Here’s something I found out while surfing around which I though may be of interest to some (only Canon users though!). If you buy a really cheap 35-80mm lens like this from E-bay and whip out the front focusing elements it makes a pretty decent macro lens.

Pro’s are; it’s probably cheaper than a set of tubes and you can control the aperture (unlike cheap tubes).

Con’s are; very small minimum focus distance around 5cm which is OK for flies but probably not so good for bugs and no focus method (you have to move the camera to focus).

More details are here

Cheers - Steve

You can turn your ordanairy lens into a macro lens by just turning it around in other words when you remove the lens just hold what would be the front of lens to the body of the camera, subject to camera shake. The method was shown in The One Show.Noel

Or just buy a macro filter to fit your lens

Amazon.co.uk: macro filters - Electronics & Photo

That is what this was taken with.



Camera settings.

24mm, f/8, 1/125s @ ISO 200, NIKON D5000

I didn't realise I had it on wide angle at the time

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Sandy
Carried it in full, then carry it out empty.

To quote the bloke with the horrible tan DD cheap as chips. Noel

'Tis true, I use an old Olympus 50/f1.4 for this very purpose, you have no control over DOF with this method as you really need the lens wide open, you also have to focus by moving the subject or the equipment back and forth to get the focus correct; best for still life macro set-up in the studio.

Gary

I would be wary of using this technique with digital SLRs. I want to minimise all possibilities of dust getting in the big hole at the front when there is no lens sealing it properly. Even when just changing lenses, you should make sure the camera is switched off so the sensor is not charged and so not in a mood to attract dust. If you are the type of guy who cleans his own sensor every day anyway, then fine (the guy on The One Show may be just such a chap), but if you get it cleaned by a service centre once a year (like I do), I would steer clear of the technique.

Col

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I bought the correct (Nikon) fitment tube from Ebay and secured the lens with super-glue so there would be no "leakage" when in use, and yes, I do clean my own sensor with the correct FX equipment; good tip Col and one of the reasons I used 2 bodies for motorsport, one with a 17-55 and the other with a 120-300, saves changing lenses between pit/track shots.

Gary

Aye, for anyone not sure what we are talking about, here is a defocused photo of a white card taken at f27... shortly before I went to get my sensor cleaned. It was either get it cleaned or plant potatoes on it



The amazing thing is that at wide apertures all that crud doesn't show... though it can't exactly be helping image quality

Col

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My hovercraft is full of eels

Prize-winning composition there Sandy Shame it's a wee bit soft though

Moral of the thread. If you're at all interested in macro.... buy a macro lens.

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Buzzers 2012


Fly Clips & Stands

It's a crop Rob, probably not more than 20% of the original which always seems to cause that soft look. I worked it a bit in PS to try and sharpen it up but didn't want to take it too far and make it look false. A lot of my pictures have that soft look to them and I don't really know why. I see some of the pictures on here that jump of the screen and have that clear crystal look and wonder why mine don't

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Don't worry, be happy.
Sandy
Carried it in full, then carry it out empty.