Nikon Users - What are you using for Macro and Wide Angle?

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Sid59

Lifer
Sep 2, 2002
11,879
3
81
Macro and Wide Angle are two lenses missing from my bag. What are you guys using?

I hear a lot of good things about the Tokina 11-16, your opinions? What are people using?

The only macro lens I think is worth it's weight is the 105 Micro. Are there better 3rd party lenses?

Thanks!

Edit: I'm on a D90. For some reason, i have this urge to wait on the P7000 reviews and pick it up as a PS, it'll have the manual controls, WA and macro all in one and my SO can use it too.
 
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troytime

Golden Member
Jan 3, 2006
1,996
1
0
tokina 11-16 is effing amazing.

for macro, i use the 50mm 1.8 with extension tubes.
i'd like the 105, but have better things to be spending my money on right now (WSM, d7000, kids college)
 
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Sid59

Lifer
Sep 2, 2002
11,879
3
81
troytime said:
tokina 11-16 is effing amazing.

for macro, i use the 50mm 1.8 with extension tubes.
i'd like the 105, but have better things to be spending my money on right now (WSM, d7000, kids college)
Click to expand...

Can you link to some of your shots, it's alwasy nice to see user photos and not marketing/promo pictures.

I guess one of my unwarranted worries is the Tokina is DX, not that i have tons of DX lenses (18-200 and 35) but it'd be nice to have some lenses not DX limited.
 
jpeyton

jpeyton

Moderator in SFF, Notebooks, Pre-Built/Barebones
Moderator
Aug 23, 2003
25,375
142
116
105VR for macro; Sigma 15-30 for wide-angle.
 
Anubis

Anubis

No Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
78,712
427
126
tbqhwy.com
i use the nikon 105 for macro (non VR) I have a 17-35 as my widest lens, depending on what i pick up for a new body FF/APS-C will determin which of the ultra wides i purchase

i would REALLY want the Nikon 200 F/4 macro, anyone want to help me rob a 7/11?
 
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PhlashFoto

Diamond Member
Jun 21, 2003
3,892
16
81
I have a D90 with a tokina 11-16mm. I got the lens back in early August and at first I wasn't too impressed with the shots the lens took for my taste. It was sharp and great IQ, but I figured it wasn't for me. I wasn't going to sell the lens, but I figured it would not be used often enough either.

That all changed when I was in NYC on 9/11 to take photos of the tribute lights. Just wow, some and most of my best/favorite shots was with that Tokina. I have some from the top of the Empire State Building. Even without the use of a tripod (they confiscated mine), the shots came out great.

I can't help on the macro lens as I have yet to have a need for one.

I hope this helps.
 
tdawg

tdawg

Platinum Member
May 18, 2001
2,215
6
81
Tokina 12-24 and Nikkon 10.5 fish for my wide angle needs. Love 'em both. I really want a macro lens, but not enough to spend money on one. Anybody feel like gifting one to me? :)
 
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Sid59

Lifer
Sep 2, 2002
11,879
3
81
nice thanks all, it sounds like the Tokina 11-16 lives up to the hype. Probably my next lens, i know Ken Rockwell is hit/miss and a bit exaggerated on his reviews but he likes the Tokina.

I want a WA more than a macro, now to find 500USD in change.
 
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slashbinslashbash

Golden Member
Feb 29, 2004
1,945
8
81
One thing about the macro: If you're going to be using it as a dedicated macro lens, you could go for an older manual-focus Nikkor macro, which should be substantially cheaper. I don't know the market for used Nikon lenses, so I could be wrong here. But I can tell you for a fact that my Canon 100Macro stays in MF mode 100% of the time when I'm using it for macro shooting. Set it to 1:1, and then move back and forth to get focus (if handheld); or get the framing set up, and set the focus manually (if using a tripod).
 
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ZetaEpyon

Golden Member
Jun 13, 2000
1,118
0
0
I have the Sigma 10-20mm EX (the 11-16 was nowhere to be found at the time), and it's served me very well.

For macro, I use the Sigma 70-300mm APO in macro mode, but man do I want a real macro lens.
 
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Dubb

Platinum Member
Mar 25, 2003
2,495
0
0
the new sigma 8-16 appears to be better than the tokina, but I haven't used one.

I do mostly architecture and urban stuff, so I have a small pile of wides:

14-24 2.8
20 2.8 AIS
24 PCE
AI'd 28 f/2
AI'd 35 F/2

The 14-24 gets the most use, even on a crop body it's better than any other wide I've used (which includes the nikon 12-24 and many others), with the exception of the zeiss 21. The 24 PCE probably has slightly better color and sharpness, but is only practical on a full frame camera AND when you have the time to get everything perfect.

The 28 f/2 is a great lens for the price - not especially wide on a crop sensor but a great small lens.

The 20 f/2.8 is very well made but awfully distorted compared to the above three. I bought it used because I liked having a crop body wide that didn't take up much space, but I never use it. I'm getting ready to sell it and the 35 f/2 to go towards either a fisheye or a telephoto.
 
IronWing

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
72,332
32,876
136
Nikon 105VR is my favorite lens ever (not that I've owned much expensive glass). As others have said, for macro, VR stays off and autofocus often stays off.
 
Dinosaur

Dinosaur

Member
Jan 16, 2000
114
0
0
IMHO for DX format Tokina 11-16mm is by far the best. It lives 80% of the time on my D90.
 
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Pneumothorax

Golden Member
Nov 4, 2002
1,181
23
81
Using 14-24 2.8 and 105 vr macro on my d300/d700 bodies. Although can't take a filter, the sharpest/best contrast UWA I've ever used! Even canonites are caught using it!
 
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