Nikon D40 plus Tamron zoom lens

lisa1970 · #1 (**permalink**) 29-03-2008, 04:15 PM

decided on the 55-200mm f/4-5.6 Di ll LD as it has a Macro facility. I'm pretty pleased with the zoom (as much as I can be when I cant get out!!) but cant seem to have any success with macro shots. I'm 90% sure it's something I must be doing or not doing but cant work out what! Any ideas or have I made a big mistake in going for a more budget lens to do 2 jobs instead of investing in a more specialised one?

**Ogofmole** · #2 (**permalink**) 29-03-2008, 04:45 PM

In what way are you not having any success with macro.

**Ogofmole** · #3 (**permalink**) 29-03-2008, 04:53 PM

Hi Lisa, this lens gets a good report, see here.

Tamron 55-200/4-5.6 Di II LD Review - Part I - photo.net

Tamron 55-200/4-5.6 Di II LD Review - Part II - photo.net

Mello · #4 (**permalink**) 29-03-2008, 05:03 PM

EY UP Lisa,
as Baz say's depends what sort of problem your having???

I used to have the Tamron 70-300 with macro on it..with it being a zoom i suspect it will only be 1:2 which means it will only reproduce half life size a true macro is 1:1 which is lifesize.

Also it will have a set range for the macro the 70-300 was from about 190mm i seem to remember which means you have to be at least 1.9 metres away from your subject,and obviously would not focus past 3 metres (300mm).

Hope this helps if not give us a shout...

Mello.

lisa1970 · #5 (**permalink**) 29-03-2008, 05:57 PM

i'm probably too close then. it just doesn't seem to focus close-up. it did have a good review in "digital photo" magazine this month so that's why i'm fairly sure it's me not the lens. just used to being right on top (pardon the expression!) of the subject with the compact.

Mello · #6 (**permalink**) 29-03-2008, 07:10 PM

yep sounds like your too close if theres a switch on the side that will only allow you to click it when your lens is extended to a certain zoom say 120mm then this is the distance it will start focusing at 1.2 metres away from your subject..

PS: your pardoned....

**genese** · #7 (**permalink**) 29-03-2008, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lisa1970

decided on the 55-200mm f/4-5.6 Di ll LD as it has a Macro facility. I'm pretty pleased with the zoom (as much as I can be when I cant get out!!) but cant seem to have any success with macro shots. I'm 90% sure it's something I must be doing or not doing but cant work out what! Any ideas or have I made a big mistake in going for a more budget lens to do 2 jobs instead of investing in a more specialised one?

Hi lisa did you buy the lens thinking you would get very close macros ?
alot of the so called macro lenses are not true 1x macros so you cannot get amazingly close and will not get the very large close ups that you would get with a 100mm or a 180mm, your focal distance needs to match your lens as the last post states, if you want to get in closer you could add close up filters that will help!

lisa1970 · #8 (**permalink**) 29-03-2008, 08:07 PM

i think i was trying to kill 2 birds with 1 stone so to speak but now i see i'll only get about 1/3 of a "true" macro. the zoom was the most important part for me but i do use the macro function on rainy days for flower shots. guess i'll have a period of trial and error before i decide if i'll want a dedicated macro lens. i have a close-up filter that i had for an old kodak that fits the nikon kit lens, i'll see if it fits this