Vivitar Close-up lens test (+1, +2 +3 diopters)

[clockdoc]

Hi all,
Jiminy's excellent posting on the "Story of 'O' " got me interested in testing an old set of Vivitar close-up lenses. They are 52mm and fit the Nikon 18-55mm kit lens. The first image is with the lens set at 55mm, f/22, and placed as close as possible to the subject, a dial caliper I use daily in clock repair. I manually focused each shot on the word "proof" on the dial. Distance shown in each image is measured from the dial to the line on the camera body indicating the position of the sensor plane (or film plane in 35mm film cameras). Since there are 7 images, I'll post the first 4 here and post the remaing set separately.

[clockdoc]

Here are the remaining test shots from the Vivitar close-up lens test where I combined the individual diopters into sets such as 3+1, 3+2 and 3+2+1. I have reposted the initial image taken with the Nikon 18-55mm kit lens at 55mm and f/22 for comparison. The distance figure is the distance from the dial face to the sensor plane (the mark found on the top of the camera body.)
While the results of the test were interesting, my thought is that with a 10 MP image, for most purposes it may be better to simply crop the initial image taken without the aid of the close-up lenses. What are your thoughts?

Here is the initial shot without the use of diopters:

[wulf]

They look increasingly overexposed. Were you on manual setting or was the camera taking some control?

Two further thoughts:

1. Ideally, I would like to see all shots from a test in one thread, even if you have to add them in several posts. It makes it easier to keep the discussion together - would you like one of the moderators to do such a merge.

2. How about cropping all the pictures so they show the same picture? That will allow easier judgement about quality without factors of size entering in.

Wulf

ps. ... and I think posting such tests is a great idea.

[clockdoc]

Hi Wulf,
I used Aperture priority as I wanted to keep the f/stop at f/22. I assumed that changing the mass of the image may affect the exposure so let the shutter speed fall where the camera decided it should be. Interestingly, in checking the EXIF data, the first exposure was at 1.8 second, the third was at 2.5 and all the others were at 3 seconds. The position of the light never changed but as I moved the camera closer with each lens addition, that may have changed some angles of reflection or the amount of "black" area to meter, which was on Matrix mode.
I had thought of putting them all in one posting but I recalled that I was limited to 5 images some time ago (which also inclided a Smiley in thetext). Feel free to combine them if you think it will make for better comparison.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean about cropping them so they all show the same picture. I guess what I was trying to show, in addition to the sharpness quality of the diopters, was the magnification you achieved from being as close as possible with each lens combination. That is why I also posted the distance from the subject to the sensor plane. I don't know what benefit we would get from cropping them all the same. Help me out here. 8-)

[wulf]

All merged - that keeps all the pictures in one thread.

It is useful seeing the magnification. However, it would also be useful to see the quality of the images at the same size, to inform a decision about whether it is better to use the diopters or take a bigger picture and crop.

Wulf

[shamrock]

Wulf,
I noticed you use a Raynox DCR-250 , is this better than theNicon close up 3T, I have a Nikon D40
Tx Shamrock

[wulf]

I don't know if it is better, not having had a chance to compare both. One downside of the Raynox is that the design relies on a bit of plastic held under tension by a strong spring to keep the adaptor on the lens. Unfortunately mine broke recently and my attempt at gluing it back on didn't last long; I think I am going to have to find a step-down ring to replace that bit.

Wulf

[shamrock]

Tx For the Info. Wulf, I'll think I'll go with Nikon [screw on]3T
Shamrock