I've been hoodwinked! Macro close up lens...

[MrScience101]

I want to get better than 1:1 life size so I can take pictures of ants.

I purchased the following:
sony nex 3 with the SEL30mm macro lens.
That did great for 1:1 lifesize.

I want to make it bigger than 1:1 so I bought a +10 macro close up.

When I take a picture with the macro lens only and then another picture with the camera in the exact same position except with the +10, the quarter is still the same size!

What am I doing wrong? The change in size looks nothing like what is on the box.

 

[480sparky39 38]

Where did the box / ad state you would get >1:1?

 

[Judobreaker]

I think he put the close-up filter in front of his macro lens.
Seeing as the macro lens can get 1:1 by itself one might expect going over 1:1 by adding such a filter.

I'm kind of wondering whether he read the actual description though.
It says it'll shorten minimum focus distance so yeah... if you take a picture from the same position it's not going to be bigger I guess.
You might want to move the camera more towards the coin when the filter is on it.

 

[unpopular]

If you want to get 1:1 without paying anything:

NIKON EL-NIKKOR 50MM 1:2.8 ENLARGING LENS - MADE IN JAPAN 0018208014354 | eBay

202* REVUE MACRO / CLOSE-UP BELLOWS*M42 | eBay

adapter rings

2in1 M42 Carl zeiss Lens or C Mount Adapter to Sony NEX-5 NEX-3 NEX-7 | eBay

screw mount step up Ring Adapter f Leica M39 lens to M42 camera M39-M42 metal | eBay

You'll get like NO working distance or DOF, but it does work. Feel free to ask me any questions about macro on a shoestring budget.

 

[cgipson1]

oh OP.. just so you will know, all the images you posted are underexposed!

 

[Overread15 3]

The addition of the close up lens attachment reduces the minimum focusing distance of the lens itself, it will also remove infinity focus so that you can't focus on further off subjects. With the attachment fitted you should set the focus of the lens manually to the closest possible distance and then physically move the camera closer to the subject to get the focus where you want it to be.

That said close up lens attachments work better on longer focal length lenses, with a 30mm you might well not see a dramatic change with the close up lens attachment. Raynox has some good quality higher power attachments (their MSN 505 and 202 are more powerful and quality attachments). That said you'll have very little focusing distance which presents the duel problem of getting into position to take the photo and also being able to suitably light the subject ( the closer you get the more you shadow your subject with yourself and the camera, and the less space you have to add additional lighting options).

 

[TCampbell]

I am a bit confused... ignore the close-up diopters for a moment and let's talk about this 1:1 macro lens.

1:1 means that the size of the image ON THE SENSOR is the same size as the object in real life.

A US quarter is just over 24mm in diameter. The width of a NEX 3 sensor is just about 1mm smaller than that... meaning that you SHOULD have been able to get in close enough that the quarter will not longer fit in the picture and still be able to focus the camera.

If that's all the closer you want to get, then you shouldn't need a close-up diopter at all.

But getting back to your diopters, the quarter does look a bit larger, but nothing dramatic.

Close-up diopters basically work like a magnifying glass. Usually they are just a single element. The problem with this is that the image quality rapidly degrades around the edges of an image. You can get better results using an extension tube. There's no glass in an extension tube so it doesn't affect optical quality.

Extension tubes are usually fairly cheap. They are usually sold as a "kit" which will have rings with about 3 different depths, and you can stack them.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

I think he put the close-up filter in front of his macro lens.
Seeing as the macro lens can get 1:1 by itself one might expect going over 1:1 by adding such a filter.

I'm kind of wondering whether he read the actual description though.
It says it'll shorten minimum focus distance so yeah... if you take a picture from the same position it's not going to be bigger I guess.
You might want to move the camera more towards the coin when the filter is on it.

Yes, and I suspect they will do that as advertised. I didn't see any ratio promised either. Get bigger subject size by getting closer

 

[Overread15 3]

Just a note - the power of the close up lens attachment is in the power (diopter) number. The higher the number the more powerful the effect it has. Of course the final magnification ratio you get will be determined by the lens you attach it to - based upon the lenses native magnification and also on the lenses focal length.