wa sagi long time no see you here...and i missed bro aldo too 

Haih, the events in Melaka was postponed -.- must be due to the lousy state representative here.

No idea, just received an email from Nikon Center KL informing the event has been postponed. Maybe the state representative went MIA lol!

I, myself from Ipoh. We just finished a gathering on Saturday and a workshop on Sunday. It was marvellous to have such meet up. Appreciate for what they did to the Nikon community....

Thanks

1 get together session and 1 beginner's workshop. Not sure about the workshop cause I didn't register for that, but the gathering one got postponed.

Yes, i will be in the Nov. 27th event too. Are you from Ipoh too? Maybe we could join up for future photo shooting. I've known a few guys that are keen to do so.

u also coming for PIBM on the 20th?  r u running or coming as photographer?

there is a content this year 1st prize is RM2K

http://www.penangmarathon.gov.my/portal/in...1:marathon-info

AF-S 60mm micro lens
AF-S 105mm micro lens

both of them are fantastic micro lens

What are you using it for?

In addition to what ifer has suggested, best of the best would be the AF-D 200mm f/4 micro if you want long working distance for dangerous subjects or when going close to the subject is not possible. Else if you can find the zoom Nikkor micro lens AF 70-180mm f/4.5-5.6 D ED (discontinued), it's also fantastic and the world's first and only zoom type macro lens.

If you're on DX, Nikon has the AF-S 45mm f/2.8 and AF-S 85mm f/3.5.

If you want 3rd party, I heard the Sigma 150mm f/2.8 is also excellent.

The 60mm and the 105mm Nikkor is one of Nikon's best lenses.
You need to check your working distance. Long working distance require longer lenses.
Unfortunately, when it comes to budget, you would probably be forced to go with Sigma... Nikon fanboy or not...

Anyway, the Nikkor 200mm f/4 micro is THE best macro lens out there bar none. There's no equivalent from other brands when it comes to macro lens.

Else, do like what a lot of people do. Use TC or extension tubes on your tele lens to get you closer to your subject so that it get's magnified = pseudo macro lens. I sometimes use my AF-S 300mm f/4 with a Canon 500D screw on diopter to shoot things like butterflies or dragonflies. I also use the 500D diopter with my AF-S 80-200mm f/2.8 zoom for some flexibility. It does not give you real 1:1 macro but close enough.
I may agree a bit on the first part with the Nikon 105mm f/2.8 VR even though I find that people owning the 105mm f/2.8 VR would usually shoot potraiture with that lens in studio or private one on one where fast focusing does not really matter. Where fast focusing is required, they take out the 70-200mm f/2.8 VR to do the job.

But comparing the Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 output quality alone, nothing 3rd party out there even comes close. Whereas if you're using Tamron 90mm f/2.8 macro lens, you'd be hard pressed to differentiate a picture taken with it and a Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 VR. That's how good the Tamron macro is.

care to elaborate why the 105 macro is not so nice?

but i thought you were asking for macro lens. 105mm is basically a macro lens and not a portrait lens.

It doesn't excels due to the IF, which have Focus Breathing issue, need to know how to use it properly. Otherwise, it's great.
You can try get the older 105 AF-D version.

I did during I AM NIKON Show at MV... definitely not up to my expectation. A no no for me.

i remember seeing some in YL Camera. Might want to call them up and drop by to have a view and play and then pay... hehee

on second thought: how much is your budget on this macro lens thingy? will you consider carl zeiss 100mm macro? i tried it on 5D mk2 and OMFG... upon viewing my photos at 100%, i started to see things that my eyes couldn't see. i can use this dude as a microscope lens

Got hit once on the lens iirc but luckily only kena the lens hood, not the body itselft and the pallete didnt break! If not sure mafan to clean the paint

guys, is there any where i can know of more Nikon field trips?

i m not going 
pumping my saving for good lens before my company trip.

duno 
but sure somewhere i never been before.

I'm actually having similar enquiry with 17-55,

Food 4 thought,  instead of getting 50 1.4, how bout 85 1.4? Since, 85 kind of give u the tele length and perfect for DX.

Alternatively how is 105 2.8 vs 85 1.4 in DX. 105 give macro, while 85 give 1.4, but for portrait, which nicer?, I quite sure 85 will come out better, but by how many, if not a lot, isn't it better or more value 4 money to buy 105 instead of 85 and get macro as well?