Advice on what to purchase as intro to 'close-up' or macro work

[theMusicMan]

Hi All

Just joined today, and apart from my intro post this is my first question on this excellent site - hope it is in the correct place.

I have an Olympus E400 (my first digital SLR) and I very much want to get into close-up and macro stuff. Subject matter is nothing specific; the usual nature, flowers, eyes, insects, stamps etc... anything that when viewed closer offers the viewer a new perspective on what would otherwise be a common object. However, I have no real idea as to where I start.

I see a few package deals for +1, +2,+4, +10 filter type lenses for the E400 - and to be honest, at £15 on eBay I thought they were quite reasonable for what they offered. Would I be wise to purchase these? I don't think I could go far wrong - certainly not price wise anyway. if I did buy them, is there anythig I would need to know about...? would I need to tell the camera they were there by adjusting the f-stop etc... (not that I know how to do that on the E400 just yet!!).

Or - would I be better suited to purchasing another 'device' i.e. a lens or something else better suited???

Your thoughts and guidance very much appreciated please, thanks.

John

[praxis]

http://www.praxis1958.org.uk/yb.jpg

This was taken with one of those `cheep` macro lenses handheld, don`t expect super sharpness or quality but they`ll do to get your hand (eye) in!

[Ewan]

For what it's worth I've seen some very good results using those cheap macro filter things. Haven't used any myself (gonna buy some soon though) but they seem very capable for the next-to-nothing price. I'll dig out a link for you...

[theMusicMan]

Thanks Ewan... appreciated.

@praxis: super pic, thanks for the example.

[Ewan]

Bah. I can't find the link as flickr is being stupid.

But if you click on my flickr in my sig, then go to my contacts and go to someone called Jo...She has some awesome pics taken with the macro filters.

I'll link it tomorrow for you - I think flickr goes slowly in the evenings.

[theMusicMan]

Bah. I can't find the link as flickr is being stupid.

But if you click on my flickr in my sig, then go to my contacts and go to someone called Jo...She has some awesome pics taken with the macro filters.

I'll link it tomorrow for you - I think flickr goes slowly in the evenings.What a star you are, many thanks.

[RobertP]

Loads of Oly info here (http://myolympus.org/)

Click on the E400 link on the left nav bar. The sigma 105 and 150 macros are very good lenses if you want to go that far. According to the page I just looked at they come in Oly mount.

[theMusicMan]

This (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Macro-Close-up-Lens-set-4-Olympus-E500-E400-E300-E330_W0QQitemZ270144700784QQihZ017QQcategoryZ29994 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) one on ebay any good... for the price it looks a great 'tester'...?

EDIT: Just looked at those two lenses and they look cool. I am happy to pay that sort of money as I learn. However, may I ask what you mean by "Oly mount". I appreciate Oly is short for Olympus, but is this a specific type of mount...? and can the E400 cope with this...?

Thanks for the advice.

[CT]

if I did buy them, is there anythig I would need to know about...? would I need to tell the camera they were there by adjusting the f-stop etc... (not that I know how to do that on the E400 just yet!!).



There's a real common tendency to call these 'filters' when they're actually 'supplementary close up lenses'. ;)

These are clear lenses so wont have any effect on your exposure, but even if they did - due to the fact that your camera meters on light coming through the lens, the camera would make the necessary adjustment anyway. :)

[theMusicMan]

Brilliant, thanks CT... I willplace an order tonight then for those and have a play on the weekend.

Cheers.

[Hacker]

Have a read of this (http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=7761), it might help.

[theMusicMan]

There's a real common tendency to call these 'filters' when they're actually 'supplementary close up lenses'. ;)

These are clear lenses so wont have any effect on your exposure, but even if they did - due to the fact that your camera meters on light coming through the lens, the camera would make the necessary adjustment anyway. :)
Having had a closer look I think I need clarification on the size of the filter I need.

On my lens supplied with the E400 it says 17.5-45mm, and I think the diameter is 52mm - there is a sign that I think is the 'diameter' sign followed by a 52 on the inside of the lens.

The items I see in the that eBay sale are for a 58mm screw on type. So, what i may do is to take my camera into a Jessops store (or similar) and ask for the right spec for all lenses I need to purchase.

Would you agree...?

[RobertP]

Oly mount means made in a version that fits olympus cameras (all brands are different fixing styles). It is a complete lens made for your camera body and what you will end up with if you get properly bitten by the macro bug as it will do the best job on those close up shots.... just costs a lot of money :)

If you have been looking at ebay prices be prepared for a shock in Jessops! The sort of add on filter style lens you are looking at just needs to be the right size (which you say is 52mm) - any brand you choose just that size. You can forget 'for olympus' in your search.

[theMusicMan]

Hmmm, now I am confused.

So I did a search on eBay and came up with loads. Are you suggesting that this one would work too?

