Macro Toys?

[roncgizmo]

Aside from the best thing to use like a good Macro lens what other gizmos work good or maybe even close to the real deal
with a DSLR?


Extension Tubes?

Reverse lens rings?

Bellows?

Close up Glass?

ETC.

Any Pros or Cons?

[dougsmit]

Originally Posted by roncgizmo

Aside from the best thing to use like a good Macro lens what other gizmos work good or maybe even close to the real deal
with a DSLR?

Any Pros or Cons?

Extension Tubes? Best choice for prime lenses 50mm and longer. Work well with zooms but takes a little practice to find what combination of tubes to use for what photo. Best choice is the Kenko set of three. Don't buy the cheap ones that lack contacts and lose diaphragm operation.

Reverse lens rings? Two types: One places a second lens in front of the main lens giving a good but strong close up lens. Tends to be so strong that beginners have troubles getting sharp images and can be damaging to the lenses if they are heavy and poorly built. Second type: Just turns the lens around losing all contact with the body. Cheap and usually disappointing.

Bellows? Great for static subject and very high magnifications when used with a lens made for the purpose. Unless you buy the very expensive ones, you lose diaphragm automation and that is why I suggest use only for static subjects.

Close up Glass? Two types: One element close up lenses are cheap and sold in sets. They degrade the image. Two element ones are good but expensive and you need a different one for each size lens front. These are the best answer for wide angle lenses too short to work well with extension tubes.

ETC. Sooner or later you will want to buy a real macro lens. No 'toy' has all the features you may want but there are many good pictures to be had. Suggested answer: tubes

[roncgizmo]

Doug, Thanks for the great information.. I've done a lot in the past with tubes and reverse rings (with 35mm) and still have a bunch of lens for my FD gear including 50, 100, and 135mm hence the reversing rings. I never before thought of using close up glass but I wasn't sure if it got better then it was way back when.

[richardpcrowe]

The 90mm Tamron f/2.8 AF SP macro lens is the model that was issued prior to the present generation lens that is identified with Di added to the Tamron designation. The Di lens is "supposed" to be optimized for digital sensors but, I can't really see how much better the Di lens could be over my present non-Di model. My Tamron gives me imagery that equals or is superior to my "L" lenses.

If you have patience and a bit of luck; by haunting the used equipment sites such as eBay, Fred Miranda and Photocamel - you "may" be lucky enough to find one of these lenses for between $125 and $150. I got my copy for less than $125 including shipping and that is about the price of a top-line set of extension tubes.

[roncgizmo]

That sounds like a great deal

The reason I was asking about the "Toys" was I had some old but good FD lenses but no canon AF Macro's I'm now looking at a Fuji/Nikon S2/D100 since I just dropped my only AF-EF lens and I have a pretty good Nikon lens with a Macro from a old 8008 I had a long time ago. To make a long story short I wanted to put the old FD lenses to use maybe with tubes and a mount adapter or a reverse adapter.. I've done it with film but I was unsure how a CCD or CMOS would react of if it even would be worth the time working with it.

[dougsmit]

Now that we have the whole story: I'd suggest selling all the FD things and buying what you want (Nikon or other). The 'toys' other than tubes and close up lenses have very limited use giving a very small range of magnifications (usually too strong for many uses). It is not the question you asked but the best answer is a real macro lens (used or new).

[roncgizmo]

Now how can I let go of all my FD stuff it's worth more to me just knowing it's safe and warm tucked inside it bag then the $30 bucks I'll get on ebay. I do know a dedicated macro lens is the best option and knowing myself one that will happen. if I do buy the Nikon I have that Macro but it's a wide zoom and I know I'll be on the hunt for a mid range 18~55 or so before I buy a dedicated lens and light ring..

Just trying to do my part and recycle

[roncgizmo]

Ouch! Sorry doug, I reread my post after I put it up and it sounded kind of rude.. and I was trying to be funny..lol Sleep depravation is really getting to me..

[Jacco]

My favorite post:

[w7apd]

Add a focusing rail to the list of handy macro toys. When you get into the true macro range, depth of field goes from limited to vanishingly small, so focusing accurately on the exact point you want also becomes very difficult. The focusing rail lets you accurately focus by moving the entire camera/bellows/lens combination as a single unit, so you don't change the magnification as happens if you focus with the bellows or lens helical.

Higher-end bellows often have a focusing rail incorporated into them.