macro lens?

[Doug]

I just bought my first SLR, a Nikon D50. It had great reviews everywhere I read, so I went with it. I decided not to buy the "kit" lenses but went with a Sigma 18-200mm, and a Sigma 70-300mm Macro Super. I really enjoyed taking real close up macro shots with my Olympus C-765, and I was hoping I could get even closer with a SLR. But I guess the macro lense I bought only lets me get up close from a distance. It was very helpful in taking pics of butterfly and bees, as they don't like me to get too close. But I can not get the real close up detail like I want. What lense can I get that will let me get really, really close up pics of things like flowers and leaves. I'm kind of on a budget, so anything real expensive is probably out. Thanks everyone.

Doug

[coldrain]

Hello Doug,

There are two excellent macro lenses on the market for about the same amount, I believe they are around 400USD.

The Tamron f2.8 90mm SP Di macro lens, and the Sigma f2.8 105mm macro.
Both will let you get really close to your subject and allow 1:1 macro shots, meaning that if the sensor of your camera is for instance 22mm wide, you can get a subject that is 22mm wide to fill the whole image.

I decided on the Tamron because in the german professional magazines which I sometimes read they found the Tamron to be a tad more sharp and contrasty, and 90mm makes for a nice portrait lens, but both lenses are pretty equal. Sharp and contrast is nice and the colour too.

Either of these lenses will give you excellent photo quality for a moderate (for a dedicated macro lens) price :)

Congratulations with your nice new DSLR, I bought an EOS 350D myself.

[Bald Eagle]

From someone that takes Macro shots on a wife budget(oops), I can tell you to try Extension tubes with your set-up, they do an excellent job. very crisp and clear. And, they are not very expensive at all. hope this helps.

[ReF]

if you only plan on using the macro lens for subjects that won't scare off, the sigma 50mm macro could be worth a look if you have a smaller budget.

reviews at: fredmiranda.com

[Cold Snail]

If you are on a budget try a Phoenix 100mm macro for $129.99 brand new.

Here are a couple from my D70, just resized from a JPEG file..
At f/8.
http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/939/dsc7404medium8ss.jpg

And wide open.

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/1999/dsc7406medium8yv.jpg

(I wish I had a bigger version of that car to shoot, a Hot Wheels version just isn't the same... :D )

It is only a 1:2 ratio on it's own, but it comes with a filter to make it a 1:1. For a starting lens, it's very good.(and I have used the stunning 200 mm f/4D AF Micro-Nikkor, but that's a bit out of my price range)


Nikonians, even did a review on this lens.....
http://www.nikonians.org/html/resources/non-nikon_articles/phoenix/100f35-1.html