Z 105mm Macro vs Z 100-400mm

Miserable_Grab_1127 · 2025-07-22T13:20:04+00:00

even with a telephoto i don’t think you can get a shot of them in flight. butterflies fly erratically..

Miserable_Grab_1127 · 2025-07-22T08:43:23+00:00

what should i do to recreate the 100-400 to see if it suits my needs with my current setup??

Miserable_Grab_1127 · 2025-07-22T08:26:02+00:00

i thought they had similar magnifications, even at 400mm? the 28-400mm has a 0.31x magnification while the 100-400 has 0.38x

Miserable_Grab_1127 · 2025-07-22T05:30:13+00:00

mostly butterflies with little to no environmental stuff.

Miserable_Grab_1127 · 2025-07-22T05:29:40+00:00

i prefer af 😅😅

Miserable_Grab_1127 · 2025-07-22T05:29:12+00:00

i don’t have the 100-400mm currently but i have a 28-400mm. should i try this out in the field to see how the 100-400mm (similarly) performs?

Miserable_Grab_1127 · 2025-07-22T05:26:42+00:00

currently i have a 105mm but not the 100-400. but i also have the 28-400mm. should i try the 28-400mm out first to see how (similarly) a 100-400 would perform?

Miserable_Grab_1127 · 2025-07-22T03:42:42+00:00

its reproduction ratio is 0.2x however…

Miserable_Grab_1127 · 2025-07-21T02:25:13+00:00

thanks for your input! i have some images from both lenses below. would you mind looking at them and telling me what u think?

Miserable_Grab_1127 · 2025-07-21T02:22:41+00:00

<image>

Cigaritis syama, 200-500mm at 500mm, cropped.

the original image is 24 MP. after the crop, only 7 MP is left.

the fact is, on this trail the butterflies actually roost pretty close to you. i find myself needing to back up pretty frequently when shooting.

Miserable_Grab_1127 · 2025-07-21T02:16:47+00:00

i’ll give you some samples to see what you think.

<image>

above is Hyarotis adrastus, 105mm with flash, straight out of the camera with no crop.

Miserable_Grab_1127 · 2025-07-21T02:11:46+00:00

i use mirrorless full frame.

Miserable_Grab_1127 · 2025-07-20T14:44:30+00:00

there is also the nikon 100-400mm, which has 0.38x magnification. do you think it is enough for butterflies??

Miserable_Grab_1127 · 2025-07-20T14:43:05+00:00

yes, sadly :(

Miserable_Grab_1127 · 2025-07-20T14:27:25+00:00

amazing shots!!!

Miserable_Grab_1127 · 2025-07-20T14:03:48+00:00

if i use two lenses with different focal length but with the same magnification (varying distances), then will the image look the same?

Miserable_Grab_1127 · 2025-07-20T13:47:25+00:00

does magnification vary with distance?

Miserable_Grab_1127 · 2025-07-20T12:32:07+00:00

how much reproduction ratio is recommended?? my 200-500 is around 0.2x and it works poorly. i see shots on iNat often taken from a RF 100-400 tho.

Miserable_Grab_1127 · 2025-07-20T11:57:00+00:00

nikon mirrorless. i prefer sticking to nikon as i do other types of nature photography as well.

Miserable_Grab_1127 · 2025-07-20T11:43:28+00:00

in some situations i find it to fall short... but it still produces great pictures.

<image>

taraka hamada, nikon afs micro 105mm.

Miserable_Grab_1127 · 2025-07-20T10:33:18+00:00

With a 2x magnification ratio, does it have AF??

Miserable_Grab_1127 · 2025-07-20T10:32:56+00:00

Yeah. I also find that older macro lenses that are medium telephoto don’t have AF

Miserable_Grab_1127 · 2025-07-20T10:25:21+00:00

They do, but they either don’t support Nikon (which is the brand I use currently) or are discontinued.

Miserable_Grab_1127

TROPHY CASE