Best Lens for Nikon DSLR?
 

I posted a few weeks ago that I have a Nikon D300 and a 24 mm - 120 mm Nikon lens. I am looking to get a lens for more up close photo taking and was curious if anyone has any experience with any?

nikon makes a few macro lenses, but they're a bit pricey. i bought a sigma 105mm macro and it works great, its a little cheaper than the nikon too. for an all purpose lens, i'd go with the nikon 18-200mm VR lens. the 35mm 1.8 or the 50mm 1.8 are also two cheap, but good lenses to have (100-200 bucks each).

Agree with ant man. The prime lenses are very sharp and you can shoot in darker areas with the faster aperture. I personally like the range of the 16-85mm better than the 18-200mm. I've had that lens for a few months now and it rarely leaves my camera. If you are referring Macro lenses, the only "affordable" lens is the the 85mm f/3.5g at around $500. Try cameta.com or B & H photography.

I find the 50mm lens is the most useful. Great for portraits and close-ups as you can reduce the depth of field considerably, even with the less expensive F1.8.
Better res. and clarity also.

Depends on what you mean by close-up, but if you mean macro, I have the Sigma 105mm in Canon mount and it works fine.

I agree with Ztoon, the 50 mm 1.4 (or even the 1.8) is a great prime lens -- for a zoom, I get a lot of use out of my Nikkor 12-24 mm (liitle more of a wide angle lens). THAT SAID, if you want to talk Macro, that is another discussion -- I've got a 105MM Macro that is great, plus it has about a 19" stand off range which allows you a little flexibility with lighting..... Nikonians (THE NIKONIAN - The eZine for avid Nikon(R) Photographers) has a pretty good forum which discusses a lot of subjects in a great deal more depth......I'm sure Canon probably has a good site as well.

Good luck.