Multi-purpose lens for Portrait, Travel and Macro

[kunjal_patel]

<p>I know there are almost similar threads running through this forum, however, I was a little confused even after going them and the review of the lenses. Not really sure if they will suit my needs. </p>

<p>I own a <strong>D7K</strong>, which is an excellent body with the <strong>18-105 VR kit lens</strong>. It's satisfying most of my needs.</p>

<p><strong>For Portraits:</strong> I mostly shoot my kiddo for which sometimes this lens seems particularly slow. Also, for a few in-door functions, its kinda not suitable for low-light situations.<br>

<strong>Outdoors:</strong><br>

I do Nature Landscape while travelling.<br>

Also, having interests in Macro, I certainly like to take photographs of the creatures (Butterflies, snails, flowers, pollen). I have yes taken the pics but the focusing is too slow for the butterflies.</p>

<p>Hence, the reason, I am thinking of getting my hands on a lens which could help in satisfying my needs here. After going through a few lens I think Tamron / Sigma has a few good lens which can also fit in pretty well with the budget.<br>

I have read the reviews of Nikkor lenses and they are pretty good and there is no doubt that they would do complete justice to the pixels D7K demand. But sometimes, they seems to be taking a toll on my pocket leaving it quite lighter.</p>

<p>Appreciate your help.<br>

Kunjal</p>

 

[michael_mccarthy2]

<p>Not too sure what your budget is, but i would personally look at the Nikon 62mm f2.8 Macro lens, It will be a perfect portrait lens when used with the 1.5x on your D7000, as well as being a very nice macro lens, as for the landscape, I would change the way you shoot landscapes, and use the same lens, but take a mosaic and then use photoshop to stitch them together, just remember to set the wb, iso, Aperture and shutter speed first, so the exposures are all the same. The results you get can be stunning.<br /><br /><br>

This is a lanscape that is 9287 x 1575, but heres the small version, this was taken with a 50mm lens, its about 10 images, stitched together.<br /><br /><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8198/8277746103_3f45f55621_b.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="174" /><br>

Mac.<br /><br /><br /></p>

[ilkka_nissila]

<p>Both the 60mm and 105mm AF-S Micro Nikkors are good, general purpose lenses that can be used for portraits and close-ups of flowers and small creatures. Autofocus, however, isn't necessarily the best way to go when doing close-up photography. Many photographers use a tripod and focus manually when doing close-ups of small objects. You can shoot hand-held of course, but it can be difficult to get the focus just right as the depth of field can be just a few millimeters.</p>

<p>I think for indoor portraits on a DX camera, the 60mm is more suitable, and it focuses very fast. The 105mm would be too long in some situations, but of course it does give more working distance when shooting close-ups of insects and flowers in the field. The 60mm is less expensive and in my opinion a great value. It has excellent optics and has the advantage of much nicer bokeh and better focusing in general photography than its AF D predecessor. However the 60mm micro(s) may not leave enough working distance between you and e.g. a butterfly, in some circumstances. I think in your situation I would purchase the 60mm AF-S Micro and see how it works out for you. </p>

[rodeo_joe1]

<p>My recommendation for a macro lens is Tamron's 90mm SP f/2.8. However it overlaps with your existing kit lens, and - being a macro lens - probably won't focus any faster. I recently bought a 105mm AF Micro-Nikkor, only to find that my old Tamron is every bit as good. In fact it has a flatter field at 1:1 than the Micro-Nikkor.</p>

<p>Personally I've never had any trouble photographing butterflies, except when I first attempted it. I suspect your stalking skills need honing a little Kunjal, rather than you needing a lens with faster AF.</p><div></div>

[mark_stephan2]

<p>Also consider the Tamron 60 f/2 macro which may fit into your budget a little better than the Nikon 60 f/2.8 micro. </p>

[sgust]

<p>I agree with Mark, I had the same void in my lens collection. I wanted a longer macro ( I already had a 30mm macro) and I wanted a fast portrait lens. In the end I went with 2 used Minolta lenses, but before I decided to go that route I was considering the Tamron 60mm f/2 macro. It's long enough to work well with insect macro photography. And the fast aperture makes it suitable to low light and portraiture. Be aware though that it has a reputation for being somewhat soft wide open, though I feel when taking portraits that that can be an advantage.</p>

[ray_rg]

<p>I have used Tamron 60mm and it's really nice-little lens with fast aperture. It has almost same MFD as big-brother Tamron 90mm. But keep in mind usually macro lens are little slower in AF compared to Nikon's Prime (I dont have experience with AFS Macro from Nikon) or other f/2.8 zoom lens.</p>

<p>If you are planning to stay in DX camera body then Tamron 60mm would be my choice.</p>

<p>Thanks,</p>

[eric_arnold]

<p>the tokina 35/2.8 macro is super sharp, super light and super small. it will work like a normal lens on a crop body, making it ideal for travel. the short throw means it focuses faster than most macro lenses, especially with the focus limiter on, and it focuses closer than any DX lens. a 60mm would be better for portraits, but not as useful as a walkaround lens.</p>

[ellis_vener_photography]

Nikon 85mm f/1.8G AF-S or the 35mm f/2G. These are the two most versatile and most used lenses I own for the

purposes you ask about.

