A good macro lens for a beginner?

[CathyC]

There really is no such thing as a free lunch with lenses as a rule but for more economical alternatives have a look around at pricing for Tamron 90mm macros and you might find some secondhand units that are selling cheaply. Be aware that the early versions of that lens will not autofocus with your current camera but that may not be a drawback as many many macro photographers use manual focus anyway.

LOL I wish I had read this during the week I have the opportunity to purchase a Tamron 90mm macro lens from a photography friend, and I have spent the day today trying it out ..... and being most frustrated I couldn't get the Autofocus to work ..... I figured I was doing something wrong but then a quick search on the internet and I find out that the Tamron will not AF with the Nikon D3100 or D5100. I did get to try it out with hubby's D70 and the autofocus worked beautifully and I did get some OK shots using the manual focus, but the depth of field is a bit too shallow for my liking; I am sure I can play some more and get some photos I am happy with.

My dilemma now is do I go ahead with this purchase, or do I keep on the hunt for the same lens but in the AF-S version?
I think I will have another play tomorrow.
cheers
CathyC

[I @ M]

and I did get some OK shots using the manual focus, but the depth of field is a bit too shallow for my liking; I am sure I can play some more and get some photos I am happy with.

My dilemma now is do I go ahead with this purchase, or do I keep on the hunt for the same lens but in the AF-S version?

The depth of field is related to the distance of the camera from the subject and the aperture used. For most close up / macro photography a "starting" aperture would be F/8 and then smaller F/11, F/16 etc. Many of the photos that you may have seen and that have inspired you possibly have been done by taking multiple images at differing focus points on the subject and then combined in software to give a greater depth of field.

Choosing between the 2 types of lens to either have AF or not is fairly easy to me, I would hunt for a later version that will focus with your current body as you can always turn AF off when you desire but you can't turn it on in the earlier version. As well as being a good macro lens, the Tamron is also a very good portrait lens on either an APSC or 35mm camera and autofocus can be very handy to have in those situations.

Happy playing and thinking -----

[CathyC]

Choosing between the 2 types of lens to either have AF or not is fairly easy to me, I would hunt for a later version that will focus with your current body as you can always turn AF off when you desire but you can't turn it on in the earlier version. As well as being a good macro lens, the Tamron is also a very good portrait lens on either an APSC or 35mm camera and autofocus can be very handy to have in those situations.

Happy playing and thinking -----

thanks for the input I returned the lens to my friend (luckily he had someone else interested in it) and will keep a lookout for another opportunity to buy a macro lens that will autofocus with my cameras

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Think a little here.
Get the hubby to upgrade his camera so his current camera that the AF works on becomes yours.

LOL I like your thinking, but I think I will stick with what I have got for the time being.

- - - Updated - - -

Even better .. why waste money on a new lens that won't give you much of a benefit .. and use that money instead on a better camera!
A D7200 ... or even better! ... a much cheaper(now) D7100 that will not only AF when you need it .. but also produce much better images than the D70 is ever likely too.
Another camera option to consider in this price range could be the venerable D700!
Second hand these tough old beasts are more than capable, and allow you a few more framing flexibility options .. at more than a reasonable price.
Other cameras that will AF with this lens are:
D80, D90, D7000, D300/D300s, D600, D610 and higher.

LOL I wish! I cannot justify a new camera just yet - I only got the D5100 recently ........... but I like your thinking

[I @ M]

I returned the lens to my friend (luckily he had someone else interested in it) and will keep a lookout for another opportunity to buy a macro lens that will autofocus with my cameras

And isn't that the correct thing to do !!

I am glad that you did that because I have just had a look through your blog that is listed in your signature. Must be a recent addition as it wasn't there in your earlier posts and it throws a new light on things.

Forget my earlier post about a Tamron 90mm, having seen a few photos on your blog my feelings are that you would be better served by a Sigma 150mm macro, either with image stabilisation or without ( 2 different models ) as they will allow more working room when spiders are subjects.

As well as offering great macro detail at longer camera to subject distances, it will work perfectly for food and handicraft images, I think that you deserve that lens as it really has got a lot going for it with your images and at a pinch could be fitted to your husbands camera on the rare occasions that you aren't using it.

Just go and buy one !!!

[Mark L]

My dilemma now is do I go ahead with this purchase, or do I keep on the hunt for the same lens but in the AF-S version?

Think a little here.
Get the hubby to upgrade his camera so his current camera that the AF works on becomes yours.