More magnification for my AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D?

[MiFleur]

I have been contemplating buying the Nikon 105mm macro lens, but cannot afford it at present time. (Just invested in new camera and lenses)
I have been using the AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D, It works great for flowers, portraits and products photography, but I have started to shoot insects.
I would like to increase the magnification of the lens, but ruled out the extension tubes, because it would not leave me enough distance between the front of the lens and the insect.
I have looked into some close-up filters,
I have read in another thead about the Raynox DCR-250 Super Macro Snap-On Lens
I also checked teleconverters ( I know the Nikon TC-2EIII will not work with this lens) any other brand that would work?
I have heard about reversing lens ( but don't have any other prime lens so I guess it rules it out)

What are your suggestions to increase the magnification of my 60 mm lens?

My current camera is the Nikon D600

Thanks in advance for your input

 

[480sparky]

I would change lenses.

 

[pgriz]

With your current lens, any increase in magnification (whether by tubes, bellows, or add-on lenses) will reduce your working distance. As Sparky noted, the only way to really increase the working distance AND have higher magnification is to go to a lens with higher focal length. One photographer I know used a 200mm telephoto on tubes to get the working distance and magnification he wanted. The results looked good, but then, he was re-purposing an old 200mm prime lens (manual focus and all that).

 

[cgipson1]

You definitely need a lens with more working distance if you are serious about insect photography. Even a 50mm - 60mm will scare a lot of them... you have to get to close. Check out the Tamron 90mm $300-$350 used.. or the Tokina 100mm $400-$50 used! The nikon 105 is a great lens... but either one of those will do close to the same image quality and let you get something now that will work for you!

 

[MiFleur]

As everybody is confirming, it seems that I cannot get away from buying another dedicated macro lens for shooting insects.
I have never bought a used lens, It does seem like the best solution, any recommendations as to what are the possible problems to be aware of when buying a second hand lens? ,
thank you all for your input

 

[Aloicious]

you could always get an older version of the 105 Micro...like the D version, or even a manual focus one since doing macro is typically manual focus stuff anyways...or even something like a NON-OS version of the sigma 150 (which is what I have) though that might be in the $5-600 range which is pretty close to the 105 VR nikkor range but it'll give you more working distance.

 

[cgipson1]

As everybody is confirming, it seems that I cannot get away from buying another dedicated macro lens for shooting insects.
I have never bought a used lens, It does seem like the best solution, any recommendations as to what are the possible problems to be aware of when buying a second hand lens? ,
thank you all for your input

Ebay.. make sure the seller has lots of good reviews.. and Very Few to NO bad ones!

Amazon used is always a good choice... they will typically back it up.

Buying from a reputable dealer like Adorama or B&H is always smart.

If you buy local, check to make sure it works well, no unusual noise, no dings or dents.. etc....


Also.. macro is shot with manual focus almost exclusively, so you can use a manual (Nikon D for instance) focus lens if you want to save some money.

 

[sm4him]

I think every lens I've bought so far has been used--with a little patience, you can get some really good deals. I got the Tokina 100mm macro that Charlie mentioned earlier for a little over $350, used. I *think* I bought it from B&H. I've also bought from keh; not sure if I've bought a lens from Adorama or not. I like buying from those three because the return is SO simple if there is anything at all wrong with it. But for the right price, I'd buy off ebay or Amazon as well, with the caveat Charlie mentions about ebay.

I really just can't say enough good things about the Tokina, I love it! I used it on a D5100 and so I *HAD* to manually focus. I finally got a D7000 right after Thanksgiving, which allows me to now use the Tokina with autofocus. I tried it a few times...and went right back to focusing manually on macro shots!! It IS nice to be able to autofocus it now when I'm using it for something other than macro, but that rarely happens.

 

[480sparky]

I can vouch for the 105 Nikkor D.

When buying used, all the caveat emptor rules apply. Buy local if at all possible. Nothing beats being able to put your paws on something when it comes to spending your hard-earned scratch. Take you camera with you to actually try it out. If you have one, or can borrow one, take a laptop along so you can do some pixel-peeping on the test shots.

If you're buying online, try the reputable dealers first. Lacking that, and you want to go the ebay-type route: read the listing carefully. Check the sellers' previous sales and see if they normally sell gear or if it might be a "I'm selling this for a friend" or "Estate sale find" type of listing. Buying from someone who either has owned/used photo gear is better than someone who found a lens in a box in the basement and is just selling it for the cash.


Another plus: Something in the 90-120mm range makes a nice portrait lens!

 

[greybeard]

When I got my 105 micro, it was a toss up with the Tokina 100 Macro. I ended up with the Nikon because I could afford it and I thought it was the absolute best choice for me. However, the Tokina is about 1/2 the price and is a very close second. It lacks VR which may not even be an issue for you. Another problem it may have for you is that it needs a camera with an internal focusing motor like a D90 or D7000 which again may or may not be an issue for you. As far as IQ and build quality goes, the Tokina will hold its' own against just about anything and at a reasonable price.

