100% beginner!

[mermaidear]

The budget for the camera (with a basic lens, I guess) is around $425. I'm not sure what my budget for a lens should be...

 

[reg]

Depends on how much you're willing to learn manual focus and whatnot.

Old macro lenses go for a song on ebay, but they're full manual and you need a little adapter to put them on a DSLR (a couple exceptions but whatever).

 

[mermaidear]

I don't mind the hassle if it's cheap.

 

[mermaidear]

I'm going to shop around for a while.
Thanks for the help!

 

[LeroyLion]

Oh, sorry. Um, macro nature. Bug, flowers, etc. I LOVE LOVE LOVE macro photos.

Macro photography is fun. Ive been getting some decent macro photos of scorpions and toads and stuff out here in Iraq. Ive been doing it all with a kit lens, but it works fairly well in my unprofessional opinion.

 

[tirediron]

So what's a general price range for a macro lens?

Ehh... anywhere from dirt-cheap for used manual ones on eBay to $800+ for a top-of-the-line 105mm. For you, I'd suggest starting out with a set of close-up lenses which are simply optical elements that attach like filters to the front of your existing lens and allow you to get much closer to your subject. The quality isn't stellar, but it's not bad. They will run you $25 - 100 depending on size and quality.

 

[reg]

And I would suggest extension tubes since they have no optical elements AND are only bout $14 shipped.

 

[mermaidear]

A couple more questions.
Is there a brand in particular that works well with macro?
Am I better off buying lenses new or used?
Is it cheaper to buy a set of lenses?

 

[photogincollege]

All the brands are good for macro, used lenses are better deals and 90% of the time just as good, and lenses dont really come in sets. Though you might be able to find on on ebay.

 

[LeroyLion]

Oh yeah, take a browse through this: http://www.shortcourses.com/use/index.html Should help get you familiar with some of the terminology amongst other things.

 

[mermaidear]

All the brands are good for macro, used lenses are better deals and 90% of the time just as good, and lenses dont really come in sets. Though you might be able to find on on ebay.

Mmkay, thanks.

 

[mermaidear]

Oh yeah, take a browse through this: http://www.shortcourses.com/use/index.html Should help get you familiar with some of the terminology amongst other things.

THANK YOU! It's really embarassing when I talk to photographers and I have no idea what they're saying.

 

[tirediron]

And I would suggest extension tubes since they have no optical elements AND are only bout $14 shipped.

Where can you get a full set of extension tubes, even manual for $14????

 

[mermaidear]

What are extension tubes...?

 

[reg]

Full set? I don't even use the tubes so I couldn't say what a full set is but:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Macro-Extension...ryZ30059QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

?