Brand:
Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.8
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If you plan to use your Nikon D750 in macro
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With sharp focusing and a high maximum magnification ratio, the Nikon 50mm f/1.8 tops my list of the best macro lens for the Nikon D750. Whether you are shooting an insect or a tiny flower, this macro lens enables image enlargement, making it ideal for capturing close-ups shots and interesting details in properties.
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Brand:
Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.8
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Brand:
Nikon 35mm f/1.8
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Brand:
Tokina ATX-i 100mm f/2.8
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Lens Type:
Standard
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Lens Type:
Standard
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Lens Type:
Macro
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Coating Description:
Multi Coating
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Coating Description:
Multi Coating
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Coating Description:
Multi Coating
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4.8
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4.7
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4.4
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Here's a quick recap of my top recommended macro lens for the Nikon D750 listed in this article. In this table, I've also included an overview of their top features.
The Nikon 50mm f/1.8 is a high-quality lens that provides you with a normal perspective angle of view, making it ideal for taking real estate exterior images with fewer distortions.
With a bright aperture of f/1.8, this lens collects sufficient light, allowing you to capture sharp images when taking pictures indoors where ambient lighting might not be sufficient.
When you combine this wide aperture with the seven blades aperture diaphragm, just like the Nikon 35mm f/1.8, this lens produces a beautiful out-of-focus effect when taking portraits. This lens features a minimum focus distance of 17.76 inches and a maximum magnification ratio of 0.15x, allowing you to shoot appealing pictures of tiny subjects such as door handles.
The lens comes equipped with a silent wave motor, allowing you to take pictures of camera-sensitive subjects without the fear of scaring them. Like the Yongnuo 35mm f/2, this lens incorporates 7 elements in 6 groups, effectively reducing the chances of your real estate exterior images with perspective barrel distortion.
However, without the vibration reduction system, this unit hinders you from capturing sharp images when shooting using slow shutter speeds or doing long exposure photography.
One of the standout features of the Nikon 35mm f/1.8 is its ability to create beautiful bokeh, which is usually a creamy, dreamy background that makes the subject pop.
Like the Tokina ATX-i 100mm f/2.8, this adds a certain depth and dimension to the small subject you are capturing. With a weight of 0.44 pounds, this unit is also incredibly lightweight and easy to carry around, also making it the perfect walk-around lens for Nikon cameras.
However, the lightweight design is a trade-off with the plastic exterior, which tends to be less sturdy than its metal counterparts.
Like the Nikon 50mm f/1.8, the f/1.8 aperture allows for a lot of light to enter the lens, which is crucial for getting a good shot in low light, especially when using a standard lens on the D750's small APS-C sensor.
However, the autofocus motor is not as fast or silent, which can be an issue if you're shooting macro photos of shy subjects, such as insects that can run away due to the noise, or move faster than the lens’s tracking speed.
The 100mm focal length of the Tokina ATX-i 100mm f/2.8 macro lens allows you to get close to your subject. For example, when photographing small bathrooms, you need to focus on small details like the design of a faucet handle or smoothness and whiteness of the bathtub to demonstrate how aesthetically pleasing the bathroom is.
Like the Nikon AF-S 40mm f/2.8, the lens also has a 1:1 magnification ratio, which means that the subject appears life-size on the camera's sensor. The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 11.8 inches, making it ideal for taking photos of the inside kitchen cabinets or closets.
This gives you the flexibility to capture a wide range of subjects with remarkable clarity and detail. With a maximum aperture of f/2.8, this lens delivers exceptional sharpness and bokeh, making it perfect for portraits.
Unlike the Yongnuo 35mm f/2, the lens features a moisture-resistant design that allows you to shoot in challenging environments without worrying about damage or malfunction. Its metal exterior provides a robust frame that offers excellent protection to the lens.
The focus and aperture rings are smooth and responsive, so you can quickly adjust your camera settings and capture shots with ease. You might want to capture the birds on the rooftop of the building or butterflies flying around the backyard and on the flowers to demonstrate the environment in the property is located in.
