Cheap Nikon lenses for copying

[BetterSense]

So, half the reason I bought a D70 (my first digital camera) was because I have a huge box of family photos to digitize, and I thought I would set up a copy stand and do it way faster than scanning.

So I need a lens that can focus close enough and zoom close enough to copy a polaroid print. Utmost lab-grade quality isn't super important. Price is.

I could buy a macro lens, but it would be easier to zoom the lens than move the camera up and down. I have heard that the 18-70mm kit lenses that shipped with the D40 and D70 are actually pretty good and focus really close. They are also cheap, like $50 cheap. Do you think they can zoom and focus close enough to fill the frame with a polaroid print?

 

[jd callow]

I can't speak to the 18-70mm, but if your box of photos are wallet size up to 5x7 and the odd 8x10 I'd rent a micro nikkor (105/2,8) for the weekend at about 50.00 and move the camera.

 

[tkamiya]

Hi...

I tried this myself. My lens is 18-105mm kind. One of the frustration I experienced was distortion. I ended up fixing it on Nikon NX2. Something to consider if you are going to use inexpensive zoom lens.

A good one, in terms of close focus ability is 18-55mm kind. Zoomed out to 55mm, I can focus on an object that's 2 1/2" wide. As far as I know, this is the closest of cheap zoom. It's pretty cheap, too.

 

[Halka]

If you decide to throw some money at this anyway, the 55mm f/3.5 (or even f/2.8) Micro Nikkors are pretty cheap today and should be ok for what you are trying to do.

 

[CGW]

Yup, a NAI 55/3.5 Micro Nikkor is a great copy lens--corner-to-corner sharp, zero distortion, usually cheap. Problems with zooms, as noted, are close focus limitations and distortion.

 

[jd callow]

CGW, The 55mm in any of its iterations is a great lens, but for shooting copy of small photos, even on an ASP sized chip, the 55 may be too wide.

 

[CGW]

CGW, The 55mm in any of its iterations is a great lens, but for shooting copy of small photos, even on an ASP sized chip, the 55 may be too wide.

On an APS-C that's about an 82mm equivalent. Too wide for copy work???

 

[jd callow]

I just shot a hand full of small product sample containers: 1"x3" up to 3" x 5". Using a d300 the 105 micro worked out perfectly. The 55 would have been fine, but I'd have been closer to the items than I would have liked. Hence my feeling that he'd be happy shooting small photos with the 105 over the 55. I am sure both would work.

 

[nolanr66]

I own a 28-105 f3.5-4.5 Nikon zoom with a 2:1 macro on it and it will easily take photos of a 4x6 print. I do not know the cost of a used one but mine was about $275.00 new 5 years ago. It is now a discontinued model. I think this lens is of fine quality and it would do your copy work very well and it would make a fine general photography lens to use on a regular basis. I had never considered using my DSLR to copy older photos and have used my flat bed scanner many times. I just snapped off one and it came out great and I can see with the addition of a tripod I can copy photos easily and with very high quality. Thanks for that.

 

[StoneNYC]

I have a 55mm for sale, make me an offer


~Stone

The Noteworthy Ones - Mamiya: 7 II, RZ67 Pro II / Canon: 1V, AE-1 / Kodak: No 1 Pocket Autographic, No 1A Pocket Autographic

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[RalphLambrecht]

Iwould start looking for a Nikon ELNadapter and a Nikon enlarging lens from the ELN Nikkor line. that will cost you little and give you top quality.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Yes, or start thinking aboutNikon's EL series of enlarging lenses. they are excellent for macro shots and go for a song hese days.However, you will need an M39 to Nikon Fmount adapter to mount them to your camera. SK Grimes will make you one for $100.