Nikon 55~200 AFS

[Dave442]

I would just go to a 90mm or 105mm macro lens. The 85mm f/1.8 is also nice lens. I think these are all sharp lenses and are around your budget.

 

[Quovadis]

I would just go to a 90mm or 105mm macro lens. The 85mm f/1.8 is also nice lens. I think these are all sharp lenses and are around your budget.

Thanks...I am going to try the 85mm to start @ 10 feet. Indeed i have to increase light amount.

 

[Quovadis]

what do people use f1.8 for? Surely the focused portion is minuscule? Insects maybe?

 

[Quovadis]

Is the lens 18-55 that came with my Nikon d3300 a real 18-55 for DX? Or do I have to multiply the 18 and 55 by 1.5?

 

[Designer]

The problem I have is 100mm is actually 150 mm on a DX right? So that's too much. I would have to stand further than 9 feet away? Now i'm confused

Quite possibly, but it doesn't really make any difference. You see, with a longer lens, even though you will be physically farther back, the image you see and capture will make it seem as if you're standing closer. This is why people who photograph wild birds often use a 500mm lens or even longer. The photographer may actually be several hundred feet away from the bird, but the bird's image will practically fill the frame.

Yes, you are VERY confused, but hopefully we will get through this.

 

[astroNikon]

the 18-55 actual Field Of View is 18x1.5 up to 55x1.5
as per the link I posted earlier

 

[Designer]

what do people use f1.8 for? Surely the focused portion is minuscule? Insects maybe?

No. That is not what you use the large aperture for. A large aperture can be used for low light conditions, OR to purposefully throw the background out of focus. Blur the background. Makes for a nice portrait. Not for handbags though.

 

[Designer]

Is the lens 18-55 that came with my Nikon d3300 a real 18-55 for DX? Or do I have to multiply the 18 and 55 by 1.5?

The focal length of the lens (any lens) is what it is. The focal length is what it is. On a camera with a smaller sensor, the sensor captures just the middle of the image circle. We have had many threads about this. You could do a search for them and read them for a full explanation, some of which have excellent illustrations.

 

[Designer]

So for small photos I think a full frame would be a waste of money.
I am still very confused about the mm. If I buy a 100mm it's a 150mm in reality. I need to be around 9 feet back at 100mm not 150mm.

My advice is to simply put all that out of your mind. It is confusing you far beyond what you need right now.

All this shopping for a different lens is also throwing you for a loop when you don't need to think about it right now. The lens recommendations that posters have given you are all good. Pick one in your budget and buy it.

 

[Designer]

Thanks...I am going to try the 85mm to start @ 10 feet. Indeed i have to increase light amount.

Leave your lights exactly where they are. Don't move your lights back to where the camera is.

Seriously, dude, you're making this way too complicated.

 

[Quovadis]

This is what is confusing me. With my macro lens 55-200 or the 18-55 I turn the macro wheel (or what ever it's called), and I can make the subject larger or smaller. If I bought a fixed mm lens (prime), let's say 85mm then I would have to move my tripod back and forth to make the bag larger or smaller? Is this correct?

 

[Designer]

So an increase in mm = an increase in price?
Are higher mm lenses less sharp than lower mm lenses?

Sometimes, but not always. Your existing 55-200 has a long focal length, but it is a cheap lens, therefore not as sharp as you want.

Remember; you started this thread complaining about soft focus. Get a better lens that you can afford.

 

[Designer]

This is what is confusing me. With my macro lens 55-200 or the 18-55 I turn the macro wheel (or what ever it's called), and I can make the subject larger or smaller. If I bought a fixed mm lens (prime), let's say 85mm then I would have to move my tripod back and forth to make the bag larger or smaller? Is this correct?

It's not a "macro wheel". The zoom ring is what make the image appear larger or smaller in the viewfinder.

Seriously, I will not be able to take much more of this.

You haven't read your user's manual, you haven't done much independent research, you have gotten some poor advice from some "pro" photographer, and we all have been trying to get you up to speed, but your incorrect assumptions and incomplete knowledge base is severely hampering your progress.

 

[Designer]

This is what is confusing me. With my macro lens 55-200 or the 18-55 I turn the macro wheel (or what ever it's called), and I can make the subject larger or smaller. If I bought a fixed mm lens (prime), let's say 85mm then I would have to move my tripod back and forth to make the bag larger or smaller? Is this correct?

Learn to use the correct terminology.

Neither of your lenses are "macro". Neither one.

They ARE both zoom lenses. Both of them.

Yes, you might want to move your tripod back a bit, but so what? Nothing but the distance will be changing. Means you will have to walk two or three more steps to change handbags.

DO NOT move your lights. Moving the lights is NOT NECESSARY. You want to leave your lights right where they are. DO NOT move your lights. Camera, sure, but NOT THE LIGHTS.

 

[astroNikon]

before you buy a lens buy that book, or buy it at the same time. Just get it. you may not read the entire thing, but read it a little at a time and experiment with what you learn in it. ==> https://www.amazon.com/Light-Scienc...5406&sr=8-2&keywords=lights+magic+photography

 

[Dave442]

The nice thing with a prime lens, fixed focal length, is that you will begin to know where you need to be just looking at the subject. So you move there before even looking through the camera. In this case you just move the tripod to that point and after a time you will move it to the right spot on the first try. You will not be moving the lights, just the camera. In fact you already have the bag size range noted so you can just mark a few X's on the floor so you know where to put the tripod for each range of bag size.

Also, I have a second tripod that I use for the close-up shots just so the regular product shot tripod can stay in its area. Old heavy tripods are very cheap second hand (well I bought mine new 30 years ago, now it is old and heavy and not worth much).