Insect photography is to some a peculiar niche in photography. Now insects are small creatures, so one needs to be extra careful when taking snaps of these animals.
Contrary to popular opinion, insects are hardly disgusting little buggers. They have a great deal of beauty in them; something insect photographers recognize ad aim to showcase to the world.
Close-ups are the name of the game when it comes to snapping at insects. You will definitely need a macro lens for such amazing close-up shots. Focal lengths of between 50-200mm are the norm in this niche. Also, everything needs to be kept still and quiet. Insects are highly cautious, and any focus noise or overly loud clicks will scare your bugs, and you can say goodbye to an amazing shot.
Since insect photography is not your run-of-the-mill photo-taking session, you are going to need a particular type of glass. Macro lenses are built for this kind of photography, so this list will mainly cover these types of lenses.
Such lenses will allow you to focus on close distance items and in this case, insects. So keep reading to find out the best lenses you need to capture these miniscule creatures.
Best Nikon Lens for Insect Photography
#1 Nikon AF Micro-NIKKOR 200mm f/4D
Rating: 4.5/5
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. Internal Focusing 2. Vibration Reduction | 1. Aperture at f/3.5 can sometimes produce lackluster images 2. Not solidly built like the 105mm |
Review
This is a telephoto lens that is made for macro shots. This lens gives excellent results with its longer focal length. This gives you a longer working distance.
With a longer working distance, you get a shallow depth of field. In general, you will be able to snap at insects without having to invade their personal space.
Normally, the closer you get to your subjects, the higher the risk of scaring them away. Also, they might even attack seeing as you pose a threat to their well-being. For shy subjects, then this lens is your best bet.
The lens is meant to be used on Nikon FX sensors as well as DX cameras. It has 13 elements grouped into eight divisions. There are a pair of Extra-Low Dispersion glass components that aid in reducing chromatic aberrations.
The Auto Focus fitted works perfectly with FX cameras. With a 48cm minimum focus distance, it is truly a superb piece of shooting equipment. The focus elements are in-built. This is essential because when you are shooting bugs, you wouldn’t want anything protruding out of the lens lest you scare them.
With excellent construction material and superb optical elements, this Nikon piece is suitable for insect photography.
#2 Nikon AF-S Micro-Nikkor 105mm
Rating: 4/5
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. Internal Focusing 2. Vibration Reduction | 1. Aperture at f/3.5 can sometimes produce lackluster images 2. Not solidly built like the 105mm |
Review
What sets this 105mm from the other one is that it is an updated version of the older macro lens. This one features Autofocusing technology. Seeing as newer lenses are coming with AF capability, it would be a good idea to have one equipped on your DSLR camera.
The glass is superbly built with a metal frame. This gives it a premium feel when handling but can be a bit weighty.
Even with AF, there is a manual override button that you can use to switch to manual focus mode. So even in autofocus mode, you can still have a say in your focusing.
The lens features vibration reduction mechanism, which allows you to take more explicit images. If you are working without a tripod on hand, then you don’t need to worry about your shakiness when trying to focus on your bugs.
Additionally, the AF is powered by Nikon’s Silent Wave Motion (SWM) technology. When snapping at small bugs, the last thing you want is to scare them away. SWM means that everything is kept as noiseless as possible.
Besides SWM, the working distance is sufficient enough, and you won’t be startling your subjects. Al-in-all, this is a true macro lens that will give you life-size images of any bugs that you photograph.
#3 Nikon AF-S DX Micro-Nikkor 40mm 1:2.8G
Rating: 4/5
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. Internal Focusing 2. Vibration Reduction | 1. Aperture at f/3.5 can sometimes produce lackluster images 2. Not solidly built like the 105mm |
Review
Now if you are looking for a reasonably priced macro lens, then the Nikkor 40mm is a solid choice. This glass offers excellent value and an all-round shooting capability. It’s not just limited to bug shots but can also take regular photos. This diversity doesn’t compromise on the quality of your pictures one bit, however.
Unlike most expensive lenses, the Nikkor 40mm is exceptionally lightweight. The make-up utilizes plenty of plastic, although an excellent kind of plastic. It feels robust when handled. The weight helps a lot when aiming at little insects.
The lens’ aperture spreads to a divine f/2.8. So get ready for a remarkable depth of field when capturing any creepy crawlies.
There are 9 elements in the optics department. These are grouped into 7 classes. The lens also includes a Super Integrated Coating (SIC) into these components. Expect reduced flares and any ghosting when shooting in backlit environments.
Weather sealing is also present but not as thorough as in other lenses. Rubber sealing is mainly used, and the glass is decently weather-proofed.
Nikon’s SWM technology is present, and you won’t be scaring away your subjects. The autofocus makes use of Close-Range Correction structure that improves the AF capability. The lens’ autofocus elements move self-reliantly. So when focusing closer to the subjects, your images will turn out superbly.
Despite the AF capability, there is still a manual override button for when you want to do things yourself. You can also tweak the AF to your liking with the manual focus mode.
So this is an excellently priced macro lens with superb photo-taking capability. It is a bargain if you want clear insect pictures.
#4 Nikon AF-S Micro-Nikkor 60mm 1:2.8G ED
Rating: 3.5/5
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. Internal Focusing 2. Vibration Reduction | 1. Aperture at f/3.5 can sometimes produce lackluster images 2. Not solidly built like the 105mm |
Review
If you want a longer focal length and a comfortable working distance, then go for the Nikon 60mm. This is one of Nikon’s more popular macro lenses you can nab today.
The G designation means that the glass has an in-built AF motor. The lens is also compatible with Nikon DX series cameras.
The optics of this lens is made of 12 components arranged in 9 sections. There are a pair of Aspherical elements and an individual low dispersion one. They work on toning down on aberrations and distortions. So you can expect extremely sharp pictures with vibrant colors.
The bokeh quality is also top-notch because of the 9 rounded blades include in the optical construction. Besides this, Nikon also includes SIC AND Nano crystal coating, a mainstay of Nikon to reduce flares and any ghosting.
Like other Nikon Macro lenses, SWM is in place. This makes sue that autofocusing is not distorted as well as pretty quiet. The noiseless capability is crucial when shooting minute characters as you take care not to frighten them.
Besides the autofocus, there is a manual focusing capability as well. You can fine-tune the AF to your liking at any time.
One other handy feature in place is internal focusing. This helps to keep the barrel length constant when you are focusing on your subjects. Like the SWM, this feature is useful when you do not want to scare off insects as you get closer.
The lens is a solid accompaniment to your insect photography sessions. It will give you life-sized pictures of tiny critters.
#5 Nikon 85mm f/3.58G Micro VR AF-S DX
Rating: 3.5/5
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. Internal Focusing 2. Vibration Reduction | 1. Aperture at f/3.5 can sometimes produce lackluster images 2. Not solidly built like the 105mm |
Review
The Nikon 85mm is an authentic piece of glass that will give you superbly sharp images of little things. For insect photographers, very few lenses have the credibility of this one.
Vibration reduction is also on hand to reduce shakiness when handling the lens. You don’t have to worry about the quality of your pictures if you don’t have a tripod with you. The VR will smoothen out any distortions resulting from the same.
The lens also includes internal focusing so you won’t be scaring away your insect subjects when focusing on them. The lens components do not extend as in others without internal focusing.
In a nutshell, this is a solidly built lens that has been tried and tested over time. It is a true macro lens with an advanced manual focusing mode that will give you decent insect photos.
Conclusion
All of these lenses are superb and for some, come at a bargain price. Get yourself one of these and realize great insect photos like you have never seen.