBrownstone said:
Derrel, do you know any good resources to learn about lighting and flash? I've been reading about macro for the last week and there seems to be a lot of emphasis on lighting. Would I need to invest in a speedlight? Even in sunny conditions is flash required?

No, flash is not required, but it CAN BE very helpful.

Macro and flash is usually done with a TTL remote connecting cord, a speedlight flash, and often, a bracket to hold the flash. MANY macro shooters use flash because it allows them to get a crisp shot, free from blurring due to slow shutter speeds, which go with the small apertures (f/11 to f/22) commonly used in macro shooting.

Sorry, I really don't have a lot of URL's to pass along. KmH is the king of the URL's.

SamSpade1941 · Mar 26, 2014

tirediron said:
You normally manual focus macro lenses because of the very shallow DoF you often have to work with. My suggestion would be the Nikkor Micro 60mm f2.8D. It can usually be found used for ~$300 or so.

Truth and it makes a darn fine portrait lens also.

MrBrownstone · Mar 26, 2014

Can I ask what TTL means or should I just go look it up?

480sparky · Mar 26, 2014

MrBrownstone said:
Can I ask what TTL means or should I just go look it up?

Through The Lens.

MrBrownstone · Mar 26, 2014

Are there any good quality budget speedlights you'd recommend?

IronMaskDuval · Mar 26, 2014

MrBrownstone said:
Are there any good quality budget speedlights you'd recommend?

Yongnuo

SamSpade1941 · Mar 26, 2014

MrBrownstone said:
Anything for $150 or less?

Often times for around that price you can find a Tamron or Sigma zoom that is macro capable . I have a Tamron 70-300 with macro and it was around that price, FWIW they often times can make fairly decent macro lenses if you are on a budget, but your best macro lenses at least in my experience have always been primes that are macro capable. As soon as I have enough money to buy the 200 mm Micro Nikkor I am wanting, I will ditch my Tamron.

CmazzJK · Mar 27, 2014

No one ever shows any love to the 40mm DX

I love mine 250 brand new, check out any online place like B&H, adorama, KEH I bet they have them used fairly cheap. Gets great reviews.

sifelaver · Mar 27, 2014

CmazzJK said:
No one ever shows any love to the 40mm DX I love mine 250 brand new, check out any online place like B&H, adorama, KEH I bet they have them used fairly cheap. Gets great reviews.

i love the 40. had that and the 85 (DX) but sold the 85. 40 is super sharp but you gotta get close. i don't care though because I don't shoot bugs, just flowers.