Flexibility of the full-frame macro lens

Flexibility of the full-frame macro lens

Feb 28

This is the first in a series of blog posts comparing shooting with cropped-sensor versus full-frame sensors. I hope you enjoy! – Scott Gietler

When I used to shoot with the Nikon D80, D300, and D7100, when I wanted to shoot macro I had to decide between using the 60mm macro lens and the Nikon 105mm macro lens. Now that I am using a full-frame camera, I no longer have to decide. When I use the 105mm macro lens, it has the angle of view that I had with the 60mm macro lens, but the bokeh and ability to isolate the subject that I had when I used the 105mm macro lens on a cropped sensor camera. The best of both worlds!

I have more room for compositional errors with small fish than I had before with the 105mm lens. And if I crop the photo, I end up with the exact same image I would have taken on a cropped sensor camera. I will admit, one thing I do miss is the lighter weight and smaller port of the 60mm macro lens + cropped sensor setup.

Have you tried shooting with both a cropped sensor and full frame camera? Which one did you prefer? Leave your answer in the comments.

Here’s a sample of photos I took last year on a 3-day Channel Islands trip with the Nikon 105mm VR macro lens. I hope you consider joining one of my photo trips this year to the SoCal Channel Islands in August, Anilao  Philippines in December, or Tahiti for Humpback Whales in September or October.

And if you are serious about macro, check out the Nauticam D850 housing, Sea & Sea D850 housing, Aquatica D850 housing, and the Ikelite D850 housing, and my recent article on photographing mandarin fish underwater.