Got a Raynox DCR250, but dont know how to use it?!

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Got this today. Badly packed by Amazon - in cardboard and one side was not stuck down or if it was, was open. So lucky I even got it!!! I spent half hr trying to attach to the camera. Finally did it. However I put it in auto mode, then macro mode and pictures blurred.

So can someone please help me out please? Its on an 18 -55mm lens
 
I would imagine your shutter speed is too low and/or you aren't focusing correctly.

Put the lens to the highest zoom and move the camera back and forwards from the subject until it comes into focus.
 
camera in manual focus and as said move back forward until focus achieved, you will need to somewhere between 4&6 inches from the subject.
 
Diopters move your infinity focus point. Your close focus points may well change, but that's not the point. Instead, think of it as a plane of focus 12.5cm in front of the lens, no matter what focal length you're using. So, with that in mind, get to 55mm and look for that plane of focus. Everything on it is magnified 8 times.
 
Thanks for the replies. Tried moving camera closer on max zoom on lens, still blurred. Tried manual and also auto mode
 
The Raynox should work perfectly well on the lens you have, although many people will recommend using an even longer lens to get greater magnification.
Just make sure that you're using it at the full 55mm zoom for best results.

A couple of things to check :

What aperture are you using? The DoF with the Raynox is very narrow, so you need a relatively high F number to get an acceptable amount of the image in focus.

What's your shutter speed? As Tom said, a low SS might be responsible for some blur.

I find that manual settings are your best option here to get aperture and SS at the right balance. But you really do need good strong light to help you get the right combination.

How are you focusing - manual or autofocus?
The focusing is a little tricky with the Raynox. On the 18-55mm you need the end of the lens to be about 3-4 inches away from your subject.
Like Tom, a lot of people will recommend manual focus and rocking back and fore. However, with the same lens combination and on the 450D I actually prefer autofocus. Manual focus through the viewfinder is nigh on impossible to get sharp and I really don't like LiveView.
But it's a case of practicing to see what suits your own style / equipment.

As an example, this is my first test shot with the Raynox I bought just after Christmas. Lit with off camera flash, and with the 18-55mm lens - F9 / 1/200 ISO 100 / Autofocus. The settings may give you some idea of where to start :shrug:


fly1 by SarahLee1001, on Flickr

EDIT : Quite a lot have posted while I was typing, so sorry for any duplication.
 
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Thanks Sarah. An amazing shot. Will try and play around with it a bit more and see how I go
 
place camera on worktop, put something in front approx 6inches, move the camera in very slowly until focussed achieved, you will find out how critical postioning will be, 1-2 millimetres wrong can make a big difference
 
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