Nikon 105 macro

[Ejazzle]

My birthday is next satuday and I was thinking about getting either the Nikon 105 macro or the 90mm Tamron.

I think i like the distance from the subject with the 105 mm. But how much of a difference is b/t the closest focusing point on 105 and the 90? Is it that big of a difference?

 

[calgaryjustin]

Hello,
My name is Justin Murphy. I am a wedding photographer in Calgary Alberta. My website is Murphyimage Photography - Award Winning Calgary Wedding Photographer
I have a Nikon 105. I use it for rings, I love it. I've never been more satisfied with a macro lens.

Justin

 

[AlexColeman]

If it is a gift, why not go for the better one?

 

[Ejazzle]

justin, your website is awesome. You have so many perfect shots. Great work!

Alex, do you know which one is "better?"
I have heard the Tamron is "optically" better. So does that mean better IQ?

 

[jlykins]

IQ stands for image quality. I think that the Nikon 105 is an awesome lens. When the wife gets over the last purchase, I'll be getting a 105 myself.

 

[Ejazzle]

Lol. my dad hates it when i buy lenses too.

I know what IQ stands for. what i was wondering is if "IQ" and "good optics" means the same thing?

 

[jlykins]

Oh sorry. When I say good optics, that's what I mean. Good image quality. Dude if you think your dad doesn't like it when you buy new lenses, just wait till you have a wife.... lol

 

[NateS]

I have heard the the Tamron 90mm is one of the sharpest lenses period, regardless of use, some of the stuff I've seen from it make it one of the sharpest lens I've EVER seen. Many say it's an incredible portrait lens too but almost too sharp for portraits. Personally I wouldn't be able to justify the extra money for the Nikon 105 over the T90. Shoot, the T90 with a 1.4TC would make it 126mm lens and it would probably still be ridiculously sharp through the TC. Plus the loss of max aperture wouldn't matter much in macro work since you normally shoot f8-f12 or higher.

Of course all this is assuming that there is a TC that works with the T90, to which I honestly don't know if there is or not.

Bottom line is that the T90 being as crazy sharp as it is for that price, I can't imagine paying more for an equal or possibly lesser lens unless you absolutely have to have the extra 15mm (and assuming you can't use a TC w/ T90).

 

[Boz Mon]

I have the tamron 90mm lens and it is freaking sharp as ever. I am trying to upload some sample shots, but for some reason imageshack is not cooperating. If you go to my deviantart page, the first 3 shots of the ice are with the tamron lens.

I found the lens on craigslist for $150, a price that you cant beat.

 

[Do'Urden's Eyes]

Hello,
My name is Justin Murphy. I am a wedding photographer in Calgary Alberta. My website is Murphyimage Photography - Award Winning Calgary Wedding Photographer
I have a Nikon 105. I use it for rings, I love it. I've never been more satisfied with a macro lens.

Justin

Dont advertise yourself in a post. thats not what this forum is about.

 

[kundalini]

I'm not sure this will help or hurt, but I just got the Nikkor 105mm. I took a few snaps with it yesterday, but only really put it to use today. To me.... it's freakin' sharp.... so sharp, in fact, that I'm having some trouble hitting my focus point. But then again, I've never shot macro before either. Surely there is a learning curve to consider.

So I found some cankers on a felled tree that looked interesting to me.


1 - Taken at normal focusing distance (12" minimal)

2 - Don't remember the ratio, but close to 1:1

3 - 100% crop of above

4 - The setup

I also took all the photos in Fight Club today with the 105mm.

Hope this helps some.

 

[Ejazzle]

wow, these lenses are unbelievable. Thanks for all the help. To me it just seems like which focal length would i rather have. But its not that much of a difference.

 

[federerphotography]

You'd be remiss to not note the VR of the 105 and the fact it's also widely regarded as a gloriously sharp piece of glass. This is going to help it be more 'all around' ... not to mention, it's a bit further away from an 85 prime if that's something you plan to add to your bag (whereas the 90 is almost identical to the 85).

 

[sabbath999]

I have the 105 VR. It is insanely sharp, by far the sharpest lens that I own (and I own some gooduns).

The VR is not a very useful feature, since frankly with macro you are mostly on a tripod anyway (at least most people are).

Did I mention how sharp it is? It is VERY sharp.

 

[Ejazzle]

federer made a really good point.

sabbath, thanks for the help, but do you know if the 105 is sharp or not?

also i hear that the VR is virtually useless with macro. But its really good for everything else.

any other opinions on this lens would be great!