Noob photography question!

ins0mn1ac · 31 Jul 2014 at 16:54

I recently purchased a 1100d with a crappy 18-55mm lense. My specific interests are in macro, mainly because I can interest my son in taking pictures of spiders!

At a mega budget what's the best way to improve macro pictures? I've just ordered a reverse lense adapter after seeing a few examples online of the 18-55mm reversed and some non automatic extension tubes since I'll lose auto with the reverse adapter anyway.

How would all this fare against a lense like the Sigma AF 70-300mm f4-5.6 DG Macro Canon Fit Lens?
Tamron AF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di LD Macro 1:2 Lens for Canon is also an option.

they can be had for under £100, if this for example would give way better pictures than my budget reverse idea I'll grab one, what do you think?

Rojin · 31 Jul 2014 at 17:19

Neither of those are true macro lenses, you would still be looking at extension tubes to get really close in. The Tamron 90mm macro and Sigma 105mm macro lenses are pretty capable, and the Tamron especially can be had for under £200 second hand.

To get really close (small subjects) you'll still be looking at using extension tubes even with a macro lens.

Others with far more macro experience than me will chime in soon I'm sure

doodah · 31 Jul 2014 at 17:47

In a similar boat myself, having spent £128 on my 35mm f1.8 I don't really want to fork out another >£200 for a macro lens. I've seen very mixed results for the cheaper extension tubes but if you look at the last two pages of the macro thread you will see the Raynox DCR-250 mentioned. It clips onto the lens and the results look pretty good, was hoping someone in that thread could shed more light but no luck. Perhaps someone can here

Baron C · 31 Jul 2014 at 18:34

The raynox 250 is an inexpensive option. I have it and it works well with the crappy 18-55

I actually got the raynox, to see if I would enjoy macro.

Rojin · 31 Jul 2014 at 18:49

I've got the Raynox, never used it once I got a macro lens and tubes. I might dig it out again to have a play with it.

D.P. · 31 Jul 2014 at 19:16

Extension tubes are the best bet because you can then use them on different lenses (with different filter sizes). For flowers and things 50mm is fine, but for insects you want something longer.

And then as Rojin pointed out, even with a dedicated macro lens you might want to add extension tubes as well.
Extesion tubes a just hollow metal rings so the cheap ones work just as well as the expensive ones optically but you might not get AF or metering. AF is not an issue as you will want to manually focus for macro, but metering can be an issue on entry level bodies. Different lens will give different performance with tubes, some lenses really don't like macro focusing distances, others are more forgiving.