Lens Question!?

Question:hi all! thanks for taking the time to answer my question! so I have a Nikon D40 with the 18-55 mm kit lens. I want a macro that is under 300 dollars but im not sure what brands are nice quality, nice price etc.... :) Im debating if I should get a Lensbaby 3g or a macro. Links please! Thanks! :)

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: hi all! thanks for taking the time to answer my question! so I have a Nikon D40 with the 18-55 mm kit lens. I want a macro that is under 300 dollars but im not sure what brands are nice quality, nice price etc.... :) Im debating if I should get a Lensbaby 3g or a macro. Links please! Thanks! :)

First, although I'm sure Reverend Erik means well, a zoom lens is not a macro lens. Yes, I know that almost every zoom lens made has the moniker "Macro" attached to it but that is misleading. The correct label would be "close-focusing".

A true Macro lens is a fixed focal length - 50mm, 90mm, 100mm, etc.

A true Macro lens is designed for extreme close-focusing. It has a flat field of focus which is needed for photographing stamps or documents or other flat subjects. Its design minimizes center to edge light fall-off and maximizes center to edge sharpness.

A true Macro lens will give you a 1:1 (life size) image. A 1/2 inch long ant will be 1/2 inch long on your sensor. A "close-focusing" zoom lens will seldom give you more than a 1:4 (1/4 life size) image.

Nikon labels their Macro lenses as Micro Nikkors, i.e., AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f2.8D or the AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mmf2.8G IF-ED.

Tamron, Sigma and Tokina also offer Macro lenses for your Nikon. I've read excellent reviews of the Tamron 90mm macro lens.

IMO, the Lensbaby is a cool lens but you'll likely tire of it since its mainly for special effects. If you're into nature photography, buy the Macro lens. You can always pick up a used Lensbaby when someone tires of it and lists it on eBay.

Under $300? That's sacrificing some quality there. If you could wait, you could spend another $100 and get a better lens, but if you need a macro now: (Amazon is not the only place to get these, Adorama, B&H, Beach Camera, Abes of Maine... )

Tamron AF28-200mm F/3.8-5.6 XR Di Aspherical [IF] Macro
http://www.amazon.com/Tamron-AF28-200mm-...

Tamron AF70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di LD 1:2 Macro
http://www.amazon.com/Tamron-AF70-300mm-...

(I have personally owned both of these lenses when I too was on a budget, both take great pictures)

Look for Tamron IF, Sigma HSM, or Nikon AF-S lenses. All will Auto Focus on your D40. Look at the reviews and sample images. I trust the site below in their reviews.