Looking for a Nikon lens...

[sashakvor]

So I need advice on lens types.... I want to find a lens that allows me to capture macro but I don't have to be standing practically in the subject to get the close detail seen in a macro lens therefore I can stand 6 or more feet away and still get the same affect... Is there a lens for a Nikon D3200 that is suitable for my expectations? thanks! Hope this makes a little sense.

Sasha
vorlickyphotography.org

[pnodrog]

You have not indicated the image size or magnification you want to work with. The longest working true macro (1:1 capable) lenses are 150, 180 and 200mm depending on manufacturer. None of these work in macro at the distance you are indicating. There are longer lenses including zooms that will work down to 1:4 or even less that can be used effectively for flowers, fungi and large insects (butterfly's) etc but are not true macro lenses. But to take a life-size image of a fly or similar you will need a true macro lens and be working typically at less than a foot away.

This link will take you to an article that will give you a bit more information

[Black Pearl]

The longer the focal length the further you will be from your subject and still get the same magnification - in the case of macro you're generally looking for 1:1 and the distance you need to be to achieve it:

AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G - Closest Focus: 16.3cm
AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED - Closest Focus: 18.5cm
AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/3.5G ED VR - Closest Focus: 28.6cm
AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED - Closest Focus: 31cm
AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D IF-ED - Closest Focus: 50cm Manual Focus only on your D3200

I'll let you look up the local prices but brace yourself as the length goes up.

You could also consider Sigma:

MACRO 50mm F2.8 EX DG - Closest Focus: 18.8cm
MACRO 70mm F2.8 EX DG - Closest Focus: 25.7cm
MACRO 105mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM - Closest Focus: 31.2cm
APO MACRO 150mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM - Closest Focus: 38cm
APO MACRO 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM - Closest Focus: 47cm

Prices will be a little less eye watering but the quality is still outstanding - note the first won't auto focus on your camera as they don't have built in motors.

One other thing to note - while using all macro lenses can be a bit of a challenge due to limited depth of field and the fact that the slightest movement will have the subject out of the frame the longer they are the bigger this issue becomes. I have use the Nikon 200mm a few times and while it is amazing it was the biggest PITA I have ever encountered.

[William W]

Is there a lens for a Nikon D3200 that is suitable for my expectations?

As above, the answer for "Macro" i.e. 1:1 magnification, is: No.

***

But I think that more information is required . . .

. . . I want to find a lens that allows me to capture macro but I don't have to be standing practically in the subject to get the close detail seen in a macro lens therefore I can stand 6 or more feet away and still get the same affect...

1. What actually is the typical Subject; or what the size of the typical Subject that you want to photograph?

2. "still get the same effect" means what exactly in magnification terms - do you want 1:1 or will "close up" suffice?

As an example, below are couple of old potatoes having a fight. Their bodies are about 4 inches. This image was captured with a 70 to 200 zoom lens set at about 135mm and the was a 12mm Extension Tube between the Lens and the Camera, allowing a Shooting Distance of a little more than 6 feet.



WW

[Shadowman]

You say detail is more important than closeness, what lenses do you currently own? What is the subject, do you use a tripod for shooting and what camera settings are you using?

[dubaiphil]

Sigma 150mm

[ajohnw]

The longer the focal length the further you will be from your subject and still get the same magnification - in the case of macro you're generally looking for 1:1 and the distance you need to be to achieve it:

AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G - Closest Focus: 16.3cm
AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED - Closest Focus: 18.5cm
AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/3.5G ED VR - Closest Focus: 28.6cm
AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED - Closest Focus: 31cm
AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D IF-ED - Closest Focus: 50cm Manual Focus only on your D3200

I'll let you look up the local prices but brace yourself as the length goes up.

You could also consider Sigma:

MACRO 50mm F2.8 EX DG - Closest Focus: 18.8cm
MACRO 70mm F2.8 EX DG - Closest Focus: 25.7cm
MACRO 105mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM - Closest Focus: 31.2cm
APO MACRO 150mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM - Closest Focus: 38cm
APO MACRO 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM - Closest Focus: 47cm

Prices will be a little less eye watering but the quality is still outstanding - note the first won't auto focus on your camera as they don't have built in motors.

One other thing to note - while using all macro lenses can be a bit of a challenge due to limited depth of field and the fact that the slightest movement will have the subject out of the frame the longer they are the bigger this issue becomes. I have use the Nikon 200mm a few times and while it is amazing it was the biggest PITA I have ever encountered.

Worth noting that the closest focusing distances are from the sensor in the camera not the end of the lens.

John
-

[sashakvor]

The longer the focal length the further you will be from your subject and still get the same magnification - in the case of macro you're generally looking for 1:1 and the distance you need to be to achieve it:

AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G - Closest Focus: 16.3cm
AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED - Closest Focus: 18.5cm
AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/3.5G ED VR - Closest Focus: 28.6cm
AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED - Closest Focus: 31cm
AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D IF-ED - Closest Focus: 50cm Manual Focus only on your D3200

I'll let you look up the local prices but brace yourself as the length goes up.

You could also consider Sigma:

MACRO 50mm F2.8 EX DG - Closest Focus: 18.8cm
MACRO 70mm F2.8 EX DG - Closest Focus: 25.7cm
MACRO 105mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM - Closest Focus: 31.2cm
APO MACRO 150mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM - Closest Focus: 38cm
APO MACRO 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM - Closest Focus: 47cm

Prices will be a little less eye watering but the quality is still outstanding - note the first won't auto focus on your camera as they don't have built in motors.

One other thing to note - while using all macro lenses can be a bit of a challenge due to limited depth of field and the fact that the slightest movement will have the subject out of the frame the longer they are the bigger this issue becomes. I have use the Nikon 200mm a few times and while it is amazing it was the biggest PITA I have ever encountered.

thank you so much! I appreciate all your help!