Another which lens thread.

[CAreefer]

Hey all, been lurking in this section for a while and admiring all the beautiful pictures and taking lots with little success, but using all the tips, I am getting better. I picked up a set of the close up lenses for my kit lens (18-70mm) that came with my D70 but I also realize the limitations of this set-up for macro photography. This is the best I've been able to accomplish thus far, and is 1 of several hundred taken.

I would like to increase the number of usable shots taken and was hoping to do it with equipment. As I stated, my camera is the D70, I have the kit lens which is the 18-70mm and a 28-105mm for shooting other than aquaria. My macro interest lie within the aquarium only, at least for now so I'm not looking for top end stuff.

Basically I'm looking at a couple different lenses and think that either would fit my needs as they get similar reviews.

Sigma 105mm macro
Tamron 90mm macro

The Nikon 105mm would be the ultimate, but the VR puts it out of my price range and I really don't know if I need that high of a quality of lens since it will spend 99% of its time nose down in my reef tank anyway. I'm nervous anyway submerging that much money in camera, then add another several hundred in a lens...

My biggest concern is the minimum focus distance. That is what I like about the close up lenses. I can get VERY close and the camera will still lock on. If I'm understanding things correctly, the minimum focus distance on both of the above lenses is 11.8 and 11.3 or so respectively, and thus I couldn't take a top down picture of anything in the top half of my tank. Am I correct in this assumption? If so, I really don't see how the longer lenses would be of much use. Wouldn't I be better off with something in the 50mm or 60mm range?

Thanks for taking the time, and any input is appreciated.
CAReefer

 

[Ognid]

I personally would choose the Sigma 105mm. Then get a 2X teleconverter to go with it and get some real close shots.
I have the older Nikon 105mm(no VR) with a tiffen 2X converter and get some good top down shots like this:
Monti
f24
ISO=400
manual focus
shutter=1.3sec

Hope I helped
Matt

 

[CAreefer]

Thanks Matt, Beautiful pic. With a 1.3 sec shutter speed, what did you use to hold the camera still? Did you fashion some sort of tripod? If so, did you use a topdown box? How to keep it submerged? Minimum focus distance with the teleconverter? Wow, each question just raises another. Sorry about that.

Marshal

 

[Ognid]

Marshal,
I took these above a vat with a tripod at about 13-16in away from the water. You ought to be able to do the same through the front of your tank. Just make sure you are perpendicular to the glass as to avoid distortion. Having a macro lens makes all the difference in the world compared to any zoom lens. When you look through your viewfinder you will see! It become real fun then. As your coral is at a 1.1 ratio compared to 1.2-1.4 with your zoom add a teleconverter and go even closer than 1.1. You will not believe the difference.
Still it takes alot of patience and practice even with the best gear.
Matt

 

[CAreefer]

Well, thanks to the generous offer of a board member to remain nameless until he gives the okay, I purchased a 105 Nikon f/2.8 macro lens. I had just a couple minutes to play with it this afternoon and here are the results. No tripod was set up as time was limited and it was too much like christmas to wait until I had the time to do a proper job.

Nikon D70
Aperture priority mode
f/8-11 for most shots.

I know this one is over sharpened, but I was playing with the settings on the camera.

Best one for last.

CAReefer

 

[jet_jer]

Very Nice!!! Much better than I ever did with it and you've only hadit a day or so

Glad you like it .

Just so everyone knows - this was a very easy transaction and I would willingly do business with CA again.

Jer