 

[MiFleur]

Wow! Thanks guys (and gals) I love this forum!

So many helpful recommendations, I will start searching e-bay and the web for a used lens. I will see which occasions crosses my path. It is rather hard for me to buy local as I live where there are more mooses than stores and more insects to photograph than one would wish for.

you could always get an older version of the 105 Micro...like the D version, or even a manual focus one since doing macro is typically manual focus stuff anyways...or even something like a NON-OS version of the sigma 150 (which is what I have) though that might be in the $5-600 range which is pretty close to the 105 VR nikkor range but it'll give you more working distance.

Do you like your sigma 150?

480sparky

I can vouch for the 105 Nikkor D.

When buying used, all the caveat emptor rules apply. Buy local if at all possible. Nothing beats being able to put your paws on something when it comes to spending your hard-earned scratch. Take you camera with you to actually try it out. If you have one, or can borrow one, take a laptop along so you can do some pixel-peeping on the test shots.

If you're buying online, try the reputable dealers first. Lacking that, and you want to go the ebay-type route: read the listing carefully. Check the sellers' previous sales and see if they normally sell gear or if it might be a "I'm selling this for a friend" or "Estate sale find" type of listing. Buying from someone who either has owned/used photo gear is better than someone who found a lens in a box in the basement and is just selling it for the
cash.​

I will see if there is anything in Montreal where I go on a regular basis, Thanks for the suggestion to bring my laptop, I would not have thought about it.
Anybody in Montreal having one of these let me know.

I really just can't say enough good things about the Tokina, I love it! I used it on a D5100 and so I *HAD* to manually focus. I finally got a D7000 right after Thanksgiving, which allows me to now use the Tokina with autofocus. I tried it a few times...and went right back to focusing manually on macro shots!!

It is nice to be able to autofocus sometimes.

Next summer I will have shots of insects and will post them here on the forum.

​

 

[Overread]

Sigma 150mm is a FANTASTIC LENS - the older version is still a very good buy and very cheap on the used market now.


That aside a new macro lens won't give you any more magnification than you're getting now. 60mm, 35mm, 150mm, 200mm - because magnification is a ratio of the reflected image size to the actual subject size the 1:1 magnification that all the current prime macro lenses on the market get to gives you the same frame coverage no matter the focal length.

What changes is the working distance (longer macro lenses give you 1:1 from further away) and also the background blurring with longer lenses giving an increased amount of background separation and thus more blurring.


If you want more magnification you've already identified the 3 key methods to use - extension tubes, teleconverters and close up lens attachments. Reversing is also a fourth option though, as you rightly say, you'll need a new lens for that as well. The only way that you can increase the magnification without losing focusing distance is to use teleconverters, you might get luck with the Kenko pro brand teleconverters (they have the smallest protruding front element and thus fit to the most possible lenses) however do check to see if its possible before buying. Another option is to use a teleconverter with an extension tube between it and the lens - this will still remove infinity focusing on the lens and reduce the min focusing distance, but it will still let you mount the telconverter to get its bonus to the magnification.

The close up lens attachments are also a valid option, again they cut your focusing distance, but they work well and have the bonus that they are fast to attach and remove. A Raynox DCR 250 is a great and affordable start in this regard.

As for working distance, don't get too scared, the only lens on the market that currently does more than 1:1 magnification is only 65mm in focal length and drops down to around a 40mm at its 5:1 setting - and many photographers use that lens all the time. A challenge yes, but sometimes those reduced working distances make other things easier (you can brace yourself on the surface the subject is upon more easily and thus reduce shake, which becomes even more extreme as the magnification increases_/

 

[pgriz]

Maybe Charlie and Sparky can post (repost?) some shots of your macro setups? Because MiFleur needs to know that the lens (and extension/bellows) is only the starting point. Then you need to think about light, which usually means some kind of flash setup, and if you're into precise focusing, then there's the tripod, head, focusing rails, remote shutter release, diffuser screen, etc. It IS possible to go minimally, but many (most?) macro photographers have a whole pile of gear to get the showcase results. Depending on whether I'm moving or stationary, I have two different setups - one with a flash bracket, and another on focusing rails and a tripod, both with flashes fired off-camera and with various diffusers between the flashes and the subject(s). Macro photography can be a photographic black hole, sucking money like there's no tomorrow.

 

[480sparky]

 

[molested_cow]

Try KEH.com for used lens. Absolutely trust worthy. They under rate their equipment, so a "ex+" is actually like new. I usually go for the "EX" rated ones. "Bargain" rated are the ones you probably don't want.

I have the 105VR macro. It's good, but I do find that I can use even more magnification. I am using the D700 so maybe it should be that I can ask for more resolution for cropping!
Working distance is still small, but not that small, only a few inches, which is enough to scare some bugs away.