Lense help

[Richard Pike]

Hi

 

I have a Nikon D50 with a 70 - 300 lense I use for photographing the prototype.

 

I am currently building a new layout that I wish to photograph, can you recommend a suitable lense for close up detail shots ?.

 

Thanks Richard

[Oldddudders]

The problem most of us have with DSLRs (Digital Single Lens Reflexes) is that the affordable ones have a sensor rather smaller than the 35mm frame, for which focal lengths are still quoted, and so the lens becomes rather "longer" than its stated length would suggest. Thus your 70-300mm is behaving like a 105-450mm - a great range for sports photography, and picking up distant trains, but a bit challenging for indoor, model and table-top photography. The D50 was originally sold with an 18-55mm lens, equivalent to 27-82mm, and thus having an angle of view between about 75 and 27 degrees, which is much more useful for everyday photography, as well as our subject. These lenses have now moved on a further couple of generations, so the current Nikon product is equipped with VR - Vibration Reduction - which further helps in dim light. However, the previous version, optically identical but lacking the VR, is also available from some outlets, such as here, at a much cheaper price.

 

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/category/basecategory.aspx?cat03=3078&Brand=168&Range=1994#first

 

That lens, plus your pop-up flash, will make a good starting point, although resting the camera on something sturdy, rather than hand-holding, will also assist. Other makes - check elsewhere on that site - may also have Nikon-fit lenses in this focal-length range, but do make sure they are truly compatible with your D50.

[Pinkmouse]

Just to step out of the box for a moment, do you really need to spend a few hundred quid on a decent macro lens? I too have a DSLR, but no specific macro to fit it. One day, when I have the cash, I will buy one, but for the time being, I get very acceptable results from my £50 Canon A480. Here's an example:

 

 

My little coaling stage in 4mm.

 

Now here's an extreme close up of the brickwork using the Canon:

 

 

Now that's just a quick, medium resolution, handheld shot with the preset macro mode, cropped down to a size that would post, I didn't tweak any other settings, (not that it has many, but I could have set the ISO higher to get slightly more depth of field). Certainly good enough for web use, and with a little work in Photoshop, it would have been fine for print.

 

edit: Oh, and for comparison, here's a pic using the Olympus.

[Guest jim s-w]

Hiya

 

I have several digital SLR's but I would urge you to consider a compact for model photography. They just seem to give better DOF and you an put them in more places - Something like canons G3 is excellent.

 

HTH

 

Jim

[DaveF]

Hi,

 

 

I too use a Nikon DSLR (D80) for most of my photography,when I use it for model railways I generally use the 18-135mm kit lens with it, but often use my Canon IXUS 85 for model photography, good at close ups and a good depth of field.

 

For photos for the web I sometimes still use a Canon A70, only 3Mp but more than adequate for posting at resolution of 800x600.

 

David

 

 

[Billywindsock]

If you want to stick to Nikon equipment I can recommend the 60mm macro lens. The full title is - 60mm f/2.8D AF Micro-Nikkor. It sells for just over £300.

Cheaper lenses are available, but I have used this for a few years and it is a particularly fine lens for close ups - which is as it should be with a purpose built macro lens.