On Sat, 21 Nov 1998 17:52:26 GMT, photobug@ibm.net (Fred B.) wrote:

>I would agree with the 105mm Nikkor.
>It is also a superb lens, in the AIS manual focus version.
>If I had to buy a macro lens again, I would get the 105mm Nikkor
>manual focus (B&H has them grey market).

I think this makes a better general-use 105 than the AF
version, since MF is more practical with it (and infinity
performance of the MF version is first-rate).

>I shoot a lot of critters, and they don't like the 60mm in their face,
>so I have to use a converter with it for shy creatures. Pluc I don't
>want to get 5" from a big bee.

I've "bugged" them at distances far less than 5" with 2-3X
macro gear, but I got "bugged" by one bee only when I
accidentally stepped on it...;-) They're pretty passive
critters (around here, anyway...;-). Bugs seem to just
ignore what I'm doing, for the most part (examples on
my web page, under "photographs", "Bugs"...).