Help with Close up lenses

[jorger101]

Hello Forum

I own a set of close up lenses or filters that I bought because I want to take macro shots of insects and flowers. My problem with them is that I still have to come up with a photograph that I find acceptable. I know that the quality of close up lenses is not quite the same as a dedicated macro lens, but at the moment I cannot afford such a lens. Does anybody have some useful suggestions on their use? Any suggestion that can help me improve my results will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

[another view]

Can you post an example and tell us what isn't acceptable? We're visual people; pictures help. Shooting macro can be difficult - focus is absolutely critical because you're so close, and being slightly off will make everything soft. Also, depth of field is really shallow which adds to the challenge. A tripod and either a cable release or self timer will be a big help with this.

[freygr]

Depending on what camera you have you could get a Micro lens cheap, by looking on ebay. I purchased a 1:1 lens Nikon 55mm F3.5 for CHEAP under $50.00, but it's a non AF lens, so I have to use it only in manual model.

[Squidward]

It helps to know what camera you have and which lenses you have.

I know from personal experience that a normal 35mm f2 lens, reverse mounted and placed on to an extension tube will give me about a 3X magnification. I can get more magnification but macro photography isn't only about magnification. If you are taking pictures of insects then you need a long close focusing distance along with the magnification. This means getting a lens like the 200mm f4 Micro-Nikkor, which will get to 1:1 with a minimum focusing distance of about 2.3 feet or so.

Reverse mounting a wide angle lens will increase your working distance compared to the same lens on an extension tube at the same magnification ratio.

[freygr]

I like the 180-300mm 1:2 Micro setting on my 70-300mm Telephoto lens. I can get away from the spiders and bugs so they don't move. Now with Dragon Flies it helps but it doesn't really help much as they are so fast. It also helps with flowers as you are not so close and affecting the lighting with your shadow. If all depends on were and what you are take the photos of which lens will work the best.

[jorger101]

Thanks for your suggestions. I have a Nikon D80 with the kit lens (18 to 135 mm) and a 70 to 300 mm Nikkor zoom lens. I will find an example and post it for your review. The last time I used the close up lenses, I used them in my Nikon F4 film camera with a 35 to 70 mm zoom lens. I have been more successful with macro shots with my Nikon P5100 point and shoot camera. Those images come out with a lot of detail and focused correctly.

[Squidward]

I would tend to think that accessory lenses that attach in front of the lens element of a more or less normal lens would be more of a compromise than anything else. Mind you, I've never used one of these before.

I've had great results using an old Nikon Micro-Nikkor 55mm f3.5 with its M2 extension tube even with my D70. Using a 35-70mm zoom mounted to a BR-2a reversing ring with the extension tube yields an approximate 3X magnification at the 35mm setting. My 35mm f2 gives about the same result mounted the same way. I'm hoping to either get a bellows or get a 4X5 camera to be used as a giant bellows with my gear to get some really extreme magnification. The 4X5 camera will allow me to do tilt and shift to allow for some crazy affects as well as getting the magnification that I'm looking for.

[freygr]

Thanks for your suggestions. I have a Nikon D80 with the kit lens (18 to 135 mm) and a 70 to 300 mm Nikkor zoom lens. I will find an example and post it for your review. The last time I used the close up lenses, I used them in my Nikon F4 film camera with a 35 to 70 mm zoom lens. I have been more successful with macro shots with my Nikon P5100 point and shoot camera. Those images come out with a lot of detail and focused correctly.

There is a big difference in the DOF your P5100 has and what your going to get with a D80. The DOF calculations take in to the actual focal length of the lens and the distance to subject not the angle of veiw which gives the 35mm film equivalent focal length. On the Olympus C3030 I had it has a 6.6 - 19.1 mm zoom lens 35mm-105mm 35mm film equivalent. The Olympus will always take better micro photographs DOF wise than and DSLR unless it has been fitted with a 8mm lens (not a FISH EYE) a camera lens is used to project the image from the 8mm lens to the film plain of the camera this allows the lens to fill the film without fish eye distortion.

[freygr]

I would tend to think that accessory lenses that attach in front of the lens element of a more or less normal lens would be more of a compromise than anything else. Mind you, I've never used one of these before.

I've had great results using an old Nikon Micro-Nikkor 55mm f3.5 with its M2 extension tube even with my D70. Using a 35-70mm zoom mounted to a BR-2a reversing ring with the extension tube yields an approximate 3X magnification at the 35mm setting. My 35mm f2 gives about the same result mounted the same way. I'm hoping to either get a bellows or get a 4X5 camera to be used as a giant bellows with my gear to get some really extreme magnification. The 4X5 camera will allow me to do tilt and shift to allow for some crazy affects as well as getting the magnification that I'm looking for.

Just remember you need a good tripod. I have seen on ebay mounting backs which have a lens mount so a body can be attached. The only problem is what they end up selling for. $$$ or $$$$........

[Greg McCary]

You might consider a tube. Check the sticky in the N&W forums. There is a learning curve to using them, but I have one and am glad I bought it.

[jorger101]

Again thanks for your suggestions. I find them useful. I will try some of them out.