However, the autofocus speed can be noticeably slower, which can be particularly frustrating when trying to capture fast-moving subjects or trying to keep up with a moving subject while in autofocus mode. Also, the 1.16 pounds weight can be exhausting to handle for extended periods.
The Yongnuo YN35mm f/2 lens has a solid yet lightweight design that might suit you if you love a lens that is easy to handle and carry around. Like the Nikon 50mm f/1.8, the lens also has 7 aperture blades, which help create a circular aperture for smooth out-of-focus areas.
The lens has a smooth and quiet autofocus system that makes it suitable for both
However, this unit doesn’t have image stabilization, making it unsuitable if you have shaky hands or want to capture smooth video footage handheld. One thing you want to avoid when taking interior shots is the paint on the walls of the building to appear faded, like they need repainting.
Luckily, this unit features 7 lens elements in 5 groups, which work in harmony to produce sharp, clear images with good contrast and color rendering, ensuring the room's wall painting and color is rendered well. However, this doesn’t mean that faded wall paintings will appear shiny and fresh.
Unlike the Nikon AF-S 40mm f/2.8, note that this lens does not come with any weather sealing, so it is important not to expose it to adverse weather conditions. However, you can use neutral density or polarizing filters and lens hoods to provide additional protection when shooting in high humidity or dust.
The Nikon AF-S 40mm f/2.8 excels in its minimum focusing distance of 6.4 inches and the life-size maximum magnification of 1:1. This magnification allows you to capture detailed images of tiny subjects without cropping that might cause pixelation.
The optical construction incorporates 9 elements in 12 groups which help to suppress ghosting and surface reflections when shooting shiny interior subjects. Unlike the Yongnuo 35mm f/2, the lens features weather resistance sealing, making it ideal for use in harsh weather conditions.
Unlike the Tokina ATX-i 100mm f/2.8, its optical design utilizes a Close Range Correction that helps retain consistent photo sharpness and quality throughout the focusing range.
With a silent wave motor, this prime lens allows you to achieve a fast, near-silent and accurate autofocusing experience suitable for both real estate photography and videography. It also comes with a focus ring, allowing you to fine-tune your focus for better performance even when working in poor lighting.
With physical dimensions of 2.56 x 2.72 x 2.72 inches and a weight of 0.51 pounds, it is compact and lightweight, making it a great walkaround lens.
When taking real estate photos of tiny interior subjects such as wall switches, you will want a macro lens that can capture bright photos without blurring. Fortunately, you can consider the following features to ensure you choose the right lens for macro photography depending on your lighting condition and subject distance.
| Lens | Minimum Focusing Distance | Magnification Ratio | Aperture Blades |
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| Nikon 50mm f/1.8 | 1.48 feet | 0.15x | 7 |
| Nikon 35mm f/1.8 | 0.98 feet | 0.16x | 7 |
| Tokina ATX-i 100mm f/2.8 | 11.8 feet | 1x | 9 |
| Yongnuo YN35mm f/2 | 9.84 feet | 0.23x | 7 |
| Nikon 40mm f/2.8 | 0.53 feet | 1x | 7 |
Magnification refers to the size a subject appears on the sensor of the camera compared to its real size. For instance, if the subject appears to be 25% as large on the camera sensor compared to its real-life size, it means the magnification is 0.25x or 1:4.
Keeping in mind that a macro lens is meant to shoot tiny subjects, it should be able to enlarge the subject to fill the frame. Although a zoom or telephoto lens for Nikon can bring the subject closer and crop the background, it doesn't result in pleasing photos like ones shot with macro lenses designed with a higher magnification ratio.
For the best macro
The working or minimum focus distance of a macro lens helps you find the best position to be close to the subject while retaining focus. In this way, you can save time in fixing out-of-focus pictures in Lightroom.
