Macro close up lenses

ColinB · 25th March 2008, 19:44

Hi, anyone used these screw on lenses like on this link?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MEWA:IT&ih=013

If so, any good?

Simon · 25th March 2008, 19:53

They change the minimum focussing distance of your lens but at that price I'd be wary about the optic quality. If you're used to high quality Canon lenses (as these are advertised for) then they may very well be detrimental to the performance of your lens (possible side effects could be loss of sharpness, chromatic aberrations, increased flare or combinations of all three).

Personally, if you have the money splash out on a dedicated macro lens if you want to explore the world of macro photography. Although it is pricey the Canon EF100mm Macro f/2.8 lens is fabulous. Not only can you use it for close-up macro work it also works very well as a medium-range portrait lens. The fast aperture rating makes it good for excellent out-of-focus background blur as well as low-light level shooting.

podge · 25th March 2008, 20:03

I would be very wary of placing a non original lens on the front of a quality camera, the manufacturers take a lot of time/trouble with even their entry level lenses. If you are on a budget look for a good s/h supplier of quality gear, all my Nikon lenses are s/h as was the camera body.There are some really good s/h deals at the moment.Be careful of s/h on the internet auction site.I hope this helps...regards P.

smcaul · 25th March 2008, 20:09

If you are just going to try macro's and have a bit of a play then get a reverser ring from ebay, only a couple of quid and do the job quite well whilst not effecting the quality of the lens. You will have to manually focus and meter though!!

Something like this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Nikon-Fit-52mm...QQcmdZViewItem

Raistlin · 25th March 2008, 21:23

I actually bought a set of these, tried them once, and immediately ordered a proper Canon macro lens.

They were absolutely awful.

mantianak · 25th March 2008, 21:58

I bought a set of those out of interest about a year ago. Sure, they're not the quality of a several hundred pound macro lens, £15 it isn't too bad for amateur play though. It also depends on the lens you put it on. To give an idea of quality, below is a photo I took with the screw on macro filter on a 52mm box standard olympus lens, from memory the beetle was 3cm long. Admittedly I haven’t used them again since as I have a better lens.

Don’t Hoya make close up filters? Wonder if they’re better than cheap ebay ones?

Simon · 25th March 2008, 22:14

I would certainly expect the likes of Hoya and B+W to be better, but then they're 5 times the price of the eBay ones. Canon do one too (called the 500D Close-Up Lens). As said above, okay for amateur use but best invest in a dedicated macro lens if your serious about your photography. I personally would go for the full macro lens.

That said, at the price these are at on eBay you could easily buy them and trial your hand at macro photography. If you like it a lot and find yourself taking more and more photos then up the anti a bit and buy yourself a propper macro lens or if you don't the world of macro you haven't lost much by buying the eBay lens adapters.

The_Monk · 26th March 2008, 12:26

If you have a canon capable of taking the Ef-s range then the EF-S 60mm Macro f2.8 is a nice bit of kit for the money. Its the equivalent of the 100mm f2.8 after the cropping factor.

ColinB · 26th March 2008, 18:08

Thanks for all the replies everyone. One day I will get a dedicated macro lens but at the moment funds are too tight.

I'll keep on wishing.

lightpainter · 28th March 2008, 15:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColinB

Thanks for all the replies everyone. One day I will get a dedicated macro lens but at the moment funds are too tight.

I'll keep on wishing.

Hi Colin, if you’re still wishing, have a look at these macros, Here all taken with a 30D and MPE – 65 Lens.

With this lens the DOF is so shallow he usually has to focus stack his shots!

But it’s something to aim for!

25th March 2008, 19:44	#1
ColinB Posted a thing or two Rover 75 Tourer 1.8T Club SE Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Croydon, Surrey Posts: 1,141 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Macro close up lenses Hi, anyone used these screw on lenses like on this link? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MEWA:IT&ih=013 If so, any good?

