Need help with Macro shots

[sam1221]

i am just getting into photography and got d5100 bundle from costco

and i really love macro photography but i have no idea where to start
i have an 18-55mm lens and a 55-300mm lens but those probably wont work
I am looking for a cheap solution
i was thinking of this with 18-55mm
Amazon.com: Fotodiox 52mm Filter Thread Lens, Macro Reverse Ring Camera Mount Adapter, for Nikon D1, D2, D3, D3x,D3s, D100, D200, D300, D300s, D700, D40, D40x, D50, D60, D70, D70s, D80, D90, D3000, D3100, D5000, D7000: Camera & Photo
the other was this one with the reverse filter or without since this lens is going to have depth of field
Amazon.com: Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras: Camera & Photo

d5100 does have a macro mode but i don't know what the difference is and would i be able to use any of these to get good results

Is there any other cheap macro lenses within $200 range that will give me good results

My definition of macro isnt a close up of a big flower or something but close ups of bugs and spiders and also be able to see the details like hair and stuff.


also is the nikon 50mm f1.8d AF a good all purpose lens that would replace 18-55 because i still have time to return d5100 and get just the body and the lenses separate.
And for lense is this nikon,canon or sony better because sony has a macro lenses for $200 while Nikon and canons macro start from $300.

and is there any way to get d5100 55-300 Af with IS lens and a macro and a all purpose lense for about $1000 (i dont care what brand the lens are as long as they have same results as nikon lenses)
and if not for nikon then what about canon or sony (variable screen is preferred)

what about lensbaby

 

[Kerbouchard]

In your budget, how about some extension tubes? They are a lot easier to work with than a reversing filter. With these, you would lose autofocus with the 18-55 but would retain it if you had the 50mm 1.8. You would still have metering.
AEXTUBEDGN Kenko DG Auto Extension Tube Set for the Nikon AF Mount.

Alternately, if quality isn't your top concern, you can pick up a set of close up filters for quite a bit cheaper and they have the added benefit of still allowing autofocus and metering.
B52CUSGB Hoya 52mm Close-Up Filter Set (+1 +2 +4 Diopters)

Both of those options will work with your current 18-55 lens. The reversing filter you mention will not work with your 18-55 lens because you won't have any way to adjust aperture. You would also lose metering capability and autofocus.

 

[Tomasko]

I have the Nikon 50mm f/1.8 G fixed lens. It's great, it's on my camera 90% of the time (great general purpose lens for most of my shots, including macr0), and I can do some great macro of flower, etc. Minimum focusing distance is about a foot and a half though, so you need to stand back a bit. The bokeh at f/1.8 is fantastic for macro and at low light.

.. for super macro type shots I hear a set of extension tubes (they run about $150?) can achieve this really well with this lens.

Did you even read what OP said???? You're really recommending 50 1.8 for macro of bugs, spiders....?? Come on. 50mm 1.8/g is far from an ideal macro


OP, I vote for extension tubes as well.. For $200 there's really no chance of getting a decent macro lens

 

[sam1221]

What if just go with sony a55 and there macro lense is $200
SAL-30M28 | 30mm f/2.8 Macro Lens | Sony | Sony Store USA

 

[Tomasko]

Yea... and you believe that 30mm would be ok for bug shots? With this lens you need to be 13cm from your subject for 1:1 magnification...
Either way, you're willing to change the whole set just because one cheap lens??? Not sure if it is worth it. I like Sony, but a dslr from them instead of Canon/Nikon??

If you want some real cheap macro lens, go for some used old manual lenses, maybe you can find some for your current dslr in your area.

 

[Overread]

Stick with the Nikon gear, don't get into that trap of changing brands for tiny changes that mean nothing otherwise you'll end up chasing brand after brand and the only people that win then are the shops .


For macro under $200 you've an easy first option with what you currently have and that is a set of Kenko Extension tubes, make sure you get the Nikon mount version which come with the electronic contacts. These will fit between your camera body and your 18-55mm lens and will allow the lens to focus much closer to the subjects than normal; close enough at 50mm with the full set of extension tubes to get your photos that a proper macro lens would get, whilst still retaining good image quality. Furthermore the tubes with the metal contacts allow you to retain control over your lens, letting you control the all important aperture settings so that you can vary your depth of field. (cheaper tubes are out there, but will lose you this control which will make things much harder and far more creatively limited).
Note that with tubes attached your lens will only be able to focus on a small range, it won't be able to focus on far off subjects so you do have to get in close.
The 50mm f1.8 lens mentioned above is another good option if combined with the extension tubes since it gives you a generally sharper, faster lens to work with over the kit lens that comes with the camera. That means a generally sharper picture and also the f1.8 aperture means that you've got a lot more light through the viewfinder to help frame and compose your shots with.

The "Cheap" close up lenses mentioned above I'd also avoid, cheap ones might work but will significantly degrade the image quality. There are good brand options out there such as the Raynox DCR 150 and 250 and either of these would work well on your 70-300mm lens.

 

[sam1221]

ok so these are my two options
i do love the d5100 and i really want a at least 300mm lens with IS
so my options is to get a 5100 kit from best buy and then go from there with the lens
if icant get a good cheap at least 300mm lens for 5100 then i can probely get the nikon 40mm macro lens since it would almost be the same if i were to but extension tubes and the 50mm lens or is there any other advantage to buying the 50mm lens

also is 50mm f1.8 a good all purpose lense then what about the standard 18-55mm i mena what if i get a 5100 body 50mm, nikon 40mm and a good 300mm or above telescopic lens

know any good 300mm or higher mm lens that will compare to or better then nikon 55-300mm for around 200

i was thinming of this lens http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/pho/2592738026.html

 

[Tomasko]

You said you already got that bundle and now you're saying that you're only going to buy it? Huh?

also is 50mm f1.8 a good all purpose lense then what about the standard 18-55mm

50mm isn't all purpose lens. It's a fast lens, sharp and ideal for portraiture, but there are certainly better all-purpose lenses out there. Most limiting is probably the fact it is a prime lens - you can't zoom in or out.
18-55 is a good lens for starters with an average quality (both build and IQ). There is nothing bad with this lens, it just isn't really ideal if you're a pro photographer. You obviously are not, so...

what about lensbaby

know any good 300mm or higher mm lens that will compare to or better then nikon 55-300mm for around 200

Thought this was a thread about macro....... Please, make up your mind, what exactly do you want to know, because you ask things in a quite weird way.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

Kenko Auto Extension Tube Set DG for Nikon Lens AEXTUBEDGN B&H

 

[Tomasko]

Kenko Auto Extension Tube Set DG for Nikon Lens AEXTUBEDGN B&H

You just skipped all previous comments, didn't you?

 

[sam1221]

what i am trying to say is that i can return the bundle and get everything seperate from places where it is cheap
my budget is around 1100 dollars
if i can find a cheaper 300mm or higher lens then i can use the money to get the nikon 40mm macro
so then i will be left with 5100, 18-55 or 50mm,300mm or higher zoom lens, and nikon40mm macro/50mm with extension tube
thats where i want to end up with with 1100 dollars

 

[2WheelPhoto]

Kenko Auto Extension Tube Set DG for Nikon Lens AEXTUBEDGN B&H

You just skipped all previous comments, didn't you?

Unfortunately, yes sir. And the other macro thread too!