Help with Macro/Close up filters please.

[argonaut]

Hi all,

I don't have a proper macro lens and I don't think I'd use one that much to justify buying an expensive one. I recently saw some cheap 'close up' and 'macro filters' and was wondering if they'd affect the quality of my photos a lot or not.

Another issue is whether to buy one +10 strength one or several smaller ones (i.e. +1, +2, +4) in a set. Would quality be worse if I combined many of them? And how close would a +10 go? I don't have anything to compare it with so I don't know whether the flexibility of the various strengths set of filters would be preferable to one +10 filter/mini lens which I may not be able to use for many things.

If you've tried them or know about them please let me know what you think. Your advice will be greatly appreciated.

[ArmySoldier777]

There may be good ones out there, but I've read that they affect the image quality too much to really be worth it. A lot of reviews I've read say you're better off getting either an Extension Tube set "moves the lens farther away from the body, shortening it's focus distance" or reverse macro ring "allows you to mount your lens backwards"

But maybe somebody else knows of a good set of macro filters.

David

[RichardTaylor]

You may want to have a look at this thread.


Shooting Macro (on a budget) ?

From personal experience they will get you closer but not macro.
The the cheap +10 one was useless.
I wouldn't stack them.

[argonaut]

Thanks guys. I wanted to try the reverse mount ring but I'm worried about the weight and what damage it might do to the camera. The tubes sound good, although I'll lose auto controls. The article you recommended looks very useful. Thanks again for your time.

[ArmySoldier777]

You can get a set of extension tubes for about the same cost of those filters that allow autofocus and all that. The set I have "Zeikos Extension Tubes" does that.


David