Which lens to suit macro and portrait photography

[pdiddy]

Hi all!
I'm new to this forum and pretty new at this photography lark.

I own a Nikon D5000 and I have the kit lens 18-55 VR 3.5-5.6, a Sigma 70-300 5.6 and my lovely Sigma 10-20 4-5.6 wide angle.
I currently enjoy taking landscape pictures but I am wanting to try something new.

I was thinking about macro and/or portrait photograhy and I am a little confused what would be an ideal all round lens for this type of shooting.

I understand that longer focal length lenses are better for portraiture, but I am hoping someone could advise me on a lens that would be suited for both aplications. I was looking at the sigma Sigma 70mm f/2.8 EX DG and I think that would be my limit to my budget.

Could anybody advise me if this would be a good option or is there better alternatives available? Unfortunately I dont live near any decent camer shops so I wouldnt be able to go a try them out for myself.

Many thanks!

 

[joemc]

I do not own it...But I have shot with the Nikkor 60 mm micro several times and it is a fantastic lens.

Cheers, Joe

 

[Johnboy2978]

I have the Sigma 70mm f/2.8 Macro and I bought it exclusively for the macro purpose. It also has very good reviews. It works exceptionally well for macro since it is very sharp. While it didn't buy it for use as a 70mm portrait lense, it is still very sharp and can be used for such. For portraits though, I generally use my Pentax 77mm f/1.8 Limited or my Pentax 50mm f/1.4. Both do very well and can't be beat by a macro lens.

 

[itznfb]

Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED
60mm would work well too. I use the Nikon 60mm f/2.8D Micro. Would be nice to have the 105mm though.

I don't think the Sigma will autofocus on the D5000.

 

[Mike_E]

If you can, try renting the Nikon 105mm.

It'll make your other lenses jealous.

 

[BAmereihn]

105mm, save some cash and get the sigma hsm

 

[Rifleman1776]

Can't argue, the 105 is a great, maybe ideal, length for portraits.
You already have one, just set yer zoomer to 105 and say "smile".
The same lens is great for macro work as well. If you want closer, buy and extension tube set. Much cheaper than more lenses.
The only advantage to buying more lenses is, if you can afford them, having more lenses makes you feel like a better photographer. You won't be better but you will sure impress folks when you open up your gadget bag.

 

[pdiddy]

Thanks for all your comments!
I think the nikkor 105 might just be a little too expensive for me at the moment, and your right, the 70m Sigma doesnt autofocus on my D5000.

I will look at the extension tubes, but eventually I think I would like a much faster lens than my 70-300 Sigma.

 

[PatrickHMS]

Nikkor 105mm - yeah, a near $1,000.00 lens sure oughta do it!

 

[Derrel]

Tamron has a new 90mm autofocus f/2.8 macro lens with a built-in AF motor in the lens, which would allow it to work on your D5000 with full autofocusing functions. The earlier decade + of Tamron 90mm AF-SP macro lenses did NOT have the in-built motor in Nikon lens mount.

Macro lenses are often bought, tried, put away, then later sold or traded-in back to dealers, so I suggest strongly that you look for a pre-owned macro lens in your area if you want to save 25-30 percent off the cost of a new macro lens. I own a Tamron 90 AF-SP, and it is a fine lens. I bought it used for $260 five years ago,well below the then-current new price.

The 70mm Sigma has a reputation as a good lens, and the focal length seems about right for a DX camera like a D5000. I personally prefer the longer 90mm length for macro shooting, but for people photography, 90mm on DX is frankly, too long in most situations, so the 70 would be better for portraits in my book. EDIT: I just saw the comment that the Sigma 70mm macro will not AF on the D5000--I was not aware of that. Still, one thing to keep in mind is that "most all" macro lenses have absolutely hair-trigger autofocus and manual focusing at portrait distances like 5 to 20 feet. Macro lenses typically have very slow,long focusing rotation in the 1:1 or 1:2 ranges, out to around 1 meter,and then beyond 1 meter, the focusing travel often roars from 1 meter to Infinity in a *very* short arc, which can lead to some focusing issues at portrait distances, such as focus hunting behavior, out of focus shots, and an inability to accurately and reliably keep up with moving subjects. Macro lenses are truly optimized to perform best at macro ranges, while regular field telephoto lenses like the 85mm 1.8 lenses, are designed for work from Infinity back toward the 5-6 foot mark.

 

[barfastic]

Macro lenses are often bought, tried, put away, then later sold or traded-in back to dealers, so I suggest strongly that you look for a pre-owned macro lens in your area if you want to save 25-30 percent off the cost of a new macro lens. I own a Tamron 90 AF-SP, and it is a fine lens. I bought it used for $260 five years ago,well below the then-current new price.

that was soooo not the case with my tamron 90mm Di. hat lens was 75% on my camera, and when i could only carry one lens, thats the one i carried. Tack sharp, and at a good price to boot! i used it originally on a sony a350, but since i sold that gear setup and i am now on a d300s, i am considering the same exact lens again. If not i might end up paying a little bit more, and getting its bigger brother

 

[jeff5897]

Nikon 105 micro is suit for portrait & macro, you can see many samples here:

http://english.sellpower.net/modules/flickrorg/dlsr_index.php?id=2&dc_model=0&iso1=0&iso2=0&len_id=117&exposure1=0&exposure2=0&shutter1=0&shutter2=0&num_focal_mm=0&num_focal_mm2=&B1=Query

 

[Rifleman1776]

Thanks for all your comments!
I think the nikkor 105 might just be a little too expensive for me at the moment, and your right, the 70m Sigma doesnt autofocus on my D5000.

I will look at the extension tubes, but eventually I think I would like a much faster lens than my 70-300 Sigma.

Personally, I prefer manual focus. That's why my film Nikons are Fe2 models.
We all like faster. Usually our budgets don't.

Edit: I'll add, IMHO, auto focus for portrait work is asking for frustration. If the af focuses on the tip of the nose you have a lost pic. If it focuses on a highlight in the background, same thing. Manual puts the focus where YOU want it. I know, I know, fancy DLSRs have a jillion zones and settings to overcome all this. Personally, I like to 'focus' on the subject and the picture, not on equipment.

 

[Overread]

Honestly the AF on te sigma 70mm is nothing special - your not missing out on much in not having it It is rather loud and not that speedy overall - it does the job well though when used, its just not stella at it. For my macro work that is really not a problem at all since I (and most macro shooters) do most of the work in full manual focusing - its far more accurate and easier than fidding around with the AF = especailly at AF tends not to be as accurate at close magnifications. In additon the poorer AF quality is a general fact of most macro lenses - its just not as important at feature for macro photography.

The only limitation with a 70mm macro is that your working distance (NOT affected by crop sensor or not) is going tobe shorter than for a longer focal length lens, but its still very workable once you get used to it. This is more a factor for bugs since the closer you are the more chance you have of spooking them. With experience, practice and time though you can learn to work with this shorter working distance though and many of hte stella macro shots seen where the shooter goes in very high magnifications (eyes of insects filling the frame for example) they are often working very close to the bug.

An added bonus of the 70mm sigma is that it will fit both the sigma 1.4TC and the 2*TC (even though its not listed as compatable on their website). It gives a little more focal range and also a boost to magnification as well - a 1.4TC I find great for macro work as it lets one get that little bit closer to smaller fly sized insects with minimal image quality loss.