New camera, looking for new glass

[kitedemon]

I would avoid the DX lens. It is looking more and more like NIKON and Canon are moving away from the DX format there are fewer on the market today than even last year. The FX is starting to be seen in the point and shoot cameras it is the beginning of the end.

[Adam Chandler]

I apologize for all these questions. I really appreciate all the input so far. I'm certainly a noob at macro photography but I feel like I'm leaning a lot right now.

Very true what kitedemon said about VR. It's pointless.

I'm been doing research and right now I'm really torn between the 35mm 1.8 and the 60mm 2.8.

Do you know roughly what distance from the subject either of these lenses should be used at?

Also, I have strobes but usually I just shoot in indoor light (decently recessed indoor lighting though), which of these would be better with indoor light?

[kitedemon]

Personally I would not recommend the 35 1.8 DX lens (dx is the issue by accounts it is a good lens) It close focuses at one foot there is no comparison to the 60 macro that is one inch in life to one inch(1:1) on the sensor. That means a print 24mm by 36mm is life sized anything larger is larger than life. 1:1.6 is the 35 1.8 it is also likely to distort the edges at the closest focus. Again I have not used it so this is a best guess on my part.

[Adam Chandler]

Ok, I think I understand closest focus distance. But what would the farthest distance be that I could still take a good photo of my a BP with the 60mm 2.8? About a foot?

And how does that compare to the 105mm?

[kitedemon]

Depends on what you want typically I shoot at 12-36 inches with the 60mm the 105 gets you farther away with the same size in the image. The 105 is likely better but it is also 2 the price and half the versatility. It is hard to say between the two They both are capable of 1:1 ratio so as far as that goes they are the same. The 60mm you would be inches from the snake and the 105 would be about 12 inches for the same.