Thanks to all who gave advice. I am now the proud owner of the Nikon 60mm Micro.

Nogbad

Well done Nogbad,
a very good choice and a fine piece of glass. I am sure you will not be disappointed with it,
So, it's only 21.25hrs, out you go into your garden and get us some "Glowworm" images!!!
regards Subzero.

They are manufacturers who try to confuse buyer about macro lens. In the good old days macro mean taking closeup photos of actual size or bigger. You need lens designed for sharp pictures at close range.

Here is my picture of dragonfly using MicroNikkor60mm. If you do not use special macro lens it will usually not possible to get sharp pictures at close range. If your lens focal length is too long you will not get enough depth of field.

As for auto-focus for macro, I used to have a 50mm Pentax macro lens with manual focus. Using this MicroNikkor with auto focus is very convenient indeed. I shall never go back to macro lenses without auto focus again.

http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/...hp/photo/80393

Jim: You looked at the AF version. I have the MF version which only goes to 1:2. So in other words Nikon use micro (their term) for 1:2. I think the 70-180 micro zoom also only goes to about 1:1.3.

Leif