I fancy trying some macro photography...
I fancy trying some macro photography...
Author
Discussion

jimothy

Original Poster:

5,151 posts

267 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2006
quotequote all
After seeing many excellent pics on here taken with macro lenses, I fancy giving it a go.

However, I don't fancy paying £400 for a Canon 100mm Macro lens.
I've heard about extenders that can do the job (with a loss of quality). Do these work as well? Are they worth the £15 or so Jessops are charging for them?

I'd rather not spend too much until I get more into it.

Thanks

Captain Beaky

1,389 posts

314 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2006
quotequote all
There have been a couple of threads on this recently...

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=239671

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=245384&f=109&h=0

The Jessops extension tubes probably don't retain automatic focus or aperture control at that price so you would be in a completely manual regime, though the meter will still work of course. The Kenko tubes I use keep all the automatic functions and made a good compromise for me between the manual tubes and a dedicated macro lens.

I'll resist the urge to post my hermit crab sample yet again...

simpo two

92,901 posts

295 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2006
quotequote all
My choice for macro on the cheap would be close-up lenses. They come in various powers and because they screw on the front of the lens and not the back, you retain all functions. In Nikon-speak they're called 'dioptres'; don't know about Canon.

HankScorpio

715 posts

267 months

V6GTO

11,579 posts

272 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2006
quotequote all
I've got the lens mentioned above but use extention tubes regularly. I don't think you lose quality...just the odd f-stop or two...

As an example, this was taken with a 100-400L with tubes...



Martin.

poah

2,142 posts

258 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2006
quotequote all
I use extention tubes on my 70-200. like martin says you reduce your DOF using them. you don't need contacts as it's bette to manual focus so just find a cheap set on ebay.

jimothy

Original Poster:

5,151 posts

267 months

Thursday 23rd February 2006
quotequote all
simpo two said:
My choice for macro on the cheap would be close-up lenses. They come in various powers and because they screw on the front of the lens and not the back, you retain all functions. In Nikon-speak they're called 'dioptres'; don't know about Canon.


:reachesforjessopscatalogueasitsonthedeskinfrontofme:

Jessops do a thing called a "close up filter" to mount to the front of your lens. Is this the same thing?

>> Edited by jimothy on Thursday 23 February 10:35

simpo two

92,901 posts

295 months

Thursday 23rd February 2006
quotequote all
jimothy said:
Jessops do a thing called a "close up filter" to mount to the front of your lens. Is this the same thing?

Pretty certain yes. I don't what the qulality difference might be between the Jessops product and Canon ones, if they mkae them? Note that when it's attached, you won't be able to focus on infinity.

HankScorpio

715 posts

267 months

Thursday 23rd February 2006
quotequote all
jimothy said:
Jessops do a thing called a "close up filter" to mount to the front of your lens. Is this the same thing?


Yes.

And at the risk of repeating myself:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.

25 quid for 4 (including a 10x) is much better value than Jessops...

jimothy

Original Poster:

5,151 posts

267 months

Thursday 23rd February 2006
quotequote all
HankScorpio said:
jimothy said:
Jessops do a thing called a "close up filter" to mount to the front of your lens. Is this the same thing?


Yes.

And at the risk of repeating myself:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.

25 quid for 4 (including a 10x) is much better value than Jessops...


You're right, it is! My lens is only 52mm so it's a snip at £17.00

Thanks After much faffing around creating ebay/paypal accounts etc I've ordered one. 5-14 days shipping so I'll post up some pics when I get it.



Thanks one and all for all youe help/advice.

simpo two

92,901 posts

295 months

Thursday 23rd February 2006
quotequote all
Forgot to say that Martin's shot of the butterfly is outstanding. I've stared at it and still can't find anything wrong with it. Damn, I'll have to give it 10/10.

jimothy

Original Poster:

5,151 posts

267 months

Wednesday 1st March 2006
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They've turned up! Tonight I shall mostly be taking photographs of very small things...

poah

2,142 posts

258 months

Wednesday 1st March 2006
quotequote all
jimothy said:


They've turned up! Tonight I shall mostly be taking photographs of very small things...



resists cheap penis joke

HankScorpio

715 posts

267 months

Thursday 2nd March 2006
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Any update...?

Are you busy taking pics or fuming with rage and have tossed them in the bin...?

simpo two

92,901 posts

295 months

Thursday 2nd March 2006
quotequote all
He's trying to get one where the subject and depth of field coincide

jimothy

Original Poster:

5,151 posts

267 months

Saturday 4th March 2006
quotequote all
Sorry for the delay gettng any pics up - been busy ( etc)

Only one so far that I think isn't too bad - still trying to get the whole manual focus/depth of field thing (not helped by low light).

Comments please!



>> Edited by jimothy on Sunday 5th March 15:27

>> Edited by jimothy on Sunday 5th March 20:34

simpo two

92,901 posts

295 months

Saturday 4th March 2006
quotequote all
Not showing here...

jimothy

Original Poster:

5,151 posts

267 months

Sunday 5th March 2006
quotequote all
simpo two said:
Not showing here...


Darn photobox... I've fixed it and it showing for me now...

simpo two

92,901 posts

295 months

Sunday 5th March 2006
quotequote all
It's all green...

jimothy

Original Poster:

5,151 posts

267 months

Sunday 5th March 2006
quotequote all
simpo two said:
It's all green...


Need to get my monitor calibrated I think. It looked blue originally...