Close up filters vs extension tubes

aztechnology · 21 Aug 2009 at 12:04

MuGeN said:
Not quite sure what they mean by MWD being less than MFD, unless they mean it will only auto focus at more than 30cm?

MFD is the distance between the sensor and the subject. Minimum Working Distance is the distance between your lens' front element and your subject when the lens is set at 1:1 magnification.

MuGeN · 21 Aug 2009 at 12:09

aztechnology said:
MFD is the distance between the sensor and the subject. Minimum Working Distance is the distance between your lens' front element and your subject when the lens is set at 1:1 magnification.

aaahhhh it all makes sense

daven1986 · 21 Aug 2009 at 17:46

SteveOBHave said:
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.

That looks great, I managed to get a sony a200 with a 70-300mm tamron lens that can do 1:2 macro

might get a filter to stick on the end to get it to 1:1.

Now the waiting begins!

Artest · 21 Aug 2009 at 20:12

Took this one with the cheap ebay tubes and a 18-55mm kit lens.

daven1986 · 21 Aug 2009 at 20:56

damn that is nice, am so confused about whether to get tubes or a dioptre!!

Wedge · 21 Aug 2009 at 21:00

olegs said:
Took this one with the cheap ebay tubes and a 18-55mm kit lens.

Nice, ive only tried my 50mm 1.8 and that was notto hard as i could control the apeture manually.

How did you go about taking this with your kit lens?

Wedge · 23 Aug 2009 at 13:17

^^olegs? with my kit lens attached it is far to dark to see anything? Did use extra light source?

Also struggling with focus point being very small, even shooting a bee i stuggle to get it all in focus dof from right to left is so small

Advise welcome.

Artest · 23 Aug 2009 at 14:56

No extra light source. All the light coming from the sun. Still needs long exposure though, about 2-3 seconds.

Took it with kit lens at 55mm + extension tubes.

That pic is actually a combination of two shots, using manual focus I first focused on the head then the body. Then I used photoshop to merge the two together.

aztechnology · 24 Aug 2009 at 10:21

daven1986 said:
damn that is nice, am so confused about whether to get tubes or a dioptre!!

Do you want to photograph a dead wasp or a live one? If you want to chase a live one about, then you will be better off with a longer lens and a dioptre. If your subject is motionless, and working distance is not too much of an issue get some rings and use them with a 50mm (or kit lens).

If you get hooked on macro, get a real selection of macro lenses, and a ring flash, and kiss your bank balance goodbye

daven1986 · 24 Aug 2009 at 11:22

thanks, was hoping to get live ones. I am getting a 70-300mm lens with macro function that gives 1:2 so I was thinking about a dioptre on the end to get it closer to 1:1. I have a feeling I will get hooked on macro but hopefully when I have a well paying job!!

aztechnology · 24 Aug 2009 at 13:46

daven1986 said:
thanks, was hoping to get live ones. I am getting a 70-300mm lens with macro function that gives 1:2 so I was thinking about a dioptre on the end to get it closer to 1:1. I have a feeling I will get hooked on macro but hopefully when I have a well paying job!!

seems about right. Depending on which lens you go for (Canon have make loads of that range telephoto over the years) you should be able to get about 1:1.2 @ about 46cm. If you do start to enjoy macro photography more, dedicated lenses are really the way forward.