Depending on the working distance you need, Nikon has three (actually four) great macro lenses. 60mm, 105mm and 200mm. For a DX focal length conversion, add 50% to each lens, so the 60 becomes a 90, the 105 becomes a 152 and the 200 becomes a 300. Nikon also has an 85mm macro PC lens but it's a specialty lens and cost about $1300.

If you can get away with a 60mm, also look into the 55mm macro AIS lens which can be picked up for about $200 on ebay. The only problem with the 55 is you have to manually meter and there is no autofocus. But it's a very sharp lens,

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If you can get away with a 60mm, also look into the 55mm macro AIS lens which can be picked up for about $200 on ebay. The only problem with the 55 is you have to manually meter and there is no autofocus. But it's a very sharp lens,

Larry

I shoot with my D200 and the 55mm MicroNikkor with stunning results. There is a menu item "Non-CPU Lens Data" where you enter the 55mm focal length and the f-2.8 maximum aperture, which it remembers. Next time you mount the lens, you only have to tell the camera that you have the 55mm.

Once this is done, you have full colour matrix metering, lacking only 3D data, due to lack of CPU. My macro exposures have all been perfect. I do not miss autofocus with the MicroNikkor at all, macro is actually easier by setting the distance on the lens and moving the camera to focus.

All my AI-S lenses except the old shift PC-Nikkor work like charms (the newer PC lenses do work fine). I have a 600mm mirror lens that uses a T-mount, that I thought might cause a problem, but get fine exposures with it, as well as with an ancient T-mount 100mm Spiratone Portragon soft-focus lens with a fixed aperture of f-4.0. It must have set me back at least $20 back then, and works delightfully well on the D200. A single glass element. :-)

I use the 105mm. The 60mm doesn't give a good working distance for live creatures (butterflies etc).

I bought the Sigma 150mm and I really like it. You can get a good distance away from insects. I really like the idea of portraits with this lens also but you have to have quite a distance for that also, which sometimes doesn't work well. It doesn't have VR but it hasn't really been an issue for me.