Close up filters vs extension tubes

Depends what zoom you are using.

There are methods to lock the aperture of the lens at a selected aperture, something to do with DoF preview and taking the lens off I think. I don't really know the exact steps as my tubes allow aperture control so I never paid much attention.
 
I would actually recommend using the cheap tubes with the "Canon 18-55 IS" kit lens if you have it.

That lens focuses really close for macro, so works great with the tubes. also on the plus side...the cheap tubes can wear down the back of the lens when you're twisting/untwisting , so using a cheap zoom like the 18-55 is better
 
It depends, as ever with photography, how frequently you'll be doing Macro stuff?

Just to give it a try out, then a close up filter is actually quite good, especially with a 50mm prime or similar. It will give you a taster for it, and you'll see if it's for you or not.

I purchased a B+W 52mm NL 4 Close Up HS Filter, less than £20 delivered, and it has produced some lovely pics fitted to the front of my Nikon 50mm f1.8. The main benefit is the closer focus so you can see some of the detail of your subject.

I later progressed to some Kenko AF extension tubes, which I still use in conjunction with a 300mm prime, but ultimately like most people, I went on to purchase a dedicated Macro lens.

Nothing wrong with close up filters for occassional use though IMO, just don't get the very cheapest ones and you should be fine.
 
My advice is usually to stay away from cheap.

Cheap and Quality rarely come hand in hand.

What you choose depends on the minimum focus distance of the lens at the focal length you choose, to determine the overall magnification.

http://eosdoc.com/jlcalc/ should be link to a macro lens calculator.

One thing that extension tubes do is to make focus distances small, ok inside on a tripod with a static subject, but a pain if your chasing a butterfly. Using tubes will also not retain focus if you zoom to a different focal length, a Close up filter will.

There is no "right" answer, it all depends on what you are using and the effect you want. Personally, as I think I said above, I have both. The close up filter is easier to use but I bought a high quality 2 element Nikon 5T, and have not used a cheaper set.

If you want a best bet, then if you have a medium telephoto lens, then a good quality close up filter is usually the best fit solution.
 
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With that kit lens you can work out the following from my link,

using a Nikon 5T, max magnification = 1:2.8 @ 0.197m
using a 36mm extension tube, max magnification = 1:1.10 @ 0.116m

so without using a high magnification, lower quality close up filter you might be better off with tubes...
 
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hmm not that I really understand what you said 100%, BUT does that mean that using the nikon kit lens at max magnification I can focus at 0.197m from my object? And the extension tube means I can get another 0.081m closer?

Do the close up filters just magnify?

Thanks
 
Firstly, the closer you can focus, the larger the image will be in the frame.

Tubes alter the minimum focus distance, so you can get "really" close, especially if you stack the tubes. Problem is though, the closer you get, the more difficult it is to light the subject well.

The close up filters act as a magnifying lens, but also slightly alter the minimum focus distance.

Both methods, have a similar effect, in that the image will fill more of the sensor. The ratio of the actual subject size to the actual size of the image on the sensor gives us an apparent magnification; so if it the same size it would be 1:1, half size would be 1:2, twice size would be 1:0.5.

The numbers I gave should be read as

5T give a magnification ratio of 1:2.8 (between half and third size) at a new minimum focus distance of 19.7 cm (I think the minimum focus distance of the canon kit lens is 28cm? I looked it up earlier, but can't remember now).

36mm of extension tube (the usual largest in a set of 3, though to get this with canon tubes you would have to stack the two smaller tubes) gives a magnification ratio of 1:1.10 (nearly same size) as a new minimum focus distance of 11.6 cm.

Those numbers are the figures given out by the calculator in the link above, so we have to trust they are accurate.
 
sorry for the hijack, I have another question! How far away from the object I am photographing will I have to be? I.e. is there something that allows me to get a macro shot from a fairly large distance?
 
daven1986 said:
sorry for the hijack, I have another question! How far away from the object I am photographing will I have to be? I.e. is there something that allows me to get a macro shot from a fairly large distance?
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that is dictated by the focal length of the lens you are using...

~100mm is a good average working length, 150mm and up is professional grade macro territory but is not very portable and tends to have slower AF (not that that is much of an issue as most macro is done manually) and i think light also becomes more of an issue at the longer lengths?

If you stick a closeup lens or tubes on a 50mm, you are gonna have to get very very close, to the point where if the subject is a living thing you're probably not gonna get the shot...

hope this helps :)
 
for 1:1? about 30cm with a 100mm lens i think...

heres a clip from the digital picture review of the 100mm Canon ƒ/2.8 Macro:

As it is a true 1:1 macro lens, the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro Lens will deliver a subject to your sensor at the same size it is in real life. 1x magnification is achieved at the MFD (Minimum Focus Distance) of 1' (.3m). It doesn't take a very big subject to completely fill the frame at this 1x magnification. The Canon 100mm macro allows a reasonable minimum working distance (MWD) of 6" (150mm) from the end of the lens (without the hood in place). Going further, extension tubes can take the magnification to 1.19x and 1.39x for 12mm and 25mm tubes respectively - at the expense of lost infinity focus.
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Not quite sure what they mean by MWD being less than MFD, unless they mean it will only auto focus at more than 30cm?
 
I took this one with a screw on filter - it's soft but if you want to try out macro then it's not a bad option.

448483952_0f977a7f79_o.jpg
 
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