Macro filters?

scriptkat · Jun 28, 2011

I have recently discovered that there is a handy doo-dad called a macro filter... Since there's no way I can afford a macro lens right now, am wondering about others' experience with these; any particular brand(s) to go with? I also see they come in various diopters; do I really need a set of +1, +2, +4 and +10 filters, or can I just start playing around with one, ie the +10? This would be a great cost-effective way for me to experiment with macro, so any input will be truly appreciated!! Thanks, everyone.

Kerbouchard · Jun 28, 2011

Most macro filters are crap. Canon makes an excellent one and Nikon used to, but they rival the price of a dedicated Macro lens.

The cheapest, quality accessory would be extension tubes allowing you to focus much closer than with the lens mounted normally. Even cheaper would be a reversing ring if you already have a prime lens, but it requires a bit more technique to work with.

Both have their draw backs. You lose exposure info and you need a lens with manual aperture controls for most extension tubes. For a reversing ring, you have to manually adjust the aperture and you have no exposure info. Neither are as good as a macro lens, but both are much better than a cheap set of close up filters.

WesternGuy · Jun 28, 2011

As Kerbouchard has said, a set of extension tubes is the best way to start...this will also tell you if you like macro photography and have the patience for it. Look here: Extension tubes. These will fit a Canon lens and will work with the electronics of the lens for AF and such under specific conditions as noted in the description and specifications.

Cheers,

WesternGuy

Derrel · Jun 28, 2011

The Canon 500D is a good two-element achromatic macro filter...it's around $129 in the 77mm size, last time I checked (which was admittedly a couple years back). Performance is pretty good on a top-quality lens, like a 70-200 or 135mm f/2 lens,etc,etc. In the "cheapie", single-element category, the +2 and +3 diopter filters are the ones I think you'd find give the best quality and most utility. I would not pay much for a set of these lower-quality ones...there have been a zillion of them made over the decades. As far as a really inexpensive way to experiment, have you tried removing your lens from the camera body and holding it tightly against the camera, and using the lens in a reversed position???

Ron Evers · Jun 28, 2011

In my opinion the sets of filters are a waste of money. Serious close-up lenses are the Raynox DCR-150 & 250 clip ons. I recommend the DCR-150 for a beginner as the 250 can be tricky to use due to the higher magnification.

DCR-150 | eBay

Overread · Jun 28, 2011

What lenses do you have?

Extension tubes and macro filters/diopters/macro lens attachments all work in the same way; they remove infinity focus (you can't focus that far off) and decrease the minimum focusing distance of the lens, letting you focus closer and thus get a more magnified image.

However, extension tubes (for a fixed length of tube) give a greater magnification gain on shorter focal length lenses; whilst the macro filters work the other way and (for a single diopter rating - eg +2, +4 etc.) give you more magnification on longer focal length lenses.
The rough cutoff is around 100mm - any shorter and its generally best to go for extension tubes for more magnification; whilst any longer and the close up filters are the way to go (remembering that this is only talking about getting the most magnification for your money - tubes do work well on longer lenses and vis versa for the close up lenses).

On the extension tube front you want to get good tubes, there are ultra cheap $5 ones on the market, but they will not have metal contacts built in. That means you lose all control over the lens; from your AF (not a big loss as most macro is done manually) to your aperture control (a big loss indeed as that is needed in macro work). Kenko make a good, affordable series of extension tubes; Canon themselves make tubes, but they are very overpriced (quality wise people that own both Kenko and Canon can't tell them apart).

On the macro filters front you've got the mentioned two main lines - Canon's 500D close up lens and the Raynox series - DCR 150, and DCR 250 as starter points; but they also make a wider range of even more powerful ones. Raynox didn't market big toward the DSLR market and their adaptors were aimed at the higher quality video market, which is why their filters are somewhat smaller in size - but they fit well and, at least on crop sensor, give no problems at all .

scriptkat · Jun 28, 2011

Wow that's a lot of info...good to know re: the disadvantages of cheapo filters, but not surprised. As far as lenses, so far I only have the Nikkor 18-55mm kit lens and a 50mm (1.8). I have been thinking I could rent a lens or two from Glazer's to see how I like the macro...
Sounds like the extension tubes are worth looking at...

scriptkat · Jun 28, 2011

Stupid emoticons...that should be a 1.8, but I hope everyone guessed that!

Derrel · Jun 28, 2011

Canon 250-D, two-element macro filter, aka 'close-up lens' Canon 52mm 250D Close-up Lens 2819A002 at AccessoryCircut.com

Pgeobc · Jun 28, 2011

In another time, these were known as "close-up lenses," "diopters." and by other names. There were thousands of crappy one built, mostly to catch the unwary, cash-short amateur and they were almost universally terrible. However, Canon made some compound ones in 55mm and Nikon has made some that were excellent. These days, one could use those made by Schneider-Kreutznach under their trademark "B+W." Those would be of adquate quality, I'm sure.

I do not know how many lenses you have, but if you have a standard, normal lens, it can be reversed with a relatively cheap reversing ring. Not only that, but if you have two standard single-focal length lenses, you can get a reversing ring and a ring that hooks the two back-to-back. One ends up with an incredible amount of stuff hanging off the camera, but it works fairly well and could cheaply utilize equipment that you already own. IIRC zoom lenses do not work well here.

The above-mentioned extension tubes work really well, if you have an adjustable one or a set to make different lengths. Not only that, but you can use them with your prime lens reversed, too; it all depends on how much magnification you want and how much image degradation is acceptable. Image degradation is probably the best deciding factor if you can ignore some differences in cost or can live with used equipment.

Yoy pays your money and takes your choice.

Last, and best, are "close-up" or "extension" bellows. They get one an infinite adjustability in length and, hence, a good way to vary image size easily. Some are automatic and preserve camera function and some do not. They can even be used with lenses reversed. Used ones can be had quite reasonably, sometimes.