Close up macro filters ....

[Faccina]

Hi,

My husband has a Canon EOS 40D but he barely touches it, therefore I have decided that I will be using it for him shh shhh (he doesn't need to know this)

I would love to use the camera to photograph my stick insects.

I have read that macro lenses are very expensive so I have bought close up macro filters but I can't get a decent picture, the camara doesn't seem to be able to focus.

The only thing i have done is added to the lense (efs 17-85mm) in the camara.

What should I be doing to make the macro lens work??

Thanks for your help!!
Faccina

[nemesis256]

You need to be close enough to your subject to be able to focus with macro filters. The only thing macro filters do is to allow you to focus closer. what type of filter are trying to use (+1? +3? Etc.)? I found that the +1 is useless.

[Faccina]

Hi Nemesis!

I have +1, +2,+4 & +10

Can I still use the camara in automatic??

thanks for your message!
Faccina

[DelCan]

I have done very little macro but what I have found (and read) is that you must manual focus. Let us know how the filters work out for you. My wife loves to shoot macro in the garden and has just purchased a T1i. So we're going to have to find a way for her to do this cheaply!

[bigfrank]

I used to use macro filters on a Kodak point and shoot sometime back. What I found was that you will have to be very close to focus at all, and like using a true macro lens, you will have very little focal distance. Use a tripod and manual focus. If the camera won't focus at all, then you are probably too far away, or possible too close. You may only have a few millimeters of focal length to work with.

[BexJarratt]

I took the shots below using either the +2, +3 or +10 (Macro) lens. I had to use manual focus to get the berries on the Christmas wreath in focus. The end of the lens was only a few cm away from the object for each of these. Bear in mind that the lens will get in the way of any built in flash so you'll probably need a separate one.


Christmas Wreath Decoration by bex146, Christmas Wreath on Flickr

SAM_0627 by bex146, broken parts of my shower cubicle on Flickr

SAM_0531 by bex146, cat's chin on Flickr