close up lens info for macro shooters
Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 4:52 pmI just realized that I have probably mislead some people with my use of the Canon 500d on some of my lenses, specifically the 80-400vr. My use of the Canon 500d is primarily due to the fact that it is the only diopter available in a large size, specifically 77mm thread. I also have the Canon 250d and 500d in 58mm thread, that I used on my Sony.
Several people have asked me questions and advice on the use of closeup lenses and I've given the info that I had, but failed to take into account the other closeup lenses that are available.
OnePutt once asked me about using the 500d on his 70-200vr, stating that his photos were different, meaning less magnification.
My answer to him was that the 500d would only give 1:2 magnification at 200mm. That is correct.
However, Canon also makes a 250d, (+4 diopter) which is twice the magnification of the 500d (+2 diopter). Anyone that wants to get 1:1 or higher magnification with a 200mm lens should use the 250d 58mm thread or the Nikon 6T 62mm thread (+2.9)
For higher magnifications, you can also stack these lenses. The highest diopter should go closest to the lens.
The pitfalls are that you have much less working distance with the shorter lenses and/or stacking the diopters. Of course, the higher the magnification, the more shallow the DOF.
My sincere apologies to any of you who I may have misled. I have to obtain some step down rings to 58mm to show you some examples with the smaller sized lenses that I have. I don't know how much vignetting there might be on the larger teles with 77mm threads, but I'll do tests on several different lenses. Of course, the 70-200 will be the f/2.8 Sigma, since I don't have the Nikkor VR.
For those of you that would be happy with the same or less magnification and smaller lenses, the Nikon 5T is a +2 diopter and the 6T is a +2.9 diopter, that are cheaper than the Canon lenses.
Several people have asked me questions and advice on the use of closeup lenses and I've given the info that I had, but failed to take into account the other closeup lenses that are available.
OnePutt once asked me about using the 500d on his 70-200vr, stating that his photos were different, meaning less magnification.
My answer to him was that the 500d would only give 1:2 magnification at 200mm. That is correct.
However, Canon also makes a 250d, (+4 diopter) which is twice the magnification of the 500d (+2 diopter). Anyone that wants to get 1:1 or higher magnification with a 200mm lens should use the 250d 58mm thread or the Nikon 6T 62mm thread (+2.9)
For higher magnifications, you can also stack these lenses. The highest diopter should go closest to the lens.
The pitfalls are that you have much less working distance with the shorter lenses and/or stacking the diopters. Of course, the higher the magnification, the more shallow the DOF.
My sincere apologies to any of you who I may have misled. I have to obtain some step down rings to 58mm to show you some examples with the smaller sized lenses that I have. I don't know how much vignetting there might be on the larger teles with 77mm threads, but I'll do tests on several different lenses. Of course, the 70-200 will be the f/2.8 Sigma, since I don't have the Nikkor VR.
For those of you that would be happy with the same or less magnification and smaller lenses, the Nikon 5T is a +2 diopter and the 6T is a +2.9 diopter, that are cheaper than the Canon lenses.
