Have a DSLR but no macro lens? Here's a very cheap option to get started on macro photography. Sure the results won't be as good as a proper macro lens, but for $11 USD I think you'll be pleased with the results.
Here are the ones I bought:
Amazon.com: Fotodiox Canon EOS Macro Extension Tube Set Kit for Extreme Close-up, fits Canon EOS 1d,1ds,Mark II, III, IV, 5D, Mark II, 7D, 10D, 20D, 30D, 40D, 50D, 60D, Digital Rebel xt, xti, xs, xsi, t1i, t2i, 300D, 350D, 400D, 450D, 500D, 550D, 1000D: Camera & Photo
They have the same kind for Nikon:
Amazon.com: Fotodiox Nikon Macro Extension Tube Set Kit for Extreme Close-up, Fits Nikon D1, D2, D3, D3x,D3s, D100, D200, D300, D300s, D700, D40, D40x, D50, D60, D70, D70s, D80, D90, D3000, D5000, D7000: Camera & Photo
Here is what they look like:
That's the full stack of them together. They separate apart, I guess if you want less magnification. The silver part is where you mount your lens.
This black part connects up to the body. There are red dot markers for alignment, all very easy.
The whole lot together. I'm using a Tamron 24 - 70 2.8 lens, but it doesn't matter what lens you use.
Now for a couple of test shots. I haven't sorted out lighting yet, but you can get the idea of the macro effect regardless.
Here is what I could get (cropped) before using them:
With the tubes:
The only downside is that you have to use manual focus, but I don't find that a problem - watches don't move around so it's not a hassle
The other thing is that it automatically uses the lowest aperture of the lens. That led to shots like this, with thin DOF and not enough sharpness in the frame:
The fix is as follows:
- Set the aperture with the lens but no extension tubes on.
- Hold down the D.o.F preview button, remove the lens, and put the extension tube on;
- The default aperture will now be whatever you set previously. That's a big help for getting better corner-to-corner sharpness.
Hope someone finds this useful, I highly recommend them - for $11 + shipping you can't go wrong
I also wanted to get this macro LED light, but will try and see what I can do with my off-camera flash, and natural light for the meanwhile:
Amazon.com: Macro Ring Flash LED Light! Works with Canon/Sony/Nikon/Sigma lenses!: Electronics
I'll add more photos as I figure it out. The difficulty with lighting is that because the lens goes so close to the watch there's not really any space for light to get in. That's what the device above tries to address. It's not actually a flash though, it's just a ring of LED lights, so possibly a bit underpowered, I'm not sure.
Here are the ones I bought:
Amazon.com: Fotodiox Canon EOS Macro Extension Tube Set Kit for Extreme Close-up, fits Canon EOS 1d,1ds,Mark II, III, IV, 5D, Mark II, 7D, 10D, 20D, 30D, 40D, 50D, 60D, Digital Rebel xt, xti, xs, xsi, t1i, t2i, 300D, 350D, 400D, 450D, 500D, 550D, 1000D: Camera & Photo
They have the same kind for Nikon:
Amazon.com: Fotodiox Nikon Macro Extension Tube Set Kit for Extreme Close-up, Fits Nikon D1, D2, D3, D3x,D3s, D100, D200, D300, D300s, D700, D40, D40x, D50, D60, D70, D70s, D80, D90, D3000, D5000, D7000: Camera & Photo
Here is what they look like:
That's the full stack of them together. They separate apart, I guess if you want less magnification. The silver part is where you mount your lens.
This black part connects up to the body. There are red dot markers for alignment, all very easy.
The whole lot together. I'm using a Tamron 24 - 70 2.8 lens, but it doesn't matter what lens you use.
Now for a couple of test shots. I haven't sorted out lighting yet, but you can get the idea of the macro effect regardless.
Here is what I could get (cropped) before using them:
With the tubes:
The only downside is that you have to use manual focus, but I don't find that a problem - watches don't move around so it's not a hassle
The other thing is that it automatically uses the lowest aperture of the lens. That led to shots like this, with thin DOF and not enough sharpness in the frame:
The fix is as follows:
- Set the aperture with the lens but no extension tubes on.
- Hold down the D.o.F preview button, remove the lens, and put the extension tube on;
- The default aperture will now be whatever you set previously. That's a big help for getting better corner-to-corner sharpness.
Hope someone finds this useful, I highly recommend them - for $11 + shipping you can't go wrong
I also wanted to get this macro LED light, but will try and see what I can do with my off-camera flash, and natural light for the meanwhile:
Amazon.com: Macro Ring Flash LED Light! Works with Canon/Sony/Nikon/Sigma lenses!: Electronics
I'll add more photos as I figure it out. The difficulty with lighting is that because the lens goes so close to the watch there's not really any space for light to get in. That's what the device above tries to address. It's not actually a flash though, it's just a ring of LED lights, so possibly a bit underpowered, I'm not sure.
