Nikon D7000 Lens for Close up Tattoo shots?

[PeterPoose]

Hi guys,

I am a novice and am a little confused. I am after a budget lens to take close up shots of tattoos, do I require a macro lens or a close up lens please?

Any suggestions for a budget lens that will still take beautiful shots please?

Thanks

 

[snerkler]

Depends how big the tattoo is and how close up you want to be? Macro tends to be used to give a 1:1 representation, so on an APS-C sensor you'll only get something of approx 25mm in frame at 1:1. You can of course take images further back and so not 1:1, and they give great image quality generally.

I would have thought most tattoos would fill the frame on a 'normal' lens, and this may be good enough. However, if it was me, I'd use a macro lens then you can get the whole tattoo in and then pick out certain parts of the tattoo for extreme close ups.

 

[eduk]

Hi guys,

I am a novice and am a little confused. I am after a budget lens to take close up shots of tattoos, do I require a macro lens or a close up lens please?

Any suggestions for a budget lens that will still take beautiful shots please?

Thanks

What lens do you have and what's wrong with it?

 

[PeterPoose]

Thanks for your answers chaps!

At the moment I have a AF-S Nikkor 18-105.

I can get fairly close but if I get too close the camera will not shoot? I take photos as close as the camera will let me shoot then I have to crop to get in even closer.

Here are some examples of my tattoos and the shots I have managed to take and the type I want to take

These are just a few pics taken of some of my tattoos. These are the kind of shots I would like to take, these were taken by the artists that did the work on me

 

[snerkler]

First of all great artwork.

Minimum working distance of the 18-105mm is 45cm. Something like the 18-55mm has a minimum working distance of 28cm which would allow you to get that bit closer. Or of course you can go macro, which whilst working distance won't be any closer (and may even be further away) it can of course be at 1:1, so think of it as more magnified. If you use a macro at 1:1 you will only be able to get around 23mm of the tattoo in frame. You can of course use a macro lens at 1:2, etc.

What is it you're wanting from the images exactly as I personally don't see a lot wrong with those? How much have you cropped, is it possible to post an uncropped one?

 

[PeterPoose]

Thanks mate for the compliment

Those pictures were taken by the artists and not me. I am getting a much further away shot.

Here are some of mine that I have taken and cropped. I think I am ok with the large pieces, its just getting a real nice close up of the smaller ones. Just cant get the camera to shoot if its too close. I ad to crop all these below.

Sorry for the nudes lol

 

[snerkler]

Simply wow. It's all seriously great but that on your front is epic, the horses and the women.

Back on track. My suggestion would be to go to a camera store and try a lens with a closer working distance such as the 18-55mm, and try a macro and see which gives you the results you're after. With regards to the macro, you could go for any FL as you're not concerned with disturbing the subject. For people like me that shoot insects you actually want to be as far away as possible as you don't want to disturb them, and generally the longer focal length ones have a larger working distance. Don't think that the shorter ones will give a closer image though just because you may be able to get closer, 1:1 will be 1:1 regardless of working distance.

I hope that makes sense?

 

[PeterPoose]

Thanks mate!

Yes it makes perfect sense

I think a macro might be overkill then for what I want it for? I would just like to get great close up shots with a closer range

Any suggestions on a decent lens please?

 

[snerkler]

Thanks mate!

Yes it makes perfect sense

I think a macro might be overkill then for what I want it for? I would just like to get great close up shots with a closer range

Any suggestions on a decent lens please?

To be honest I'm far from an expert on Nikon (some would say on anything lol). Price is often (but not always) some indication to the quality of a lens. Do you know if you tend to take all your shots at a particular focal length? If so a prime will generally give you better IQ than a zoom. A 35mm f1.8 would be a good option imo as has a working distance of 30cm, the 50mm's tend to have a working distance of around 45mm the same as you have already.

I would try one first though to make sure it's close enough, as whilst you can get physically closer you have lost some of the zoom. Actually, thinking about that I'd have thought that having your lens at 105mm from 45cm would get you pretty close images???

 

[PeterPoose]

It doesn't seem to, I mean it refuses to take a picture at around the 45mm as you said but its just too far back for my liking unless I am doing something wrong with the camera which is a possibility lol

30mm sounds about right to me for what I am after

 

[shotokan101]

sigma 17-70mm great lens and the extra flexibility of the zoom will give you more compositional options without moving in/out if space is limited or at tattoo shows etc.

 

[snerkler]

It doesn't seem to, I mean it refuses to take a picture at around the 45mm as you said but its just too far back for my liking unless I am doing something wrong with the camera which is a possibility lol

30mm sounds about right to me for what I am after

I assume that's a typo as the minimum distance (according to the internet) is 45cm

Wonder if the info's wrong then? This was taken from around 35cm with a 50mm, so at 45cm at 105mm FL I'd expect it to be even closer. Without being able to try it for myself I can't say for sure though.

 

[snerkler]

sigma 17-70mm great lens and the extra flexibility of the zoom will give you more compositional options without moving in/out if space is limited or at tattoo shows etc.

Is that the one that's listed as a Macro? This would be great as it has a minimum working distance of 22cm, and has macro. Even though it's not really a Macro as it's only 1:2.8, that's plenty for tattoo close ups

 

[shotokan101]

Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM | C review: Digital Photography Review

 

[PeterPoose]

Thanks chaps!

Yes sorry was a typo lol!

I love reading reviews etc and researching once I know what to look for as I am a complete novice. So a 17 to 70 is the range I am looking for?

That does look like a lovely lens, just had a read up. It sounds perfect apart from the cost lol but I guess you get what you pay for the same as where I get my tattoos

Thanks for all your help, looks like we have a winner.

 

[PeterPoose]

This is the one I was looking at before your suggestions - Nikon AF NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8D Lens: Amazon.co.uk: Camera & Photo

 

[shotokan101]

much cheaper s/h of course or if bought new as an import....

 

[shotokan101]

no harm in trying the nifty fifty - can always sell it on and put the money towards the sigma

 

[snerkler]

This is the one I was looking at before your suggestions - Nikon AF NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8D Lens: Amazon.co.uk: Camera & Photo

Working distance is only the same as you have now. Although, as just shown a 50mm f1.8 should be close enough

To be fair £360 is a very good price for a lens like the 17-70mm imo.

 

[PeterPoose]

True

Would this be an option for a lens for what I need?

Cheers!

 

[PeterPoose]

I am sure it is and it is something I will get and save for. Right so 50cm is the working distance lol sorry for the dumb question I am trying hard to understand this

 

[PeterPoose]

reason I ask again is because mine is 18cm so shouldnt that be ample (which it isnt)

 

[shotokan101]

minimum focus distance for sigma 17-70 is 22cm BUT remember that this is NOT from the front element of the lens but is measured from the focal plane at the sensor so INSIDE the camera body to the subject

 

[shotokan101]

reason I ask again is because mine is 18cm so shouldnt that be ample (which it isnt)

What lens do you use at the moment then ? 18cm MFD is pretty close.... and waaaay too close for larger inks....

 

[PeterPoose]

Thank you! Thats perfect

Cheers for all your help folks