Wondering whether to use 60mm or 105mm Macro, used 60mm in the past...wondering whether to switch to 105mm...for Nikon D500

Thanks in advance.

Hi Geoff

I’ve got a D500 and use both the 60mm and 105mm. I've used a 45-degree viewfinder on my Subal housing for many years.

I find the 105mm allows you to stand back a little more from the subject which can help with lighting and critter scare. However it can be difficult to actually find the critter in the viewfinder and it's easy to lose the subject's location when checking on the LED screen after taking the shot.

The 60mm is much easier in terms of getting and keeping the critter in the viewfinder but, of course, you need to get a lot closer with the potential lighting and scaring issues.

My rule of thumb tends to be that if I know exactly what small macro creature I’m planning to shoot (eg shrimps or arrowcrabs) I’ll probably go with the 105mm. But if I’m not sure and just plan to look for macro images, I tend to use the 60mm as it's just easier to use.

The 4 attached images were shot with the two lenses. The first two are 105mm and the second two 60mm.

Hi Tim,

Than you very much for getting back and so soon, taking onboard your advice and images, going to go for the 105mm and aim to fill the frame 🙏🏻🤿📸

👍🏼 have fun with it, Geoff. The 105mm is a superb lens. It just needs a bit of patience on a D500.

Hi Tim,

What kind of patience?? Hunting?

The 60mm is more natural on a DX camera. The 105 is still fast in my experience but it is better on full frame. The d500 has a good focus system.

Thanks Dave...

1 hour ago, Geoff said:

Hi Tim,

What kind of patience?? Hunting?

No, hunting isn’t an issue. It’s finding the subject in the viewfinder! And refinding it if you check a shot on the back screen. It can be surprisingly tricky!

As Dave says, the 60mm is the more natural macro lens for a D500 but you can do some cool images with the 105. It just takes patience. I was using just a 105 for a long time having switched from a D800 based system to D500 but then decided to get a 60 too. I tend to use the 60 now perhaps more than the 105,- some of which is due to the travel weight of a 105 and port.