Struggling With Lens Choices

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Bill
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I'm new to photography, and hadn't even picked up a DSLR until my purchase day a couple of months ago.

I've been trying out all sorts of photography that I can, and I realised that for me motorsports are what I really enjoy capturing. I treated myself to a 70-300mm lens which is great and it's given me a huge boost.

Now, I can't always get to tracks as much as I like, finding the time to spend an entire day there isn't always easy with travelling etc on top. I find myself trying to capture different kinds of things as I'm sure most of you do!

I've been enjoying attempting to do macro shooting with the lens at 300mm, but since it's obviously not a dedicated macro lens the images are a bit "okay".

Is there anything I can add on to my 70-300 without blowing the bank? I really want to get a wide variety of lenses over time (I've already got an ever-expanding wish list.) I'd rather not blow hundreds on a macro lens that I won't be using all that often, but it'd be nice to get a closeup if I saw a cool looking bug or something.

I recently read about adding this to the lens: (Raynox DCR-250)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Raynox-DCR-250-Macro-Attachment/dp/B000A1SZ2Y/ref=pd_ybh_5

What kind of results should I expect from this? For £50 if I can get some good images I feel it'd be a lot more worthwhile than buying a dedicated lens.
 
If the 70-300 is your only lens so far you could get yourself a Nikon 50mm.
They're pretty cheap brand new and have a relatively close minimum focusing distance.
I haven't use extension tubes before I'm afraid so I can't vouch for the Raynox and such being compatible with it.
For its price though you could do a lot worse!
 
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You could try and find a canon close up filter that screws to the front of the lens, I think they are known as a 500d filter, I'm sure some other forum member would be able to confirm? Although never having used one myself they do seem to be very popular as a 'macro' accessory
 
Cheers guys.

Forgot to mention I do have a 35mm f1.8 and the 18-55mm kit lens. I just want a whole bunch of lenses NOW so that I can try out all types of photography but it's just impossible to afford sadly! :(

Mark - I think the 500d and Raynox are very similar by my understanding, I don't suppose you know what the main differences are by any chance?
 
You could go for a legacy lens and get a cheap adapter from ebay to enable it to be fitted to your Nikon.

It's a cheap way of doing it if you are willing to focus manually, which many do when shooting macro/close up.
 
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I'd go Raynox 250 for around the 40ukp mark (check google/amazon).
Should fit to your 70-300mm and see whether you like macro shots.
Alternatively, if you have manual settings on the lens, £10 ukp extension tubes will also work (plus can be used on any lens).

After that I'd be looking at lenses, probably : tamron 90mm, nikon 105mm, sigma 105mm or 150mm depending on what you are taking macro pictures of.
 
I had good results using a Canon 500D on a 70-200, the 70-300 has a smaller filter ring so the 500D that fits that will be cheaper - think mine was about £80 second hand. The 500D is a double element design and a very good bit of glass.
 
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