Macro lens for Nikon D5100?
Which lens would capture better macro images on the nikon D5100: Sigma 150mm f2.8 EX OS DG Macro Lens - Nikon AF OR Sigma 105mm f/2.8 OS EX DG Macro HSM Lens - Nikon AF?
You can't go wrong with the 105mm choices. Folks have had some issues with the 150mm, so you should do some further research on the review forums and comment sections of Adorama and B&H. If you stick with the Nikon lens, you'll be sure that this will work on all Nikon bodies in the future.
If you're doing bug photography, the 150 may give you better working distance. Working distance (distance from the end of the lens to your subject) is a hard thing to find and usually need to calculate it. Nikon bodies have a flange mount to sensor distance of 46.5mm (1.83").
Working distance = (closest focus distance) - (flange to sensor distance) - (length of lens)
Both are good quality lenses, but to my mind too long for insects and spiders, especially if moving. Last year I photographed a very small spider (4mm body size, and it was on the move!) with a 55mm macro lens on a D7000 (same sensor size as the D5100). Sigma makes a macro lens at 70mm, Tamron makes a 60mm, as does Nikon (but the Nikor is expensive).
Same ( very good ) optical quality and magnification… The only major difference is the focusing/working distance, @1:1 about 31/14cm vs 38/18cm… Btw jumping spiders are usually very tiny, so u probably need to crop o find a way to achieve a higher magnification ( 2:1, 3:1 or better )… And learn how to focus stack your phots ;-)
and don't forget an external flash with a diy diffuser:-P
You may want to read this breakdown. I book marked it as I was looking into a 1:1 macro. Hope you get what you needed.