Hi--

>I am considering purchasing a Nikon 105mm AF Macro lens to use for both
>macro and portraits. My alternative would probably be to purchase a 60mm AF
>macro for the macro range and an 85mm 1.8 lens for portraits.

Either would work well for these purposes - the 105's shortcomings are
in MF and alignment near infinity-focus, and the 60 isn't very good in the corners near infinity (in both cases you would have non-macro alternatives, though...).

>I would like your input as to the relative performance of the 105 mm vs. the
>60 mm at close distances, say 110 to 11 and the 105 mm vs. the 85 mm for
>portraits. I realize that the 105 will have greater lens to subject
>distance at macro ranges and will be more than a full f stop slower than the
>85. Yes. And the 60 has little front-space near 11, but is sharper than the
105 at wide stops near 11... (the 60 works well on the 2X converter, but not
at wide stops...).

>In your opinion would the better choice be the 105 or would it be the 60 and
>85 (I already have a 50 1.8).
"bob"

Dunno... (I like the MF 105 for infinity work...)
Either pair is useable.