I would really appreciate some input... I have a Nikon D70s and would like to buy a macro lens. What are people using? I have heard that, if you can get one used, the Lester Dine lens used by many dentists is terrific. However, finding one is not easy so I figured maybe there was something else.
Also, when you are bracketing pictures, is it a given that you will be using a tripod?
Thanks
Ron

I cannot respond to the lens question as I'm a Canon user. As far as bracketing is concerned I'd say it depends upon what you are trying to achieve with the bracketing. If you are attempting to create an HDR image or even do some manually merging in photoshop then by all means a tripod is important. If you are bracketing just to ensure one of the exposures is acceptable then a tripod is nowhere near as important.

I'm not familiar with that lens rappar. For macro I have the Nikon AF-S 85mm VR micro. In the same range is the Tamron 90mm macro. It depends on what you are planning to shoot. For insects and such you need a bit of a working distance. The longer macro lenses give your that, i.e. 105 & 150 lenses. For shooting stamps or coins you may want a 60mm macro.

Then there are also close-up filter sets you can get and use your existing lens. I believe Hoya makes a set of these filters. I have also used the Canon 500d filter and have had good results with it attached to a 55-200 lens.

Hope this helps.

I've never heard of that lens either. I'm a Sony/Minolta shooter but I hear that the Nikon 105mm f2.8 macro and 85mm f/3.5 macro are popular macro lenses. You can also get an extension tube for your existing lenses. I like this better than closeup filters because it doesn't add any glass to the light path. The downside is a little loss of light, but it's not too significant.

that lens is really hard to find (used lens is about $ 350,-). i think you should try to rent some different macro lenses first before getting one.