Can anyone recommend

[ohheckyeah]

a good AF DSLR macro lens for a Nikon DSLR?

[Major Nikon]

1. I can, but you'll have to give me more information

Do you intend to use it just for macro, or do you want it to handle other tasks as well?

If no, what are those other tasks?

What price range do you have in mind?

What Nikon body do you have?

What macro subjects are your primary area of interest?

[ohheckyeah]

2. I'm looking mainly for macro

and want it for macro photos of flowers and other plants.

I have a D3200 and don't want to spend more than $500.

[Major Nikon]

3. One more question then

Do you have the Nikon 18-55?

If no, what lens(es) do you already have?

[ohheckyeah]

4. Yes, that's the one that came with it.

I will be buying a telephoto and a macro lens.

[Major Nikon]

5. Ok, let me give you a few tips that may save you a lot of money

Here's what macro(Nikon calls it micro) is and isn't. Macro is the ability to produce a 1x (or better) reproduction ratio. A 1x reproduction ratio means your subject will be reproduced in actual size on your medium (film or in this case digital sensor).

The sensor on your Nikon 3200 is 15.4 mm in height by 23.6 mm in width (.6" x .93&quot . Therefore if your smallest subject is bigger than .6" by .93", you don't need a true macro lens. True macro lenses have floating elements which correct for specific optical aberrations which happen at reproduction ratios which approach or exceed 1x.

The Nikon 18-55 has a maximum reproduction ratio of .31x which isn't in or near the macro range, but it's considerably better than most lenses. Although it's construction and handling is nothing like more expensive Nikon lenses, the optics are actually quite nice. What this means is that you can focus close enough to fill the entire frame with a subject that is (.6" by .93&quot /.31 or 1.94" by 3".

So the question is, how do you get your lens to it's maximum reproduction ratio? Try this experiment to see if your 18-55 will do what you want it to do.

1) Set your camera to manual focus mode by throwing the switch on the lens from AF to M.
2) Set the focal length(18 to 55) to 55mm
3) Set the mode dial to A (aperture priority mode)
4) Set the lens aperture to F16
5) Turn the focus ring to the left to set the lens to its minimum focus distance (front element will move outward)

Now focus on a small object (say 1.5" in height) by moving the camera back and forth until the green focus light comes on in the viewfinder. If you are doing it right, the front of the lens should be about 4" away from your subject give or take an inch. If you have a tripod, it's easier to put the camera on a tripod and move your subject back and forth until it comes into focus. I highly recommend using a tripod or a bean bag for this as the shutter opening will be quite long unless you are using a high ISO or have a lot of light. If you are using a tripod, set the ISO to its lowest number.

Unless you are taking pictures of very small flowers, the 18-55 should be able to do what you need it to do. If you need just a bit more magnification, you can also buy a set of extension tubes for your 18-55 (I can recommend which one's you'll need).

For extreme close ups, autofocus is of little use and you are better off without it. It's far better to set your focus point manually and either move the camera or the subject to obtain focus.

[Major Nikon]

7. Here's an example of .5x which is just a little better than what the 18-55 will do

Keep in mind that this picture has been downsized to save bandwidth. There's considerably more detail available in the original image.






Here is a crop from the same original image. This is still .5x which is close to what the 18-55 can do at .31x





If you want to see what true macro looks like, here's a crop of an image at 1.3x

[ohheckyeah]

8. I really appreciate all of the information.

I can't remember what macro lens I had for my Nikon SLR - wish I hadn't sold it all.

[Major Nikon]

12. If it's an older one it may not work as well on your newer body

Your body doesn't have a focus motor, so if you want autofocus you'll need to use AF-S lenses which have the focus motor built in to the lens itself. If the Nikon lens just says AF or AF-D, it won't autofocus with your body. Older manual focus lenses lack the chip which communicates with the body, so the meter on your 3200 won't work with them. My example pictures were taken with a 55mm f/2.8 Micro Nikkor lens which is an excellent lens. Nikon still makes them new to this day and you can pick up used ones really cheap. They will mount on your body, but your meter will not work so you'll either have to use an external meter or go by your histogram.

[ohheckyeah]

13. Good point. It appears B&H

has a 40mm and a 60mm but not a 55mm.

[Major Nikon]

14. The 55mm is not widely available

But Nikon still lists it as special order. The one I have was made back in the 80's and still works like a charm. There's really no need to buy one new as they are easy to pick up on the used market in everything up to excellent condition.

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Products/Product/Camera-Lenses/1442/Micro-NIKKOR-55mm-f%252F2.8.html

I don't really recommend this for your camera because the meter in your 3200 won't work with it. Nikon also made an AF version of this lens, which has long been discontinued but you can still occassionally find them on the used market. I highly recommend buying one of these if you can find one for several reasons. They are cheap on the used market, yet optically superb. It won't autofocus with your body, but if all you want to do is macro you don't need or want autofocus. It will meter with your body because the lens has a chip, unlike the AI-S version that I have. It will also go all the way to 1x without any extension.

B&H has one used. As far as Nikon Macro bang for the buck, this lens is it:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/801000883-USE/nikon_macro_55mm_f_2_8_af.html

Another good choice is the Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D. This lens is a bit more expensive on the used market. It will not autofocus with your body either, but your meter will work with it.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/801018149-USE/nikon_1987_af_micro_nikkor_60mm_f_2_8d.html

[TreasonousBastard]

6. Nikon makes an excellent 60mm macro lens

that might be a bit too close working for plants. But, Adorama has it for just about 500 bucks. Anyway, it's designed for 1:1 focusing and I suspect that's a little more macro than you were thinking of.

Another one that works even closer at 1:1 is their 40mm for under $300. http://www.adorama.com/NK4028UV.html More comfortable working ranges, like the 105mm, mean more money. Often a lot more money.

Sigma and Tokina have others that are almost, or even, as good, but also pricey.

Before swinging for that macro lens, though, have you thought about a closeup lens kit? It's a lot cheaper and the good ones don't seriously affect lens quality, or reduce aperture like close focusing lenses do. http://www.adorama.com/searchsite/default.aspx?searchinfo=closeup+lens&category=4294961315+4294966026

You can't always tell by looking, and whoever is selling might not know or tell, but some closeup lenses are one piece of glass and others are two cemented together. The two pieces of glass, called a doublet, is the one you want if you have a choice. It will be more expensive, but not by much.

[ohheckyeah]

9. I'll check the closeup lens kit out...

it would be cheaper which is good. That would leave me more money for the telephoto lens.

[NV Whino]

10. I have the 60 mm macro

I love it. As I recall, it cost about $500. Great lens. There's an easy switch to manual focus, which you will use frequently with the macro.

[ohheckyeah]

11. I think that is the one I was checking out on the

B&H Photography website. Good to know you love it.

It will take me a while to build up my lens fund, but I wanted to know how much I would need for the lenses I want.

[justiceischeap]

15. You may want to check out KEH.com

I buy almost all my used gear from them. They may have a used lens (or lenses) that fit your needs.

http://www.keh.com/Camera/format-Digital/system-Nikon-Digital/category-Fixed-Focal-Length-Lenses?s=1&bcode=DN&ccode=6&cc=3134&r=WG&f

They currently have a 40mm (which would make it 60mm on your body) micro lens between $215 & $225 (EX+ or LN- that's their rating system, I'd say you could go down to BGN--which is bargain--on any of their gear and be happy).

Depending on what length you want for your tele, you may be able to get both at KEH for your $500 budget (maybe a bit over with shipping).