AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f2.8G IF-ED

Bought myself a new lens couple days ago.  A Nikon 105mm micro lens.  It’s also my first dedicated macro lens.  I have been thinking for quite some times whether or not to buy this lens as I have got the Marumi DHG Achromat 200 (+5) to use with my 55-200mm lens.  The magnification and picture quality are pretty good too.  However, I did come across the situation where while I was concentrating on a tiny bug, some interesting objects pass by, and I missed it due to I have to unscrew the close-up lens from the zoom lens.  So now, with a true macro lens, not only I can aim for bugs, I can use it as a portrait and mid-range telephoto lens too, instantly.  And, the picture is definitely far more sharper.

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It’s been raining for almost every evening since last week, and bugs disappeared after mowed lawn.  So I tried out the lens on my kitten last night, for portrait purpose.  My sister asked me if I used eye linear on its eyes…LOL!  That’s how sharp a macro lens can be.  Yea, I’m happy!

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I shot this just now.  Went out to the backyard to check on my plants, and I saw this blue-brown bug.  So, it became the 1st bug through the lens.  Photo was cropped at 50% zoom, and it’s still sharp.  I’m impressed!

AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G

Knowing that a prime lens is good for indoor photography, and since Hari Raya is also coming soon, able to capture some kampung photos during the night time will be pretty interesting.  Besides, I think the focal length is just nice for shooting family group photo too.  So after dinner and coffee, I came straight home to do some try shots to see how good it can perform.

With only two energy saver ceiling lights (Warm White 14w), hand held camera and no speedlight, I’d say the result is quite impressive.

f/2, ISO-400, EV –0.7, cropped at 66.7%.

 

f2.2, ISO-400, EV 0

At RM830 (approx. 260 USD), it’s not cheap consider it’s only a DX lens (amazon.com is selling at just below 200 USD).  I was thinking to get the 50mm f1.8D AF before this for portrait purpose, but without the help of auto focus (I’m short-sighted), I know it can be a problem for me to focus properly under manual mode.  But anyway, I’m definitely happy with this lens.

My 2nd Lens

Not sure about the available options in other countries, over here in Kota Kinabalu, the Nikon D5000 only comes with the AF-S 18-55mm VR kit lens. 

I have had lots of funs with the 18-55mm lens since the day I bought the camera.  Focus is fast even in low light, very close minimum focus distance, images are sharp, and it’s very light weight too.  However, after been playing with it for a while, I did come to situations where I wish I had a zoom lens so that I could snap from a distance. So after some discussion and research, I finally went out to grab my 2nd lens couple days ago, an AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 G IF-ED.

Below are some links on this lens:

• http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/70-300-vr.htm
• http://www.dpreview.com/news/0608/06080901nikonafs70-300vrlens.asp
• http://www.bythom.com/70300vrlens.htm
• http://www.testfreaks.com/lenses/nikon-af-s-vr-zoom-nikkor-70-300mm-f-4-5-5-6g-if-ed-4-3x/