25th March 2008, 20:03	#3
podge I really should get out more....... Rover 75 Tourer CDT CLUB SE Copper Red Mica Dec 01 ....now deceased....replaced by2003 Royal Blue T Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: North Warnborough, Hampshire Posts: 2,398 Thanks: 9 Thanked 69 Times in 20 Posts	I would be very wary of placing a non original lens on the front of a quality camera, the manufacturers take a lot of time/trouble with even their entry level lenses. If you are on a budget look for a good s/h supplier of quality gear, all my Nikon lenses are s/h as was the camera body.There are some really good s/h deals at the moment.Be careful of s/h on the internet auction site.I hope this helps...regards P. __________________ 01 75 CDT Club SE Tourer..."The Rover 75 is a British-built car to be proud of." B.M.Ws loss........OUR GAIN!!!!!!!! http://knowledgerush.com/wiki_image/...arp.300pix.jpg http://farm1.static.flickr.com/167/3...b847e1c5_m.jpg

25th March 2008, 21:58	#6
mantianak I really should get out more....... ZT 190+ Saloon Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Poole Posts: 2,413 Thanks: 6 Thanked 22 Times in 21 Posts	I bought a set of those out of interest about a year ago. Sure, they're not the quality of a several hundred pound macro lens, £15 it isn't too bad for amateur play though. It also depends on the lens you put it on. To give an idea of quality, below is a photo I took with the screw on macro filter on a 52mm box standard olympus lens, from memory the beetle was 3cm long. Admittedly I haven’t used them again since as I have a better lens. Don’t Hoya make close up filters? Wonder if they’re better than cheap ebay ones? __________________ http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1..._signature.png

25th March 2008, 19:53	#2
Simon Banned - Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: - Posts: 10,318 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	They change the minimum focussing distance of your lens but at that price I'd be wary about the optic quality. If you're used to high quality Canon lenses (as these are advertised for) then they may very well be detrimental to the performance of your lens (possible side effects could be loss of sharpness, chromatic aberrations, increased flare or combinations of all three). Personally, if you have the money splash out on a dedicated macro lens if you want to explore the world of macro photography. Although it is pricey the Canon EF100mm Macro f/2.8 lens is fabulous. Not only can you use it for close-up macro work it also works very well as a medium-range portrait lens. The fast aperture rating makes it good for excellent out-of-focus background blur as well as low-light level shooting.

25th March 2008, 20:09	#4
smcaul Loves to post Rover 75 Saloon CDT Club Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Southampton Posts: 481 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	If you are just going to try macro's and have a bit of a play then get a reverser ring from ebay, only a couple of quid and do the job quite well whilst not effecting the quality of the lens. You will have to manually focus and meter though!! Something like this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Nikon-Fit-52mm...QQcmdZViewItem

25th March 2008, 21:23	#5
Raistlin Banned 75 CDT Connoisseur SE Auto Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wolverhampton Posts: 8,450 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	I actually bought a set of these, tried them once, and immediately ordered a proper Canon macro lens. They were absolutely awful.

25th March 2008, 22:14	#7
Simon Banned - Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: - Posts: 10,318 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	I would certainly expect the likes of Hoya and B+W to be better, but then they're 5 times the price of the eBay ones. Canon do one too (called the 500D Close-Up Lens). As said above, okay for amateur use but best invest in a dedicated macro lens if your serious about your photography. I personally would go for the full macro lens. That said, at the price these are at on eBay you could easily buy them and trial your hand at macro photography. If you like it a lot and find yourself taking more and more photos then up the anti a bit and buy yourself a propper macro lens or if you don't the world of macro you haven't lost much by buying the eBay lens adapters.

26th March 2008, 12:26	#8
The_Monk I really should get out more....... - Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: - Posts: 2,586 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	If you have a canon capable of taking the Ef-s range then the EF-S 60mm Macro f2.8 is a nice bit of kit for the money. Its the equivalent of the 100mm f2.8 after the cropping factor.

26th March 2008, 18:08	#9
ColinB Posted a thing or two Rover 75 Tourer 1.8T Club SE Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Croydon, Surrey Posts: 1,141 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for all the replies everyone. One day I will get a dedicated macro lens but at the moment funds are too tight. I'll keep on wishing.