Do these lenses overlap?

[kona786]

Nikon AF-S DX 35mm f/1.8G

Nikon AF-S DX Micro 40mm f/2.8G


I bought a Nikon D5100 a couple months back with the 18-55mm lense kit and decided to buy the 35mm Prime too.

My wife has decided to buy me the Micro lense after some advice from a work colleague as a surprise present. Colleague didn't know I already had the Prime.

Now I wouldn't have bought the Micro myself but I like the idea of Macro shooting so my question is:

Is this new Macro lense worth the £190 when I already have the 35mm prime?

What are the advantages?

I just don't want to unbox and use it and find out its not worth it, then put it all back to return it.

 

[kona786]

I see. Could you post a few picture examples of what could be done with the Micro lens that my Prime couldn't?

Is it just a case of getting a much more close up picture than I could with the prime?

 

[kona786]

Aah thank you very much ManCuBuS for the great examples.

minimum focus distance (mfd)? This is the minimum distance that you have to stand from the subject in order to properly focus on it right?

what happens when you get closer - it just doesn't focus/auto focus?

Could you also give the mfd of both those lenses in mm (just a rough ball park figure) please. Thanks

If you tried to take the 2nd pic with your 35mm - would it just be a blurry mess?

Sorry for the noob questions.

The only problem with the 40mm macro is you need to be very close to what you're taking a picture of, so if it's bugs you can scare them off (was the reason I didn't buy the 40mm) . A better lens would be a 90mm,

105mm is like £600

 

[kona786]

snip.

Thanks - I won't really be shooting wildlife so this lense should suit me ok.

No need to apologise dude, whats this forum here for if we can't seek a some knowledge and I'm a noob as well compared to some of the other guys on here

Yes MFD is the closest you can get to the subject and still achieve focus. If using Auto Focus then if you are closer than the MFD then the lens will just hunt and won't confirm.

MFD of the 35mm is 0.3m
MFD of the 50mm is 0.189m, however the front of the lens is actually a lot closer than this because of how the front element extends to achieve magnification.

thanks again.

how did you calculate the MFD's?

 

[kona786]

There was me thinking there was a formula. Thanks for all your help guys, esp for the pics ManCuBuS. I'm going to keep the Macro. Yay!