[quote author=Thales link=topic=2783.msg29306#msg29306 date=1199572466]
Hey guys,
I am finding the different macros confusing, but I need to buy one this week for a trip to Peru.
I have borrowed Greshs Nikkor 60 mm 1:2.8 and I like it very much.
What do those numbers actually mean?
And, what benefits would going with the 105 or the 105 VR get me? Explanations or links with explanations would rock my world.
Thanks for holding my hand here.
RR
[/quote]
I'll give you the meanings of the words without technicalities.
60mm means you have to be closer than a 105mm to the subject to get the same magnification. So if you shoot a coral with your 60mm lens, and then you swap on the 105mm and you want the same crop, you have to move way back to get the same shot.
2.8 is the maximum aperture. The smaller the number, the bigger the aperture, and then more shallow the depth of field. So at 2.8 you will have A LOT out of focus, and a very small plane that is in focus. Great for selective focusing!! Also since the aperture is bigger, the shutter speed is faster, so it's great for lower light shooting as well. So a 2.8 basically means that's the maximum aperture, of course you can set it to f/8 to whatever the minimum is (f/22?). I like 2.8 because you can do either extreme selective focusing, or none at all, you have that option.
The benefits of the 105mm is that you don't have to be as close to your subject to get the same crop as that of a 60mm. So if you want to take a picture of a coral really far in your tank at 1:1, the longer focal length might be better for you if you can't dive in there and get close.
The VR is vibration reduction, meaning it helps you keep steady at slower shutter speeds. Basically if you're at F/4 aperture, VR will increase your shutterspeed to about 2-3 stops wider aperture, so it'll be something like a F/2 speed. They do this not by actually changing shutter or aperture, but by reducing the vibrations you create. This helps a lot in lower light / hand holding for long lenses.
The longer the lens (higher focal length), the more exaggerated your movements will be. Think of a ferris wheel, the middle travels very slow, and as you go outwards it travels much faster. So at 200mm any tiny movement will be multiplied by a lot more than a 60mm would. That is one of the big drawbacks of having a 200mm. I'd suggest shooting with a monopod in daytime, or tripod for sure in lower light with a 200mm. IMO 105mm to 150mm is great for outdoors shooting. 200 is pushing it, unless you want to get into more bird like things where you really can't get close. IN that case I'd go for 400 - 600mm type lenses, but I don't think there's a 1:1 magnification macro lens in that focal length.