Looking for a new lens for my Nikon D50. I would like a telephoto lens that doubles as a macro. Suggestions?

Question

I have the D50 with 18-55 kit lens. I want a 200 or 300mm telephoto for wildlife and a macro for abstract close-up work. Can one lens do all this? Would i be better getting a macro lens and a telephoto? What am i compromising if i but one lens that does it all?

Answer 1

i have 18-55mm,,,,,,28-200mm,,,,,,and 75-300mm......i compromised nothing....all of them r perfect ...try this link

http://www.digital-slr-guide.com/focal-length.html

it's great ...helped me to understand lenses and decide what i want.......try it it's very helpful ......GOOD LUCK.

Answer 2

Consider the popular Nikon 18-200 VR lens and leave the 18-70 home with your tripod. Okay, it's not the world's PERFECT lens, but it is not too shabby. Go here and read Rockwell's review:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/18200.htm

Go here and look at the sample images. Click on them to view them full screen. If you click at least once in the white space, your cursor will turn into a magnifier when you scroll it back over the image. Click again over the image and it will zoom to 100% size so you can really examine the image.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/18200/examples/index.htm

"Optically, this lens is the best superzoom we’ve seen, though it’s not compatible with Nikon teleconverters, extension rings, or coupled macro bellows. It also costs about $300 more than third-party digital-only glass. But are extremely rugged construction, unusually well-controlled distortion, and four extra handholdable speeds worth the extra bucks? That, and more."

http://www.popphoto.com/cameralenses/2763/lens-test-nikon-18-200mm-f35-56g-dx-vr-af-s.html

It's not exactly macro, but here is a picture I took with this lens.

http://www.members.aol.com/swf08302/dragonfly.jpg

On the D50, it is the equivalent of a 300 mm lens in the fully-zoomed (200) position. This isn't like having 500-600 for wildlife, but it's not too shabby either.

Of course, FINDING this lens is going to be a problem... It's out of stock in most suppliers. People are selling it for $900 plus on eBay. ($750 list)

Answer 3

There's a cheap way to get nice macro lens. Get an old 20/3.5 AI Nikkor and use the BR-3 Reverse ring to achieve 12x magnification. It is the highest magnification you can get on 35mm system

Answer 4

Sigma and Tamron have 70-300 Macro lenses with some close range capacities, but they are not strict macro lenses (magnification of 1:2).
http://www.tamron.com/lenses/prod/70300_di_a017.asp
http://www.sigma-photo.com/lenses/lenses_all_details.asp?id=3303&navigator=3

If you do not need a very long focal, also have a look at the 180/200mm macro lenses on the market. They have 1:1 magnification ratio and may be used with a 1.4 teleconverter.
http://www.sigma-photo.com/lenses/lenses_all_details.asp?id=3284&navigator=5
http://www.tamron.com/lenses/prod/180mm.asp
http://nikonimaging.com/global/products/lens/af/micro/af_micro200mmf_4d_if/index.htm