jubbin2001
TPF Noob!
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2008
- Messages
- 153
- Reaction score
- 15
- Can others edit my Photos
- Photos OK to edit
Hey all!
Well in my never ending search to find out more information on photography, I find myself here :mrgreen:. I am totally new to the whole SLR thing, and for the most part have only been using the good old "point and shoot" digital cameras.
A few months ago my wife and I decided to pony up some money and get a Nikon D80 SLR. We got a 18-55mm Nikon lens with the camera, and purchased a Tamron 28-300mm when we got it as well.
My wife is the more general shooter, and I want to start working with macro shots of my saltwater aquariums. I have gotten some OK shots I guess, but I am kind of disappointed so far as to the quality of the images. I know it would be best to get a dedicated macro lens, but holy crap are they spendy! The only one I have found in my price rage so far is a used Vivitar 100mm for $150.
I have also heard about extension tubes, and tried to really get a grip as to how they work, and all that, but since I am not a photographer, some of it is still a little cryptic to me.
Do you guys think I would be able to use the extension tubes with the lenses I have? Would they produce better macro shots (of course providing I get my settings right and all that )? Is there an easy way to figuring out focusing distance with the tubes? I was looking at a Promaster set (12mm, 20mm, 35mm) since I was told they will work with the camera's TTL/EE metering as well as auto focus. Would those be a good alternative, or am I better off getting some generic ones off ebay?
Here are a couple sample shots I have done to show what have accomplished with the lenses we already have.
This last one had to be edited to get it sharper, and more defined (as you no doubt can see the difference). The others turned out ok, but I still think they could be better. I have seen some just amazing shots on the forum I belong to, using a D80 and the 18-55mm lens. I tried contacting the poster about how he went about doing it, but apparently he doesn't want to reveal his tricks . I assume he is using extension tubes, becuase they seem way to close and detailed to be just the lens on the camera. Here is a link to the thread I am talking about:
Spankey's 75g Reef Tank..... - Saltwaterfish.com Message Boards
I guess I am just looking for a little more inexpesive way to get better images for the time being. I don't know if I can justify spending $600 or so for a lens right now, since I am just getting into the hobby, and don't really know how much macro I will be shooting.
Thanks all for the help! I hope I can learn a few things here.....which I am sure I will :mrgreen:.
Well in my never ending search to find out more information on photography, I find myself here :mrgreen:. I am totally new to the whole SLR thing, and for the most part have only been using the good old "point and shoot" digital cameras.
A few months ago my wife and I decided to pony up some money and get a Nikon D80 SLR. We got a 18-55mm Nikon lens with the camera, and purchased a Tamron 28-300mm when we got it as well.
My wife is the more general shooter, and I want to start working with macro shots of my saltwater aquariums. I have gotten some OK shots I guess, but I am kind of disappointed so far as to the quality of the images. I know it would be best to get a dedicated macro lens, but holy crap are they spendy! The only one I have found in my price rage so far is a used Vivitar 100mm for $150.
I have also heard about extension tubes, and tried to really get a grip as to how they work, and all that, but since I am not a photographer, some of it is still a little cryptic to me.
Do you guys think I would be able to use the extension tubes with the lenses I have? Would they produce better macro shots (of course providing I get my settings right and all that )? Is there an easy way to figuring out focusing distance with the tubes? I was looking at a Promaster set (12mm, 20mm, 35mm) since I was told they will work with the camera's TTL/EE metering as well as auto focus. Would those be a good alternative, or am I better off getting some generic ones off ebay?
Here are a couple sample shots I have done to show what have accomplished with the lenses we already have.
This last one had to be edited to get it sharper, and more defined (as you no doubt can see the difference). The others turned out ok, but I still think they could be better. I have seen some just amazing shots on the forum I belong to, using a D80 and the 18-55mm lens. I tried contacting the poster about how he went about doing it, but apparently he doesn't want to reveal his tricks . I assume he is using extension tubes, becuase they seem way to close and detailed to be just the lens on the camera. Here is a link to the thread I am talking about:
Spankey's 75g Reef Tank..... - Saltwaterfish.com Message Boards
I guess I am just looking for a little more inexpesive way to get better images for the time being. I don't know if I can justify spending $600 or so for a lens right now, since I am just getting into the hobby, and don't really know how much macro I will be shooting.
Thanks all for the help! I hope I can learn a few things here.....which I am sure I will :mrgreen:.