Macro CloseUp Lens fits for Nikon D40 D50 - 52mm Size

Link here (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Macro-CloseUp-Lens-fits-for-Nikon-D40-D50-52mm-Size_W0QQitemZ290138738111QQihZ019QQcategoryZ30070 QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

It's a 52mm size, but says it's for the Nikon - but would it fit the 52mm Olympus? Surely not?

[Cobra]

Hmmm, now I am confused.

So I did a search on eBay and came up with loads. Are you suggesting that this one would work too?

Macro CloseUp Lens fits for Nikon D40 D50 - 52mm Size

Link here (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Macro-CloseUp-Lens-fits-for-Nikon-D40-D50-52mm-Size_W0QQitemZ290138738111QQihZ019QQcategoryZ30070 QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

It's a 52mm size, but says it's for the Nikon - but would it fit the 52mm Olympus? Surely not?

This is the important bit
This is a screw mount MACRO lens and comes with a 52mm thread size which wil fit you with your Nikon D50 D40 Canon G1 G5 G6 S1 S2 or any camera with a Lens having 52mm Filter Thread .
So if YOUR sure your lens has a 52mm filter thread then It will fit

[CT]

Extreme Macro Close Up Lens for Nikon D40, D50 Etc Explore a new macro World...(Fits Any 52mm Camera Lenses) ;)

[theMusicMan]

Excellent... thanks everyone. I have ordered these and they should be with me by the time I get back to the UK on Thursday.

Have to say - what a superb forum this is. I only joined up today and have had some excellent and lightning fast responses that have enabled me to get going very quickly.

To everyone who has helped thus far - I thank you.

[Jo]

Bah. I can't find the link as flickr is being stupid.

But if you click on my flickr in my sig, then go to my contacts and go to someone called Jo...She has some awesome pics taken with the macro filters.

I'll link it tomorrow for you - I think flickr goes slowly in the evenings.

Do you mean me? :embarrassed:

I'll make it even easier for you, CLICK HERE (http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=macro&w=11406792%40N00&m=tags&s=int), that will take you straight to all my shots taken with these lenses. Both with my new (ish) Canon 350D and with the Kodak Z740 ;)

[Chillimonster]

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1175/834571221_d3897e1d75.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1262/834569923_f5e3376f62.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1282/834568641_084e85c7d1.jpg

All three taken with the Oly E-510, kit lens and a Raynox DCR250 Close-Up Lens.

[theMusicMan]

WOW - I can't wait.

OK, I gather after some research, and some folk on another (non photography) forum that I frequent pointing out that the E400 is not the best Olympus you can get for your pound/dollar/euro et al, but for me it is a good introductory digital SLR for me that I will use to learn the basics.

I love those close ups and if I can get anything like the 50% of the quality of those - I will be a happy man.

Now if only I were not traveling out of the UK today, and away from my family - on my birthday...:(

[CT]

WOW - I can't wait.

OK, I gather after some research, and some folk on another (non photography) forum that I frequent pointing out that the E400 is not the best Olympus you can get for your pound/dollar/euro et al, but for me it is a good introductory digital SLR for me that I will use to learn the basics.



Doesn't that happen with ever hobby or interest though - you jump in with both feet and then find out what you should have bought in the first place.:D

I'm sure the camera will be fine and when you're ready, your next one will be a more considered purchase. ;)

[Bolerus]

another one with the cheap close up filters.

this one was with my nikon d50, kit lens and a +10 cloeseup filter.


I took it purely because i wanted the bug identified, so it hasnt been touched up or had composition in mind hence notthe best but good to see the lesser pics with the filters aswell


Also it was saved in lq for the web...


http://www.mike-clark.co.uk/images/cornish_bug_web.jpg

[theMusicMan]

Awesome stuff folks thanks.

So... when I read a Macro has a 1:1 ratio, I wonder to myself - doesn't macro work require magnification of some form...? and do would need 2-10:1 or similar so that the image can be magnified?

Can someone explain to me why macro lenses are 1:1 please, thanks.

[Messiah Khan]

Awesome stuff folks thanks.

So... when I read a Macro has a 1:1 ratio, I wonder to myself - doesn't macro work require magnification of some form...? and do would need 2-10:1 or similar so that the image can be magnified?

Can someone explain to me why macro lenses are 1:1 please, thanks.

1:1 means that the subject (say a ladybird) will be projected at lifesize onto the sensor. So take out ladybird example. Say that ladybird was 5mm across, and for the sake of the argument, the sensor was 10mm across. The ladybird at 1:1 would fit across half the frame. When you consider that with macro lenses, 1:1 can be achieved at ~30cm distance, your are infact magnifying the image, but only to such a scale that it appears the same size as if it was on the sensor. You can get lenses that do 5:1 magnification, but take into account that the depth of field would be measure in fractions or millimetres, so is very hard to work with.