Nikon 40mm micro bad idea for macro?

Is true as Ken Rockwell says that this lens is for anything except macro… Thanks

Http://froknowsphoto.com/?s=40mm&submit.x=0&submit.y=0 That link has a video review of that lens… The lens is great… *** Ken Rockwell.

I wouldn't listen to anything KR says - his advice is taken with a large bucketful of salt amongst those who know better. He does tend to say idiotic things at times.

Any Nikkor prime macro lens will be good. The 40mm will have a short working distance so may spook shy macro subjects (insects for example) but would be fine for static subjects.

There are other options. I use a Sigma 50mm f2.8 macro. Great for portraits and macro work.
Macro;

Portrait;

Unless you want to be literally on top of your subjects a 40mm micro lens is, in my opinion, just too short of a focal length. The Nikkor 85mm or 105mm micro lens will give you a better working distance which can be useful with bees and wasps. So my advice is either the 85mm or 105mm.

I have not read Ken Rockwell's article but I did watch the Fro's video.

Nothwisthanding the good things the Fro has to say about it, he really does not know much about macro.

I was kind of surprised when Nikon announced this lens, and I suppose for $300 it would be an easy way to get into macro.

But the problem as I see it is that you will have to be exceedingly close for a 1:1 photo. My 100mm is already too close. In the Fro's video, he is nowhere close to 1:1 macro shots as he is 1ft away most of the time.

The 100mm lenses can really be hard to work with as the DoFs are wafer-thin (the closer you are, the more limited the DoF). This can improve a bit with using a shorter focal length, but if you have to get even closer, that advantage might be nil.

At any rate, shooting macro - especially at 100mm can be technically challenging, although it is highly rewarding as well. It is perhaps an activity that should be for those that have advanced beyond the beginner stage with their knowledge of exposure, aperture behavior, DoF, etc.

I can see that the 40mm macro might be easier for beginners in macro to master - and while it will go to 1:1, as the Fro showed, perhaps most of the time you will be further away.

I'm not sure I would buy the lens, but I thought I might buy it for my son and try it and see just how it compares to my 100mm. But I'm sure my expectations would be confirmed.

http://www.althephoto.com