Close focusing on DSLR's?

This is gonna sound a little complicated but once you'll get it it's easy to understand. It's about close focusing. Read slowly lol

So I got the lens 18-105 VR for my Nikon D5100. I've realized one thing, it doesn't focus close as the 18-55.

So, on Nikon's website it says that the 18-105 focuses as close "to 1.48 feet." I measured at 18mm how close I can get to focus and I was in focus 12 inches away. (From the tip of the lens) (And I also measured at 105mm and I was 10 inches away!)

>>>>>>How do they get the number "1.48 feet"?<<<<<<<

I'm really considering the 35mm prime lens and it says it focuses 1 foot away. (same with 18-55, it says 1 foot) But what is it ACTUALLY gonna be?!

Close photography, "macro", requires a macro lens.

The lenses you name will get pretty close but not macro close.

It's difficult to say and no one hear will be able to give you the actual measurement. I'd suggest you take your camera body to a qualified shot, ask to stick some lenses on the camera, focus on what ever object, get out your measuring tape and found out how close it is.

The stated distances are probably to the focal plane of the camera.
The 35mm is a nice sharp lens, but it will not give as much magnification as the 18-55mm zoomed to 55mm.
You could get the Micro Nikkor 40mm. That will give you more magnification at its closest focusing distance.