Close-Up Filter/Lens?

[Krioni]

I'm interested in toying around with some macro photography. I don't want to spend a ton of money on a dedicated macro lens until I really have a feeling for if I'll like it or not.

I've seen some of these Close-Up filters available online... some for very cheap, so a little more.

Have any of you ever used these lenses/filters? If so, what's your experience?

I do understand that the results will not be like that of a true macro lens, but are they OK? Good even? Are there particular brands that are recommended?

I'd like to spend $50 or less on a set if possible.

Thanks in advance for your comments

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

The Raynox DCR-150 & 250 have a good reputation. I have the 150 myself, and find it's pretty neat. I use it attached to the end of a 300mm lens, f/16 - f/32. The resultant pics allow me to count the facets in a housefly's eyes.

 

[troytime]

i have the tiffen +1, +2, +3 set. i've been happy with them. Although stacking them REALLY loses image quality.

I've been really happy with the purchase, especially for 30 bucks on adorama.
I still want a real macro lens though. (i also have reversing ring, which is cool....but focusing sucks major ass)

 

[Krioni]

Do either of you guys have some samples posted that were taken with the close-up lenses?

It sounds like both of you have a positive experience with these closeup lenses.

Thanks for the comments/recommendations.

 

[troytime]

this one is really old
i have a lot of better ones, but none that are already online

http://www.treklens.com/viewphotos.php?l=3&p=309227

 

[Krioni]

Originally posted by: troytime
this one is really old
i have a lot of better ones, but none that are already online

http://www.treklens.com/viewphotos.php?l=3&p=309227

That looks like pretty good quality for my purposes.

Thanks for posting!

 

[angry hampster]

If you've got a 50mm lens, just get Kenko extension tubes.

 

[Jack Ryan]

 

[AndrewR]

I used them on my Minolta 50mm lens for a bit -- they were Hoya +1, +2, +4 from what I recall. They were interesting and could get some good shots, but the focus distance was VERY close so lighting was tricky for me.

I finally got a Minolta 100mm Macro lens and never touched the close-up filters again. The filters were a good introduction to macro photography and convinced me to buy the macro lens. Obviously, the price of the filters was significantly better (less than 10% of the cost of the lens!).

 

[ghostman]

I don't have close up filters, but if you'd like to test your waters with macro photography, there are a few ways besides close up filters and a true macro lens:

1. You can get extension tubes - basically rings to put between your lens and your camera body. Canon, Kenko, Jessops, Pro-Optic make them for Canon lenses and preserves the electrical contacts between your lens and camera body, but you could get cheap ebay ones which consist of nothing but a plastic ring mount. You could also go very cheap and do-it-yourself with something like a Pringles can:
http://photocritic.org/macro-photography-on-a-budget/

2. If you have more than one lens, you can reverse mount one of the lenses. They make adapter rings for this type of stuff as well. And here is one example that somewhat combines the extension tubes and reverse mount lens idea:
http://jyoseph.com/diy-macro-l...-mount-extension-tube/
For me, I took my Canon kit lens and mounted normally on my camera. I then took an old Nikon 50mm lens and used rubber tubing to mount it onto the front of my kit lens, but in reverse. Basically, the front of the two lenses are meeting face-to-face.

I tried option 2 and it worked well enough, but the working distance is very very small, so forget about taking photos of insects. You might also get vignetting with this option. I now have Pro-Optic extension tubes, which work well enough. The working distance is still a pain and you plenty of light to hand-hold the shot. My next investment will probably be the Sigma 150mm macro lens.

 

[troytime]

Originally posted by: ghostman
I don't have close up filters, but if you'd like to test your waters with macro photography, there are a few ways besides close up filters and a true macro lens:

1. You can get extension tubes - basically rings to put between your lens and your camera body. Canon, Kenko, Jessops, Pro-Optic make them for Canon lenses and preserves the electrical contacts between your lens and camera body, but you could get cheap ebay ones which consist of nothing but a plastic ring mount. You could also go very cheap and do-it-yourself with something like a Pringles can:
http://photocritic.org/macro-photography-on-a-budget/

2. If you have more than one lens, you can reverse mount one of the lenses. They make adapter rings for this type of stuff as well. And here is one example that somewhat combines the extension tubes and reverse mount lens idea:
http://jyoseph.com/diy-macro-l...-mount-extension-tube/
For me, I took my Canon kit lens and mounted normally on my camera. I then took an old Nikon 50mm lens and used rubber tubing to mount it onto the front of my kit lens, but in reverse. Basically, the front of the two lenses are meeting face-to-face.

I tried option 2 and it worked well enough, but the working distance is very very small, so forget about taking photos of insects. You might also get vignetting with this option. I now have Pro-Optic extension tubes, which work well enough. The working distance is still a pain and you plenty of light to hand-hold the shot. My next investment will probably be the Sigma 150mm macro lens.

you can also just reverse a lens directly to the body.

 

[Krioni]

Originally posted by: ghostman
I don't have close up filters, but if you'd like to test your waters with macro photography, there are a few ways besides close up filters and a true macro lens:

1. You can get extension tubes - basically rings to put between your lens and your camera body. Canon, Kenko, Jessops, Pro-Optic make them for Canon lenses and preserves the electrical contacts between your lens and camera body, but you could get cheap ebay ones which consist of nothing but a plastic ring mount. You could also go very cheap and do-it-yourself with something like a Pringles can:
http://photocritic.org/macro-photography-on-a-budget/

2. If you have more than one lens, you can reverse mount one of the lenses. They make adapter rings for this type of stuff as well. And here is one example that somewhat combines the extension tubes and reverse mount lens idea:
http://jyoseph.com/diy-macro-l...-mount-extension-tube/
For me, I took my Canon kit lens and mounted normally on my camera. I then took an old Nikon 50mm lens and used rubber tubing to mount it onto the front of my kit lens, but in reverse. Basically, the front of the two lenses are meeting face-to-face.

I tried option 2 and it worked well enough, but the working distance is very very small, so forget about taking photos of insects. You might also get vignetting with this option. I now have Pro-Optic extension tubes, which work well enough. The working distance is still a pain and you plenty of light to hand-hold the shot. My next investment will probably be the Sigma 150mm macro lens.

Pringles can.. Interesting... But I'm way too lazy to roll my own like that

 

[Krioni]

I think i'm going to try to save up for some extension tubes.

I shoot Nikon, I've seen the recommendation for Kenko. Are there any others that have the full electronic connections like those?

Thanks to all of you for your informative posts!