Reddit reviews Nikon AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/3.5G ED Vibration Reduction Fixed Zoom Lens with Auto Focus for Nikon DSLR Cameras

I have a piece of black plastic (a solar filter) I place on my laptop. I put a small black coin easel on it and place the coin (still in the capsule if I can, with one side of the capsule popped off). I have a small cardboard box I place in front of my laptop. My camera is a Nikon D7000, and I use an 85mm macro lens with a light ring attached. I shoot between ISO100 and ISO400 depending on the coin, around f.16, with a 1/60th to 1/100th second or so exposure. I prop the light ring on the small box, aim as best I can to get square on with the coin, and take photos (usually several...). I shoot in RAW format, and compensate for brightness if I need to in Nikon's RAW photo software. Then do further cropping in normal photo editing software, either on my computer or on my phone or iPad (Pixlr).

Lens

The camera is a D3200. Both are, fortunately, hand me downs, hence why I have expensive camera/lens but not a simple lightbox or tripod. Looking to upgrade my gear and technique as I update my headstash.

Easy! I'd want this or this.

Nikon AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/3.5G ED

Hi all.

I'm currently in the market to try and upgrade my current gear for my Nikon D7100, and I would appreciate some feedback / suggestions / general thoughts on my choices.

Thanks in advance!

Current Gear & Amazon Links

Nikon 40mm f/2.8G AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR Lens
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-40mm-2-8G-Micro-NIKKOR/dp/B005C50H2Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411239451&sr=8-1&keywords=nikon+40mm

Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX Lens
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-35mm-1-8G-Digital-Cameras/dp/B001S2PPT0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411239371&sr=8-1&keywords=nikon+35mm

Nikon 85mm f/3.5G AF-S DX ED VR Micro Nikkor Lens
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-Micro-Nikkor-Digital-Cameras/dp/B002SQKVE4/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1411239387&sr=8-4&keywords=nikon+85mm

Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR [Vibration Reduction] Nikkor Zoom Lens
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-55-200mm-4-5-6G-Vibration-Reduction/dp/B000O161X0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411239400&sr=8-1&keywords=nikon+55-200mm

Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-18-55mm-3-5-5-6G-AF-S-Nikkor/dp/B000ZMCILW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1411239408&sr=8-2&keywords=nikon+18-55mm

Nikon 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED AF-S DX Nikkor Wide-Angle Zoom Lens
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-10-24mm-3-5-4-5G-Wide-Angle-Digital/dp/B0026FCKC8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411239420&sr=8-1&keywords=nikon+10-24mm

Possible Lens:

Nikon 10.5mm f/2.8G ED AF DX Fisheye Nikkor Lens
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000144I30/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1TM9469NHCNQ0&coliid=IVNS308RGQQCV

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR Lens
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JKUPRF4/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1TM9469NHCNQ0&coliid=I31O79P9M4Q1LY

Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor Wide Angle Zoom Lens
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VDCT3C/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1TM9469NHCNQ0&coliid=I2N8O785AXS9I0

Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S DX Nikkor Zoom Lens
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000144I2Q/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1TM9469NHCNQ0&coliid=I1EPOEZPN5J3EG

Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EOSHGQ/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1TM9469NHCNQ0&coliid=IANEM6J7PPWIZ

Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005LEN4/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1TM9469NHCNQ0&coliid=I1B0R1WZS8SHQD

Nikon 24-85mm f/2.8-4.0D IF AF Zoom Nikkor Lens
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005LE74/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1TM9469NHCNQ0&coliid=I2WCPU28S06PES

Nikon 85mm f/1.8G AF-S NIKKOR Lens
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006TAP096/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1TM9469NHCNQ0&coliid=IQH4TBDDGW9QQ

Nikon 50mm f/1.8G AF-S NIKKOR FX Lens
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-50mm-NIKKOR-Digital-Cameras/dp/B004Y1AYAC/ref=hsx_crw_8490290011_tl_1?pf_rd_p=1725118622&pf_rd_s=center-5&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=8490290011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0R6RD5CPZ4S5DR84N9G1

Nikon 60mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Micro-Nikkor Lens
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-60mm-2-8G-Micro-Nikkor-Cameras/dp/B0013A1XDY/ref=zg_bs_173565_80

What I'm thinking:

From the potential lens that I could get, I definitely want to invest in the 18-300mm lens.

With that lens added to my current gear, I could then get rid of the 18-55mm and the 55-200mm lens from my gear. Changing my total lens count from six to five.

I want to keep the 10-24mm lens. I don't see the purpose of having the 10.5mm lens, so I must just cut that out.

The lens from the potential list (24-70mm f2.8, 17-55mm f2.8, 24-85mm f2.8) I could remove from my list because if I understand this correctly, this seems more of a choice for people who want that extra step in the f stop.

I'm in a debate about which one of these to chose from to either replace or upgrade the 35mm I have in my bag, and the two I'm looking at are 50mm f1.8D and 50mm f1.8G. I'm just not sure if it is worth the upgrade in terms of a better overall picture or just to stick with the 35mm.

I am a little bit confused about the 85mm that I have and whether to upgrade it with the 60mm or the 105mm. If I understand that macro world of lens correctly, the 60mm would be the ideal choice, correct?

Lastly, I am in debate about keeping the 40mm with my given choices. I'm also not aware of what the 85mm f1.8 could offer, if it will replace a lens or just add another option to my gear bag.

In summation, here is the current gear:

: Nikon 40mm f/2.8G AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR Lens
: Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX Lens
: Nikon 85mm f/3.5G AF-S DX ED VR Micro Nikkor Lens
: Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR [Vibration Reduction] Nikkor Zoom Lens
: Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens
: Nikon 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED AF-S DX Nikkor Wide-Angle Zoom Lens

What I will most likely keep if I go through my possible changes:

• Nikon 40mm f/2.8G AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR Lens
  

• Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX Lens
  

• Nikon 85mm f/3.5G AF-S DX ED VR Micro Nikkor Lens
  
• Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR [Vibration Reduction] Nikkor Zoom Lens
  
• Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens
  

• Nikon 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED AF-S DX Nikkor Wide-Angle Zoom Lens
  
  My new gear set:
  
  : Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX Lens
  : Nikon 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED AF-S DX Nikkor Wide-Angle Zoom Lens
  : Nikon 60mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Micro-Nikkor Lens
  : Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR Lens
  : Maybe one of the 50mm or the 85mm f1.8
  
  Any thoughts would be appreciated on this.
  
  
  Thanks again in advance!