When you are taking pics for a step by step what lens do you need to focus in on a small object? I have a Nikon D80 with a 18-135 lens but it will not focus close in on the macro setting.Do I need a new lens or is there a cheaper alternative out there?The camera takes everything else really well but the close up shots.Any help much appreciated.

My limited understanding - You've 2 choices. A macro lens or macro filters on your existing lens. You're asking a lot of the current lens to expect decent macro without giving it a hand while still taking landscapes.

A macro lens will typically give the best performance and will focus with the lens really close to the subject - expensive though.

Macro filters are cheaper and work well across all zooms and can be stacked for different magnifications. Since they are fitted to a standard lens running in manual or macro AF mode from the body they will typically not focus with the lens as close to the subject as a dedicated lens but will bring the minimum focus distance a lot closer - a LOT cheaper too.

Assuming filters - Don't use the zoom much or at all stay at the wide end and you can move in physically closer with most standard lenses. Don't use AF, focus manually. Use a tripod and a delayed shutter release (timer) a mini one is fine. When stacking filters always make sure that the strongest filter is closest to the lens, the more you stack the more chance of image quality problems from reflected artifacts from all that glass, which isn't coated as well as the components of your lens or gets dirty. I've not had many difficulties stacking my set of 3 and problems can be avoided with careful lighting which you should be doing anyway. Work within the limitations of your lens/camera and be prepared to crop the final image if neccessary you've mega pixels so for the image sizes concerned some loss is ok. Getting close isn't everything some distance from the subject can make lighting a lot easier. Be aware that you lose some depth of field with filters so stop down as much as possible and stay at the wide end of your zoom where your lens will be faster. Also the edges of the image can blur a little,but given that our subject is central in the foreground with a plain background out of focus through short depth of field having this background more out of focus at the edges isn't the end of the world. If you do go for filters buy them from a shop so you can try them out with your camera on a test subject. You'll probably need something over +4 for something as small as a fly +10 might be better. I have this set Camerafilters.com - Detail and don't find stacking to +7 to be a huge problem I am considering the Camerafilters.com - Detail though. You'll need the right size for your lens or an adapter ring too. Sorry that those are US links but I'm just rattling this off so they'll do.

A Comparison of Close-up Filters and Macro Lenses - Tim Trott Photography shows the differences quite well. IMO for a SBS you can get good enough results with filters. Depends how flash you are with your cash a macro lens will be fantastic but £100's rather than £10's.

If this was helpful rate me, I want to move on up the road sooo much

Hi ten to one, if your after a set of close up lenses go on ebay i got a set for my olympus for £18 they work just fine & they do them for nikon..

Also you can get a nikon 18-55mm lense on ebay for £80 which would be fine...

Hope this helps

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Thanks for the answers guys. Looks like I will ditch the Valentines dinner and buy a new lens

Try these

How far away are you from the object? The lens has a minimum focus distance of 45 cm (1.5 ft) so you will have to be at least that far away for it to be sharp. Don't use Auto Focus either use Manual. Also try different zoom settings until you find a combination that works. Set the camera to Aperture priority, make sure it is set on the highest F number (minimum aperture) so you get good depth of field and make sure there is plenty of light on the subject. Use a tripod and the timer on the camera to eliminate shake.

I think that is everything

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Sandy
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Once again thanks for the assistance. Loads of great help and advice

I use for my Nikon D70´s the Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 an its fine for Flies.
Sometime i use the Sigma 105mm f/2,8 there i have more distance to the Objekt.
The best Makro Lense is the old 60mm f/2.8 but they iss not cheap,

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help. i jave a tamron 150-300mm lens with a macro switch for my canon eos 350 will this be ok for close ups of flies. i am no photographer so any help would need to be in real speak thanks in advance. jon.

Can't find a 150-300 but I have the Tamron 70-300 macro. The macro is in the high end of the zoom at 180-300 and the minimum focus is 0.95, which is about 18 inches, so as long as you aren't closer than that it will be all right for close-ups. The depth of field isn't great, roughly about half an inch at the 300 end and three-quarters at the 180 so you will have to get the fly spot on in the middle of that. Set the camera to macro mode, A for Aperture priority setting the exposure ring to the highest number, which is the smallest aperture, and let the camera take care of the shutter speed. Set the White Balance for the type of lighting you are using, incandescent, daylight etc.. Use a tripod, the timer on the camera, and make sure there is plenty of light on the fly.

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