Best Nikon macro lens?

[ddaquaria]

SB 800. The 900 just came out in the last 9 months or so. I use my camera as the master and the sb 800 as the slave. I plan to get another flash down the road, then I would most likely use both as the slave.

[ssrprelude]

It's Jim (ssrprelue's) fault. He went canon so I had to go Nikon.

J/k. I basically did like Donald advised and picked up both cameras to see which one I liked. The Nikon was more noob friendly to me so I pick it.

Plus my brother has A LOT of lenses it's all about time before he gives them to me. When he upgrades the older ones become mine.

Looks like the lens tree is growing awsome. I need to start practicing more, here comes Thai.

[tbui1178]

Thai, check out Fredmiranda.com and read the reviews on lenses.

[ddaquaria]

Thai, check out Fredmiranda.com and read the reviews on lenses.

+1

And http://www.aquatic-photography.com/forum/

The above link may help in your correct interest of pictures and the links below may help you develop other interest.

http://www.nikoncafe.com/

http://nikongear.com/

http://www.texasphotoforum.com/

[ddaquaria]

Been a while since I went to the aquatic photo link. I found this pretty fast http://www.aquatic-photography.com/f...ad.php?t=15735

[myjohnson]

I can't remember if you can use a D90 as a master or not.

I know the D90 has CLS. I read that D90 users can use master and slave flashes.

Is there any difference between the lighting system for a D90 vs. D200 that I should know about?

Thanks for the help Donald.

[ddaquaria]

Is there any difference between the lighting system for a D90 vs. D200 that I should know about?

I looked at the comparison chart. You're right, it can be used as a Master. In that case I would get a single SB 900 (or an 800 if you can find it). The lighting system would be basically identical to my D200.

[ddaquaria]

http://www.nikoncafe.com/vforums/sho...d.php?t=255647

[madugo]

It's Jim (ssrprelue's) fault. He went canon so I had to go Nikon.

J/k. I basically did like Donald advised and picked up both cameras to see which one I liked. The Nikon was more noob friendly to me so I pick it.

Plus my brother has A LOT of lenses it's all about time before he gives them to me. When he upgrades the older ones become mine.

i agree nikon is more noob friendly....the focus system is just miles better imo...
plus if people around you use nikon then you made the absolutely right choice...
the best way to decide which lens you gonna buy is to try on one if your friend or people you know that got it...which i am sure you will find people that have them...there are many lens that nikon offer, but most user seems to ended up own those most popular lens, at least i know canon people do...there are just a few lens that you will hear people mention them all the time...then i think if the reputations are there, then it's the way to go...
i think another important thing is that i find that if you in the dslr world...you will always wanting to go deeper on the road as long as you have the money to back it up....you will find it that it will cost you a loooot of money in this road...
as of the camera body, you are looking to change once a few year...because of the life span of the shutter, and also new feature...
but as of lens, you are looking to buy THAT right one that will go with you for many years..more like a decade...a lot of top lens are products back in the 90s...and they are expansive..and they can use like forever as long as they are not broke...
whenever i try to decide to buy a lens...i will always do loooots of research, and try to find one to do some test shoot if possible...i tend to think for the future when i try to make a lens purchase...
for example...i got a aps-c body but that i dont buy efs lens..
all my lens are ef because i know the aps-c body i am using will be upgrade to a full frame body in the near future. so if i did go efs lens...when i go full frame body...all my efs lens are useless...
so i mean..always try to to do it right the first time if it is not a problem financially...or i would save for the right lens for later, rather than purchase on how much money that i have now...
truth me...you will want to go further and further....lol...its gonna be like a endless road..
and fredmiranda is also good for buying second hand lens too..
sometimes you will find really good deals there...

[myjohnson]

Yeah, I was really debating hard between canon and nikon.......which you know is endless.

I settle with the D90 body cause it's a step up for noobs. I wanted a body that I can learn with and still use it was my skills develop. Hopefully I can use it for at least 2 if not three years before I get the bug to upgrade.

Regarding lens, it's exactly like you said. I read a lot of people only pick between canon and nikon b/c they are buying into the lenses offered more so than the body.

[Zulaab]

When you have invested several thousands into the lenses its hard to say "lets switch"

[cameracorpus]

Considering what you want to do, I'd try to rent/borrow a 180mm macro. I'm not sure if Nikon makes one, but Tamron and Sigma do. They are in your price point, and they give you a bit of room between you and your subject. No biggie for fish, very big deal for snakes, bees, etc. 105mm would be next.

Like others have said, however, lenses are just about forever, so they are worth saving your lunch money for.

The nice thing about Tamron and Sigma's macros is that they are for all cameras, not just the APS-C sized sensors, like most of the Canon and Nikon consumer grade lenses.

A HUGE plus of the Nikon (I'm almost sure the D90 has it) is wireless flash control. You don't have to have your master flash on the camera, like you do with Canon. Great for doing fish. You can position all of your flashes overhead:


When paired with Nikon SB600 and SB800 external flash units, the D90 can act as a wireless controller:

• Several external flash units can be remotely fired using the signal sent out from the D90's built-in flash
• The amount of light put out by the remote flash units can be set from the D90 camera body

This is a feature that I'm still bummed about Canon not doing.

Houston Camera Exchange can also help you out. Very nice folks there.

[myjohnson]

Considering what you want to do, I'd try to rent/borrow a 180mm macro. I'm not sure if Nikon makes one, but Tamron and Sigma do. They are in your price point, and they give you a bit of room between you and your subject. No biggie for fish, very big deal for snakes, bees, etc. 105mm would be next.

Like others have said, however, lenses are just about forever, so they are worth saving your lunch money for.

The nice thing about Tamron and Sigma's macros is that they are for all cameras, not just the APS-C sized sensors, like most of the Canon and Nikon consumer grade lenses.

A HUGE plus of the Nikon (I'm almost sure the D90 has it) is wireless flash control. You don't have to have your master flash on the camera, like you do with Canon. Great for doing fish. You can position all of your flashes overhead:


When paired with Nikon SB600 and SB800 external flash units, the D90 can act as a wireless controller:

• Several external flash units can be remotely fired using the signal sent out from the D90's built-in flash
• The amount of light put out by the remote flash units can be set from the D90 camera body

This is a feature that I'm still bummed about Canon not doing.

Houston Camera Exchange can also help you out. Very nice folks there.

Yeah, the flash system is another reason why I picked Nikon over canon. I like the CLS...from what I read at least. Soon I'll know how it really works. But I'm sure canon has a nice flash system too. I just don't know much about it.

[myjohnson]

So guys, I'm looking at the 105mm f/2.8 AF and the 105mm f/2.8 VR.

You guys think the VR is worth the extra coin?

[cameracorpus]

The only lens I'd consider without VR is a very wide lens, where it really doesn't matter as much. VR is the best invention since digital. And for fish, the f2.8 is really worth the money.