Camera Labs

I picked up a close-up filter last week which gives me +3 magnification. I primarily picked it up to compliment the 55-200 lens since you just need to get closer than the 3 foot minimum focusing distances sometimes, and changing lenses for a single macro shot is absurd....unless it's a really good shot I guess!

So, the weather was nice on sunday and flowers were blooming, so I went out and tried to play around with it and get crisp shots. I was finding that the DoF was getting out of hand with it at large apertures, but once I got the hang of bumping my apertures up the pictures came out sharper.

Here's the tech data

1/1000 sec
f/11
102 mm
ISO 500



I've read a review of a close-up lens that Photoj did on the site with their 55-200, and I have to agree that around 100 mm feels like the sweet spot for it, and if you try and push it to 200mm, the results are often soft and blurry.

All in all though, for 10 bucks, I can't complain and it's a fun tool to have in the bag if you like macro photography and can't afford a dedicated macro lens yet.

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Hardware: Nikon D80, Sigma 10-20mm, Nikon 18-55 mm VR, 55-200 mm VR, 105mm f/2.8D Micro, 35mm f/1.8G, SB-600, Manfrotto/Bogen 190CXPRO3 + 468MGRC2
Software: Aperture, Photomatix, GIMP

My Flickr Page

That's a great shot! What is the filter? For $10??? I think I'm going to give it a try!

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Wildlife/Bird Photographer
Canon 5D & Digital Rebel T1i
EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM, EF 70-200mm F4L IS USM, EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Kenko DG Auto Extension Tube Set - 36mm, 20mm, 12mm
My Photography: mydigitalmind : flickr

Here is another I took last night, this one I'm very happy with since I got the eyes sharply in focus.

The filter is a Quantaray 52 mm Close up+3. I picked it up at a Ritz's camera store.

Tech data

1/200 sec
f/22
102 mm
ISO 160
Fill flash

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Hardware: Nikon D80, Sigma 10-20mm, Nikon 18-55 mm VR, 55-200 mm VR, 105mm f/2.8D Micro, 35mm f/1.8G, SB-600, Manfrotto/Bogen 190CXPRO3 + 468MGRC2
Software: Aperture, Photomatix, GIMP

My Flickr Page

Those are great especial number 2, I am going to get some filters this afternoon now, I LOVE number 2 great focus, and use of the flash, you could/should make a cheap effective ringlight flash (http://www.diyphotography.net/readers-p ... -ringflash) quite simple, cheap and effective, there are some really good examples on my flickr down in my signature.

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Jake O'Connell, 40D Crew
Canon EOS 40D | 28-135mm IS | 50mm f/1.8 |Vivitar DF 383 | Vivitar 285hv
My Flickr
my Blog
"Photography isn't so much about the results as it is the collective experience, your interactions with people and with the world"

Great focus on the insect!!!!! A great macro!!!!

Mark

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Canon EOS 40D / EF-S 17-85mm IS / EF 50mm f/1.8 / My Flickr

What can I say? Brilliant photos! And thanks for the mention.

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Nikonian

http://www.edtangphotography.com
http://journeysintophotography.blogspot.com/

that's great. Like to see some examples of these close-up lenses. These have pushed me over the fence to get these filters. Nice to see the info to see what I can come up with at 100mm.


what do you all think of these: they are all 4 piece sets: (1+ 2+ 4+ and 10+)

HD Opteka $39 shipped
Mandee $37

or a 3 piece 1,2,4 From Bower for $40

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Canon 40D kit Lens 28-135mm IS, Canon 50mm F/1.8, 10-22mm, 100 2.8 macro, 580 Ex.