When doing macro
The focal length or MM in lenses determines the field of view. Zoom lenses have a variable focal length that allows you to vary the field of view and fill the frame with distant subjects. On the other hand, prime lenses like 50mm and 85mm have a fixed focal length, which means you need to physically change the subject distance to vary the field of view.
Although when shooting a moving subject that varies the subject distance a lens with a variable focal length is the most ideal, fixed focal length macro lenses tend to shoot more clear and sharp photos.
Therefore, if you want to shoot sharp photos of nearby subjects, consider a fixed focal length lens such as a wide-angle focal length lens like the Nikon 35mm f/1.8. For normal closeups, go for a normal focal length lens such as the Nikon 50mm f/2.8.
The aperture is the opening that allows light to pass through the camera lens to the sensor. In most cases, this opening is variable, and you can widen it or narrow it. Since the aperture regulates the amount of light, a narrower aperture minimizes the light reaching the sensor, making the photos darker.
A narrower aperture also results in a deep depth of field, where everything in the frame is focused. On the other hand, a wider aperture means more light reaches the sensor, making the photos brighter. A wider aperture also results in a shallow depth of field, where the subject is in focus, and the background is blurred.
As a result, a macro lens with a wider maximum aperture, such as the Nikon 50mm f/1.8, is preferable as it allows you to capture bright photos even in poor lighting. The shallow depth of field effect also allows you to capture aesthetically pleasing photos with a beautiful bokeh quality when applying selective focus techniques.
Your subject needs to remain within the maximum focusing distance to capture sharp macro pictures. Most lenses have manual and autofocusing systems.
Beginner photographers would benefit the most from autofocusing because it will allow you to adjust the composition while retaining focus. Every lens mentioned on this list has fast and accurate autofocusing.
Meanwhile, you'll need to switch to manual focusing for better control. Pairing it with a mini yet stable tripod will give you the best results.
In most cases, the size and weight of macro lenses vary depending on the focal length and the construction materials. For instance, a macro lens constructed with an all-metal housing tends to be heavier than one constructed with a plastic housing.
If you'll be walking around taking macro photos handheld, it is advisable to go for compact and lightweight macro lenses such as the Nikon 50mm f/1.8, as they won’t exhaust you. They are also the best travel macro lenses, as you can pack them in your camera bag when going on camping trips.
On the other hand, if you're shooting with a tripod setup for real estate photography, it’s advisable to go for heavier macro lenses such as the Tokina ATX-i 100mm f/2.8. Usually, the heavy weight of the lens makes the camera more stable on the tripod, even when shooting in windy or rainy conditions.
It is common to capture macro photos of flowers in the backyard or even tiny creatures in the jungle. Usually, this exposes your lens to extreme weather elements, such as dust or moisture. Dust build-up can cause a degradation of the image quality, and the combination of dust and moisture can even lead to fungus growth.
If you are shooting in such situations, consider going for a lens with weather sealing, such as the Nikon AF-S 40mm f/2.8. Keep in mind that this might be a trade-off with portability, as most of the best macro lenses that come with weather sealing feature a heavier metallic construction.
Yes, you can use autofocus in macro photography. However, most autofocus systems produce some noise, and you might need to use the manual focus if your macro photography involves shooting camera-sensitive subjects.
Yes, the minimum focus distance matters in a macro lens. Since you will be shooting closeups of tiny subjects, a smaller minimum focus distance allows you to draw the camera near to the subject for the best magnification without losing focus.
The Nikon D750 is a great camera for shooting macro. However, you need the perfect macro lens to ensure you can focus on short distances while retaining a high level of image detail.
Although you may want to capture close-ups with your Nikon D750, identifying the right macro lens to use for a Nikon camera might be challenging. Although the best one depends on the magnification and the minimum focus distance, you can’t go wrong with any of the above options. Pair this lens with the correct Nikon D750 flash, and you'll have the right equipment for photographing a variety of situations and scenes.