[Two23]

<p>Another thought is to put a Marumi close up diopter on your present lens. A 105mm is very good length for what you are shooting. The 2-element Marumi delivers great image quality for less than $100. I use one myself for macro.</p>

<p>Kent in SD</p>

[Andrew Garrard]

I bought the Tamron 90mm as a combined macro and short portrait lens (on full frame), although I've since added a faster 85mm. I'm pretty

happy with it, though it has a little LoCA wide open. The new VC version might push the prices down (though it's already pretty cheap) - but

the new one seems to be listed for more than the Sigma 150mm OS, which means it had better be good because that's a stellar lens. For

butterflies, a long lens like the Sigma will help, but it's getting a bit long for portraits on DX. The Tamron focuses reasonably fast at a distance

with the range lock on - I used one to capture a running cheetah recently (at a wildlife park - I recommend it if you're in San Diego and like big

cats) so I'm fairly confident I've tested it!

 

That said, the Tamron extends when focusing, which may freak out the wildlife. The Sigma 150 doesn't, and the OS helps (a bit) hand held.

I've tried and failed with flying butterflies with the Tamron (Singapore Changi airport has a butterfly farm, if anyone's passing) which is as

much a challenge of tracking as macro focus speed, but if they've landed, the 90 works fine.

 

I tend to prefer length (and therefore working distance) in a macro lens, but YMMV. With exceptions - and there are respected photographers

who make a point of using long lenses for landscapes - I tend to go wider for scenery, which might not be compatible with just using one

lens. That said, your zoom ought to be pretty good there already, and even a shortish macro is longer than I prefer for landscape.

 

Good luck.

[nick_baker]

<p>To OP<br>

You specifically mention focus speed. Nikon 60m AFS-G has <em>much</em> faster focus acquisition than any other macro lens I've tried. No others are even close (caution I do not own this lens and have only tried it in stores). If this is really your priority then this lens may be your answer. Like others, though, I wonder if focus speed is really your difficulty. Butterflies take some practice, and more reach is also helpful, although that brings additional issues into play. </p>

[kunjal_patel]

<p>Thanks guys for all your response.<br>

After reading your responses, I believe, we have quite a bit of competition here... :)</p>

<ul>

<li>Nikkor 60mm AFS-ED</li>

<li>Tamron 60mm / 90mm</li>

</ul>

<p>I pretty much agree that for landscapes I will have to shoot at 18 on my current lens which will provide me with the wide-angle which is always required.<br />There is another option suggested by Kent, was to use Marumi. I guess that are close-up filters that can be attached to my existing lens for the macros.</p>

<p>To all who would suggest Tamron 60mm / 90mm, I would like to ask is will the lens be able to do full justice to the pixel demand from D7K?<br>

Cheers,<br />Kunjal</p>

[Andrew Garrard]

Kunjal: I can only vouch for the 90mm Tamron, not the 60, but in terms of resolution it'll definitely keep up with a D7000 (or my D800, with

similar pixel density). It's not absolutely tack sharp wide open, but very little is; down a stop it's very sharp indeed, and for macro purposes

you're normally stopped down anyway. Wide open for portraiture it's often acceptable (or good) to have slightly less contrast - see the

behaviour of the 85 f/1.4 AF-D "portrait lens" for example, and the Tamron is much less soft than that. According to photozone.de (which has

only tested them on a 10MP body) the 90mm Tamron is similar in performance to the 60mm Nikkor, wide open - though they admittedly don't

test the macro range. I'm planning on keeping the 90 for my D800, and it's saved me when other lenses couldn't keep up.

 

As for the shorter Tamron, it's softer wide open - but you do get an f/2 lens. Photozone has tested it on a D7000. If you want sharp at f/2,

you're better off with an 85 f/1.8 (though I'd check out the 100mm Zeiss makro too).

 

I've heard people suggest that the Tokina 100mm macro might be better than the Tamron 90mm wide open, and have a little less LoCA - but

I've also heard the Tamron is slightly better stopped down. I can't vouch for it personally, but it's another to consider (along with the 105mm

Sigma).

 

Close-up dioptres, especially cheap single-element ones, tend not quite to keep up with genuine macro lenses, they won't get you a portrait

lens (on their own) and they're a little more awkward to use (have to take them off for infinity focus) - but they're certainly a cheaper option. A

decent one is worth a try, though I'd be more inclined to pair it with a sharp portrait prime like an 85mm f/1.8 than with a zoom.

 

Good luck with whatever you choose. Don't sweat the sharpness - any of these will make your zoom look soft.

[chuck_crutchfield]

<p>I've got the Tamron 60 that I use on my D7000. I am very happy with it and if it were stolen I would replace it with one just like it.</p>

 

[kunjal_patel]

<p>Hi all,</p>

<p>I have been doing a quite a bit brain-storming with all your inputs. <br>

and it seems, <br>

the answer is either 60mm from Nikon or Tamron.</p>

<p>Any other lens would, definitely give me more working distance with 1.5 DX Factor, which will not be good when using the lens indoor and/or for portraits.<br>

Kindly correct me, if I am mistaken.</p>

<p>Cheer,<br>

Kunjal</p>