Close up shots of nature - what do I need?

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Herethere

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I have a Canon 500d, kit 18 -55mm IS lens and 55 - 250mm IS lens.

I would like to get some shots of flowers and other wildlife - close up. What sort of lens do I need for this please?
 
For flowers a macro would be nice, anything from 50mm or longer. I have a 50mm f2.5 and a 150mm f2.8 and I use them both for flower shots.

For wildlife I guess it depends upon the size of your subject and how far away it is, but it'll probably be a long prime or zoom.
 
It depends just how "close-up" you want to get and (as Alan asked) what sort of wildlife you want to shoot.

The 18-55mm that you already have has quite a short minimum focusing distance, and you can get reasonably close shots of flowers / insects and the like with just that (and a little practice).

These are a few of mine that I've taken with that lens, just cropped slightly for composition.


Hoverfly in flight with white Heather3 by SarahLee1001, on Flickr


Hoverfly on yellow Potentilla flower 2 by SarahLee1001, on Flickr


22 Quality by SarahLee1001, on Flickr

If you want to get closer than these you'll need to be looking at either investing in a dedicated macro lens (as suggested above) or supplementing the kit that you already have by adding extension tubes or a "close-up" filter that sits in front of the lens.
The Raynox DCR-250 is highly rated and at around £30 from Amazon is good value for money.
 
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SarahLee said:
The Raynox DCR-250 is highly rated and at around £30 from Amazon is good value for money.
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Can you show me where this is approx £30?

Appears to be £43 from amazon direct, or £40 from amazon marketplace sellers.

Would definitely get one at £30
 
stupar said:
Its this one here
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Raynox-RADCR-0250-DCR-250-Macro-Attachment/dp/B000A1SZ2Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1294506207&sr=8-1

Looks like price has gone up due to VAT increase though!
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:shake: That's a shame . . . and it's gone up by A LOT more than the VAT increase too.
A week ago they were on there for £31 + P&P !!!

Herethere said:
So these make my kit IS lens into a macro lens is that correct?
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Not strictly speaking a macro lens - the Raynox is a magnifying attachment that you can fit onto the end of any existing lens - it will allow you to get in really close to your subjects and magnify the object too.
If you do a search on here for it, I'm sure that I've seen a few threads about it lately.
 
Another vote for the Raynox (and yes, I'm sure it was ten quid less on Amazon last week!).

For bugs and beetles, get the DCR-250; for flowers and butterflies, get the DCR-150. They will both work best on your 55-250 :thumbs:

Here are 17,000 sample images I prepared earlier :D http://www.flickr.com/groups/raynoxdcr250/
 
Ok great thanks. Can you use filters too? I have a UV and polarising one on. Although the polarising one doesnt seem any good?
 
Herethere said:
Ok great thanks. Can you use filters too? I have a UV and polarising one on. Although the polarising one doesnt seem any good?
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If you're going to wait for them to come down in price, then get plenty of practice in with the equipment that you have already. As I said, you'll find that you can get fairly close-up with your current 18-55mm and perfecting your technique with that will make the Raynox easier to use when you do get one.

The Raynox has a 49mm thread at the front, so in theory yes you could use a filter with it if you wanted to.

HoppyUK said:
. . . and yes, I'm sure it was ten quid less on Amazon last week!. . .
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I can 100% confirm that it was, because I bought one :lol:
It arrived yesterday - just put my first test shots up in the Macro section.
 
Herethere said:
Ok great thanks. Can you use filters too? I have a UV and polarising one on. Although the polarising one doesnt seem any good?
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Do you know how and when to use a polariser?? In what way is it no good?
But to answer, no I dont think you can use filters on the raynox.
 
TCR4x4 said:
Do you know how and when to use a polariser?? In what way is it no good?
But to answer, no I dont think you can use filters on the raynox.
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Hi...read one of the many books I have and it says twist the polariser to remove glare on windows etc. Did this although seems to make no difference.

Will use my kit lens first and see how I go. Thank you all
 
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