 Anita White |
Which Close-up Accessory? I'm looking for a close-up accessory for my camera. Price limit: $70. Any ideas? Thanks.
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Andy |
I don't know what kind of camera you have. If it's an SLR, the Tiffen close-up lens set (+1, +2, and +4) costs from $36 (49mm) to $85 (72mm), depending on the lens diameter. I have a set and used them before I got my macro lens. I found the +4 I used the most. Focusing has to be manual for critical sharpness. Hope this helps.
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Scott Pedersen |
I'm assuming this is on an SLR. Head over to Adorama and search for extension tubes. Another good place to search is, of course, ebay. I paid right under that for my set (Pentax). Extension tubes are way sharper than the close-up filters that you screw on the front of your lens. Focusing and depth of field are critical, so you will need to use a tripod. Some people use focusing rails on their tripods to help with focusing.
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Howard T. Cooper |
Vivitar did manufacture a combination tele-extender with macro extension capabilities. This device also increases the focal length of the lens so that your primary lens increases in focal length and close-ups can be made from a greater distance. These devices are available as used equipment for between $40-$65.
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Bill Lewis |
I vote for extension tubes. They are a terrific asset for close-up work.
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Adam J. Lucas |
Extension tubes are the way to go. Close-up filters are not as sharp, because often they use inferior optics to the ones in your lens. When you do close-up photography, making sure the elements in the scene are sharp in the right places is part of the mastery. With extension tubes, you are keeping with your current lens's quality. They are extremely versatile in combinations (when you join them together) to get even closer. You really can get to within touching distance to your subject. Here in the U.K., you can buy a set of extension tubes new from Jessops for £74.99. Look on ebay and you'll get them for a fraction of the price. This is one item that you shouldn't mind buying second-hand, because there are no optics to worry about being scratched from a previous owner. One thing to make sure of if you do get some second-hand is to make sure they are in good condition, so that the electronic contacts are all intact ... these are used to maintain the metering in your camera. Of course, you will never have autofocus if you use extension tubes ... this is a good thing because macro photography requires very critical focusing, and no macro lens will ever be clever enough to do that on its own. Good luck, and enjoy your photography whatever you do.
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