[Brightcolours]

[quote name='Vieux loup' timestamp='1283603392' post='2479']

Thank you Brightcolours for such a good idea. I will certainly check that out and try one. Don't hesitate , if you have other suggestions. I still need to get a good prime/macro and a good flash for this equipment. And, do you or any one else have a good suggestion for a good bag. My old bag is rotten and needs renewal. I hesitate between a backpack (to keep my hands and houlders free) and a shoulder bag. Finally, what do you suggest for memory cards for the D300S? Many thanks in advance for your help. <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[/quote]

Good macros... there really are no bad macro lenses.



In my view, there are two things that are most important with macro focal length choice:

1. Distance to subject
   
   
2. Field of view
   
   

The longer the focal length, the bigger the distance to the subject for the same magnification. With macro photos of flowers and inanimate objects, that does not really matter. With macro photos of (flying) insects, the distance starts to matter, as the closer you come, the bigger the chance that your subject takes flight.



So, macro lens focal length choice depends on your preference in subject.



Field of view determines the character of the macro photo. A short focal length will give a wider field of view, a longer one a more narrow filed of view.

What your preference may be is also personal.



Personally, I am not very "in love" with the ~50-100mm macro lens category macro lenses, due to the field of view, the last few years (on APS-C). For some reason the results keep on looking generic, uninspired and typical of what one tends to find in forum image posts. I hope that will change this fall, as I would love to love my Tamron 90mm f2.8 again. One never knows...



What I do like on APS-C, for my (semi) macro use, is 24mm, 35mm and 200mm. These focal lengths do something for my photography.

I currently use my Canon EF 70-200mm f4 L at 200mm and with an extension tube for the tele semi macros. I use my Canon 35mm f2 with 12mm extension tube for 35mm 1:2 macros, and I want to buy in future one of the following lenses to also shoot macro at 20-24mm (with 12mm extension tube:

• Voigtlander 20mm f3.5 SL II
  
  
• Canon 24mm f1.4 L USM II
  
  
• Sigma 24mm f1.8 EX DG Macro
  
  

I now use my Tokina 12-24mm f4 at 24mm, but while that gives a very attractive field of view, the optics are not really up to it.



Example for 200mm field of view semi macro:







Example for 35mm (on APS-C making standard focal length, basically) field of view 1:2 macro:



And 35mm panorama stitch 1:2 macro:





Example of 24mm field of view macro:







I hope this illustrates well how the field of view, depending on your focal length choice, influences the character of the macro photos.

What has your preference is something you have to determine.



For wide angle macro, there are no macro lenses available. If you would want that (wide macro), you will have to do so with a 12mm extension tube (which will allow you to focus very close).

My advised lens choices would then be:

• Nikon AF-S 24mm f1.4 G. Very expensive option, obviously.
  
  
• Voigtlander 20mm f3.5 SL II. Very compact pancake design, interesting (but can not vouch for what results in macro will look like IQ wise)
  
  
• Sigma 24mm f1.8 "macro". The safe choice, and a lens that is better than its on-line reputation.
  
  

35mm normal focal length macro lens:

• the to me very impressive Tokina 35mm f2.8 Macro DX. Lovely little macro lens, that also doubles as very nice compact normal prime.
  
  

50-70mm macro lens class:

• Sigma 70mm f2.8 macro. Nicely built and VERY sharp macro lens, can double as 70mm f2.8 portrait lens.
  
  

90-105mm macro lens class:

• Tamron Sp 90mm f2.8 Di macro. I rate the ooptics from this lens a bit higher than the other lens in this class, the build quality is a bit lower than the other lens. The MF handling of this lens is superb.
  
  
• Nikon AF-S 105mm f2.8 G VR micro. More expensive, but nice build and gives you VR (not very efficient for macro use, but can come in handy when you want to use this lens class as longer portrait lens at f2.8 and lower light)
  
  

Long macro lens class:

• Tamron SP 180mm f3.5 Di Macro. Great optics, for Tamron actually good build quality, very nice price for a 180mm macro.
  
  
• Sigma 150mm f2.8 EX DG Macro. Very good build quality, also great optics.
  
  

Those would be my macro lens suggestions, depending on which focal length you would find interesting. But other macro lenses will not disappoint either. As I said before, there basically are no "bad" macro lenses. Some are just a tad more impressive than others.



About bags... I do not have any advice, as I have not found my ideal solution yet either.



Memory cards... unless you see yourself wearing out your camera's shutter with fast frames per second shooting, any card will do.