"Screw in close up lens attachments"

[Slvrbck]

Hi all,
This months Practical Photography had a section on them, and in particular, attaching them to a wide angle lens for a different perspective on landscape shots.

Has anyone used them before?

I found a relatively cheep one at under £20 here.

 

[H.M.]

Hi all,
This months Practical Photography had a section on ["Screw in close up lens attachments"], and in particular, attaching them to a wide angle lens for a different perspective on landscape shots.

Has anyone used them before?

Yes. They suck. Totally!
The bottom of a marmalade jar might get you better results.

I found a relatively cheep one at under £20 here.

"Cheep" is indeed the word, gorilla man. It would be £20 wasted...

Have fun!

 

[Slvrbck]

I'm going to asume you have had a bad run in with one....
Cheep

 

[H.M.]

I'm going to asume you have had a bad run in with one....
Cheep

No, gorilla man, it is par for the course. Standard with add-on 'close-up lenses'. All of them. As you will be able to confirm if you fall for that trash.

 

[Slvrbck]

Ok, you seem a tad "passionate" about it but given that you haven't used one before I will give it a go for myself.

You live and you learn.

 

[brianfarrell]

You live and you learn.

Yep. We learn from our mistakes.

 

[H.M.]

If you're intent on making your own mistakes, be my guest. But asking others about it then seems rather pointless, doesn't it?

Oh, and yes, I've used a few "add-on close-up lenses". On various cameras. And met many people like you who did too. And we all paid our dues and learnt our lessons. You seem set to repeat it.

Have fun!

 

[puddleduck]

They can work quite well - the Hoya close-up filters can be useful in a pinch. I used to carry a 62mm +4 which helped with the minimal focal distance on the Sigma 30mm.

Hand on heart I can't really recommend them flat out.. but they work in a pinch.

 

[Nod]

Cheap way of getting a bit closer but not a real substitute for a true Macro lens. Used to use a set with a step up ring to avoid as much of the edge softness as possible. Helped but images were still soft at the edge. As with most things, you tend to get what you pay for, so maybe a cheap one isn't the best investment. If they were all "trash" as suggested by H.M., I doubt that the likes of Hoya and B+W would sell them.

 

[Jamougha]

There are two types, the cheap single-element variety and the more expensive two-element ones. The two element ones are supposed to give good results, though naturally not quite on a par with a dedicated macro. I have a single-element 52mm attachment and it's pretty bad but what do you expect for 15 quid? It's ok to experiment with and see if you like macro photography or not, just be aware that you'll be throwing it away one way or the other.

For two-element attachments the Canon 500D and 250D are supposed to be good. They cost up to 100 each.

 

[hillwalkinggirl]

Yes. They suck. Totally!
The bottom of a marmalade jar might get you better results.



"Cheep" is indeed the word, gorilla man. It would be £20 wasted...

Have fun!

Just look at Albys photos (Ajaphotog on here). He uses Raynox close up lens and gave me advice on how to use one. If you look at Albys photos I think you will come to the conclusion that they are definitely not rubbish in the hands of the master, by the way I'm very pleased with mine and quite happy with the results.

 

[Slvrbck]

Cheers all, I have just ordered the one I linked to.

Will get a few results up when I have some.

 

[bailout]

Just look at Albys photos (Ajaphotog on here). He uses Raynox close up lens and gave me advice on how to use one. If you look at Albys photos I think you will come to the conclusion that they are definitely not rubbish in the hands of the master, by the way I'm very pleased with mine and quite happy with the results.

The raynox 202 is a 3 group 4 element lens though. Quite a step up from the simple cheap filter type. But you are right, Alby certainly shows what they can do.