Macro filters

Discussion in 'Photography Talk' started by Loofah, Jan 30, 2018.

  1. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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    If she can keep you under control, Loofah, then she'll make mincemeat of us if she finds out we've aided and abetted you in buying a lens:hate-shocked::dunno::heehee: :runforhills::runforhills::runforhills:
     
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    • Loofah

      Loofah Admin Staff Member

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      She does and she would lol SWMBO!
       
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      • Loofah

        Loofah Admin Staff Member

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        Macro filters arrived today so will take a few snaps later to see how they fair...
         
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        • ARMANDII

          ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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          Just as an aside I have in the past used my 80-320 lens as a macro lens when trying not to spook an insect or bird. I took this images with the 80-320 lens on the side of a river in Rutland when the insects were about 15 to 20 feet away..........
          [​IMG]
          [​IMG]
          [​IMG]
          [​IMG]
          And the same lens while sitting down by the Wildlife pond with the insect about 8 feet away
          [​IMG]

          [​IMG]

          Not bad for a second hand 30 year plus old piece of "glass" being "mis-used" by being asked to convert from a long distance lens to a macro:dunno::heehee:
           
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            Last edited by a moderator: Feb 4, 2018
          • Loofah

            Loofah Admin Staff Member

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            Lovely Armandii.

            I've finally got round to doing a quick test with the filters using a 17-70mm lens at 70mm.
            First with no filter
            DSC_0080 (Mobile).JPG
            A +1 filter
            DSC_0081 (Mobile).JPG
            +2
            DSC_0082 (Mobile).JPG
            +4
            DSC_0083 (Mobile).JPG
            +10
            DSC_0084 (Mobile).JPG

            Have to confess it was a very rush job and probably picked the dingiest part of the garden to do it!
             
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              Last edited: Feb 9, 2018
            • ARMANDII

              ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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              I think they're a good compromise, Loofah, they definitely let you get closer to the subject and they're good value for money. Trying to compare like for like when taking a pic is, to me, impossible due to light conditions, the ease of taking the shot when crouched down, what ASA and aperture, depth of field, was used and all the other things that affect taking the shot.
              I think though there is perhaps a softness that Filters might introduce due to the physics involved. Most of my macro shots are handheld when wandering around the garden and this is one taken by the Wildlife pond where I was crouched and bent over to get a shot at the Fungus
              [​IMG]
              That was taken with another old lens of mine, a 25 year old 90mm Tamron macro lens
              [​IMG]
              [​IMG]

              [​IMG]
              I did contemplate using macro filters but decided on going down the path of old second hand macro lenses:dunno::snorky:
               
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              • Loofah

                Loofah Admin Staff Member

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                Problem with buying older(ish) lenses is that they may not work with modern dslr cameras but clearly a better option if possible.

                I'll find some time and experiment with the filters which were admittedly v cheap !
                 
                Last edited: Feb 9, 2018
              • Loofah

                Loofah Admin Staff Member

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                Actually I should note that the +10 filter should be checked as the front retaining ring can be loose allowing the glass to fall out
                 
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                • ARMANDII

                  ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                  Actually, Loofah, I think you got value for money.:coffee::snorky:

                  Which is one of the virtues of the Pentax system in that there only two mount systems the K mount and the M42, the latter being the older system and now Pentax only uses K mount and you can go back over 60 years for their glass. You can also get adapters to swap from K to M42 and the other way. I have never ever had a problem with a lens not being compatible with my K5 camera but then I've only used Pentax, Sigma and Tamron which, for the last two, you need them fitted with the K mount adapter.:coffee:

                  I honestly think you're doing the right thing, experimenting and gaining experience out of it. It's how I've got along learning from experimenting when taking images.........in fact, that's exactly what I'm doing now with astronomy imaging, experimenting and learning as I go along.:scratch::doh::heehee:
                   
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                  • martin-f

                    martin-f Plant Hardiness Zone 8b

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                    From my reading extension tubes are better than filters, putting extra glass on a lens is not the best idea, i am very pleased with the extension tubes good clear images.
                     
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                    • toppington

                      toppington Tiny garden, always on the cheap!

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                      I bought some extension tubes a long time ago for a Nikon digital SLR - and also a reversing ring! Cost in total £3.22, from eBay. Definitely good value, worth the cheapness to have a quick go at something without breaking the bank. I'm sure you could get the same for cheaper nowadays!
                       
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                      • martin-f

                        martin-f Plant Hardiness Zone 8b

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                        I bought mine recently cost around £25, there was cheaper ones but they didn't look well made and didn't have the contacts for AF, AF works most of the time with mine but some shots i have to manually focus.

                        (Extension tubes are a relatively cheap piece of kit that reduce the minimum focus distance of a lens. Paired with an 18-55mm kit lens, you can get nice and close to your subject to capture them in detail. Unfortunately, cheaper extension tubes do not include auto focus, so you’ll need to set your lens to manual focus and move the camera in order to get your subject sharp)
                        Macro Photography on a Budget: A Quick and Easy Beginner's Guide
                         
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                        • mrscrow

                          mrscrow Apprentice Gardener

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                          are those filters better than tubes?
                          i may try one on my lumix G1 with kit lens 14-45
                          cheers
                          alison
                           
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