need help, Nikon D60 macro, new problem

[nickatnight]

Just got a Nikon D60 hoping to use on stones but all I get is a fuzzy image. The lens is 18-55mm, I think thats the stock lens. Only one I have.
Its in macro mode and I dont know what else to do. The online manual isnt any help. I dont need to know everything about this camera, just how to take macros. Do I need a diff lens?
This is my first 35mm camera, full of settings I dont want to know. I only want to use macro with it and it was almost free. Please tell me I dont have to buy a $300 lens.
After playing with it a while it seems that whatever mode or distance or zoom setting, what I see thru the viewfinder is out of focus, and thats what the pictures I take look like. As if there was a piece of tape over the lens.
In other words I cant take a pic of anything.
Help a noobie out if you can

[michael_e]

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d60/af-settings.htm
It may that they type of lens you have will not autofocus. See the above article and if it won't you'll need to focus manually.

[nickatnight]

very good link, thanks. No help with the macro, guess I need a lens. I can take closeups now from about a foot, but useless for gems

[nickatnight]

Feeling stupid, found another lens in the case, a 55-200. Still useless for macro but it will sure zoom. The AF works fine and both lenses are nikons

[tfw]

You might consider using a Raynox 150 or 250, depending on the magnification you want. The lens will screw on end of your existing lens. Reviews all over the web.

Regards,
Keith W.

[nickatnight]

that looks cool

[nickatnight]

after a couple weeks fooling around with this D60 I realize I really need a macro lens. I bought a set of magnifying filters and get a soso pic, but am only about 2" from lens so lighting is the problem there. Most internet chatter is about insects etc. Can anyone here recommend the lens I need for gemstones?

[loydb]

Nikon's 105mm macro takes great shots.

[nickatnight]

Thanks, but there are a slew of 105mm macros out there. Got a lens number, or a picture of the lens would help too

[loydb]

Nikon only makes one 105mm lens that I'm aware of. Hardly a slew...

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-AF-S-Micro- ... B000EOSHGQ

[drsue]

Nikon only makes one 105mm lens that I'm aware of. Hardly a slew...

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-AF-S-Micro- ... B000EOSHGQ

Wow! $940 for a lens....if photography were my favorite hobby I'd completely understand, but that buys a LOT of rough!

Anyone having any success with either point and shoots or cheaper DSLR alternatives? I really hate the concept of having to spent $2K in photography equipment and then spend a long time learning how to take gem photos just to post them on the board.

(I totally understand if you are doing this for a business or if you just like it. I also have read all the posts on the board so far regarding taking gem photos and have daylight light bulbs and a camera that shoots macro, and set up for white balance, etc.)

[HHelton]

I have researched on the web and ended up buying the Panasonic Z28
point and shoot.
Jamey Swisher has written several articles on point and shoot vs DSLR
and it was after reading all I could find that I made the purchase off ebay
the articles include mentioning Raynox macro lenses for the Z28.

You can search Jamey Swisher and here is one article.
https://www.cigem.ca/newsletter/news090 ... etter.html

We are just getting started using this camera but have been amazed at the
ease of use and quality of the macro capabilities.

Good luck

[loydb]

If you are after cheap, try the 40mm. I've never used it, however, so didn't recommend it.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/8 ... _AF_S.html

Before you buy anything, sit down with a glass of good whiskey and read as much of this forum as you can handle:

https://www.nikonians.org/forums/dcboar ... &forum=169

[Precision Gem]

A DSLR with out a real macro lens won't be very good for photographing gems. Of course you don't need to buy a Nikon Macro, there are other brands too that will cost a little less. You may consider a Sigma lens, their 105 macro is a very nice lens. Look on Ebay for a used one, and you can save a little over the price of a new lens. I wouldn't go any shorter than a 105 or you will be working too close to the stone, the longer the lens, the farther away from it you can be, which will help you with lighting. I use a Nikon 200mm macro, but started out with a 105. The 200 gives me some extra working room.

A DSLR has a much larger sensor than a point an shoot, and therefore needs a lot larger lens to cover the sensor. This adds exponentially to the cost. You may find a camera with smaller sensor and built in macro lens for half the price of the macro lens to work with your D60.

One other thing you will need is a tripod. With the large lens on a DSLR, your depth of field with be very very shallow, so you need to work with very small aperture's which will require very long shutter speeds. I typically shoot between f20 and f32 with shutter speeds of 1 to 3 seconds. At those speeds, and with the longer lens, any movement will cause blur, so if you camera has a "mirror up" setting, now would be a good time to use it.

[loydb]

In addition to a tripod, I recommend a remote trigger as well. Anything to reduce camera shake.

And I agree, I've never had autofocus work worth a damn with a macro, I always manually focus.