Close up filters.

[Michael]

Hey.

I did a quick forum search that didn't turn anything up unfortunatly.

I've got to do a a bit of product photography and some of it is as small as wedding rings and such I need a tiny bit extra reach and magnification and was wondering if i could get away with a close up filter of some description without ruining the image quality too much, (some quality can be sacrificed as its being printed in a magazine)

anywho I was just wondering if anyone has had any good/bad experiences with close up filters.

thanks
Michael

[xorl]

Close up filters are ok, it's the cheapest way to do closeup photography. I used one to create the last photo I posted. You lose some depth of field by using closeup filters. The loss of image quality is minimal with quality two element filters like the Nikon 5T/6T & friends, however these are expense. Personally I'm using cheap single element filters (Hoya +1/2/4 set - about $60) until I get a real macro lens.

[Michael]

Thanks for the reply!

Thankfully I found the raws of a few rings and necklaces I was supposed to be re shooting today/monday. so I hope I wont need one for another week yet.

also thanks for the image as a reference.

[Sheetshooter]

Michael,

Perhpaps if you search the web for 'Portra lenses' or 'Dioptre'lenses' your search might be more fruitful.

I would suggest that you either use a purpose built MACRO (Micro for Nikon) lens OR you use a two-element attachment Dioptre. These routes are preferable to using just an extension tube with a reugular lens since the regular lenses will not be optically corrected for such close work whereas the two-element dioptre will alter the performance characteristics somewhat.

Best of all is to use a Macro lens and I would suggest that the older type (such as the 55mm) where there is a constant focal length are to be preferred over the newer style where the focal length shortens (a bit like an inverse zoom) as the focus is extended. I believe that in trhe case of the 105mm Nikkor the actual focal length at 1:2 comes down to something in the region of 70mm. This could produce fore-shortening which, on a symmetrical subject like a round ring, could be contrary to your wants. It is also worth keeping in mind that for your expressed purpose MANUAL focus and the placement of the optimal plane of sharpest focus are better dancing partners than Auto Focus.

Just last Friday I bought a Portra lens for use with my 45mm 'P' lens on my crappy Jappy happy snappy and the +2 was the right strength to alllow some overlap between the lens's minimum focus distance and the maximum focus distance with the Dioptre attached. It wouyld be different with other focal lengths. Depending on the size of the artifacts you are shooting a stronger (+3 or +4) Dioptre may be called for but keep in mind that al;though there is a popularly held belief that you can gang these things up in multiples there is bound to be increasing image degradation with the attachment of ANY filter to the path of image-forming light - especially a stack of them.

Cheers,

[oli]

Closeup filters only real disadvantage is the loss of DOF. On a good prime lens like Canon's 50mm f/1.8 or the Nikon equivalent even two stacked closeup filters can produce excellent pictures.

For rings and other small jewellery items I think closeup filters are a great alternative to expensive macro lenses, especially since the jewellery isn't going to crawl/fly away or bite you when you get closer

So... Considering the amount they cost I think they are definitely a good option, and I'd recommend them!

[Michael]

Thanks for that guys, I thought about buying a macro lens but in reality I'm not going to do alot of this kind of photography which is the main reason for investigating a close up filter.

I have other gear that I need/want that takes priority over a macro lens that I might use every so often and only for work.

[Mj]

Worth looking at the nikon 5T and 6T diopter lens.

[lejazzcat]

I tried those diopters(5&6), as well as the ones for the 52mm.
I liked the handiness of being able to meter TTL with them,as opposed to using extensions(eg pk-13). The 62mm diopters (5 and 6 are for telephotos) arent all that user friendly as most pro lenses have a 77mm thread.

But I had alot of problems with moire patterns with these diopters on a DSLR. They disappeared once i removed the diopter.
So its a 'not recommended' by my experience.
Get a macro lens .

[huynhie]

I use the Canon 500D on my 70-200 VR and it works quite well.

I think it cost me abit over AUD300 for the 77mm filter.

here are some pic that have been taken with it.

[marcotrov]

Huynhie
Pleased to see quality work with the 500D I've recently ordered one through birddog after being impressed with Kerry's efforts on the 80-400VR. You also have now impressed me with your shots and their sharpness. Well done! Can't wait to get it.
cheers
marco