Cheap Marco Photography Questions
 

I am looking at cheap options for macro photography.

Currently I have a Nikon D200 with an 18-200mm lens and a 50mm f/1.8 lens.

I am looking at Zeikos ZE-CU472 close up lens attachments to mount on my 18-200mm lens.

OR

Reverse mounting my 50mm lens with a BR-3 from Nikon.

- Do either of these affect the aperture?
- Would either cause a vignette on the image?
- Which is better?
- Are there any other methods or products which you can recommend?

The cheapest option which is the reversing ring holds a serious downside in that you have decoupled the aperture ring by reversing the lens so its all a bit trickier. You can easily see for yourself if you just hand hold the 50mm reversed onto the mount and try and take a picture. Do able but all a bit awkward. Also remember you will have no through the lens metering.

Closeup lens will be adding another glass element but you will retain all normal functions. I do not recognise the closeup lens you mention but a quick look at Amazon £25 for three of various diopters does not fill me with any confidence for that brand.

In general do closeup lenses work ..... yes. My neighbour Ros a member here has a Canon 350D with standard kit zoom. I made up an attatchment including the end of a flowerpot as a lenshood, fitted for a set of closup lenses from my Bronica days and she gets really good results.

Ros's gallery link http://www.worldphotographyforum.com...user=2754&sl=r

That should show that quality closeups really work pretty well as a cheaper solution than a proper macro lens. You get what you pay for though with this sort of thing, so I would be looking at B+W or other quality manufacturer.

Don

There is an excellent thread about Manual macro on the cheap in the macro section on the forum you should find lots of useful information in there, it was a great thread with lots of experimenting with various setups.

http://www.worldphotographyforum.com...ead.php?t=1618

I had forgot about that one Christine.
Just been through it and it adds more options to the list.
Used extension tubes, used or otherwise cheap bellows to mount the 50mm on, or even stretch the budget for an old manual focus 55mm macro. Important to note that in all the above cases they must be Nikon AI or AIs fit, and NOT pre AI.

I will find the thread that explains that in a mo.

Don

Here is a link to the thread ...... The Ins and Outs of the Nikon Lens Mount
http://www.worldphotographyforum.com...ead.php?t=2762

Don

Check out the Raynox dcr-250, just clips onto front of your lens, not cheap but i have seen some cracking shots taken with them.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Macro-Extensio...d=p3286.c0.m14

just over £5 is one option, if you dont mind the totally manual route.......expect to pay quite a lot more for auto tubes with contact necessary for your 50mm to body communication.

The best close up lenses on the market by far are the Canon 500D range. I have two 52mm models which I use either singley or together on my Micro Nikkor 200mm f4 ED IF Ai-S and I highly recommend them.