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Question about close-up filters

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Steffie V

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Though I do have a dedicated macro lens, I still intend to buy a B&W close-up filter. I do not always carry my macro lens around and my other two lenses, the 16-85 and the 70-300VR have the same filter size. So if I have a close-up filter in my bag I will always be able to do at least some macro.

My question is how many diopters do I need? Or should I just go for the strongest available.
 
I have a Hoya Kit for my little LX3. I also have a 105 Vr for my d90 and personaly for the LX3 it's only when I have the +4 on that I notice a dramatic difference. I would actually avoid close up kits because they are prone to flare and would consider a teleconverter which will still work with AF-S lenses, which ever you put on.

 
@ Vertigon: I am well aware of the disadvantages of a close-up filter. But
1) I like to travel light

2) a close-up filter is much quicker to attach than a tc because I don't have to remove the lens first and

3) last but certainly not least a tc is 10 to 15 times the cost of a close-up filter.

Moreover I have seen samplepictures that were not bad at all. So I thought I will give it a go. Not much to loose.

@ Kwiebus: thank you for those links. They are certainly helpful.
 
Steffie V said:
Though I do have a dedicated macro lens, I still intend to buy a B&W
close-up filter. I do not always carry my macro lens around and my
other two lenses, the 16-85 and the 70-300VR have the same filter
size. So if I have a close-up filter in my bag I will always be able
to do at least some macro.
My question is how many diopters do I need? Or should I just go for
the strongest available.
Click to expand...
The 70-300VR works fine with achromat close-up filters, i.e. close-up filters made by two glass elements. These filters are the ones you should look at if you wish good image quality.

The Canon 500D and the (discontinued) Nikon 5T and 6T are achromat close-up filters with excellent quality-to-price ratio.

The Nikon 5T and 6T have 1.5 and 2.9 diopters, respectively. Their diam is 62 mm nevertheless you can safely use them on your 70-300VR with a 67-> 62 mm step down ring. No vignetting occurs on DX bodies (see Thom Hogan website, here: http://www.bythom.com/70300VRlens.htm ).

To know the magnification (M), you have to divide the focal length (FL) of the lens by the focal length of the filter (FL'): M = FL/FL'. This quite simple relationship holds when the lens is focused at infinity.

The focal length of the close-up filter is equal to 1000 divided by diopters. For a 1.5 diopters filter, FL' is 1000/1.5 = 667 mm.
If you attach this filter to a 70-300 set at 300 mm the magnification is
M = FL/FL' = 300/667 = 0.45, i.e. a framed area (on DX) equal to about 53x35 mm.

Unfortunately, Nikon close-up filters are no more produced and it is not easy to find them in the second hand market.

Alternatively, you can use the Canon 500D (2 diopters, 500 mm focal length). I use it (77 mm diam) with my 80-400VR.

With such Canon filter, if you set your zoom at 250 mm you'll get M = 250/500 = 0.5 X (1:2). A good close-up performance, IMO.

If one rotates the focus ring, the magnification increases a little bit, say around 20 % (depending on the zoom) with respect to the value calculated at infinity.

I would recommend to not use the zoom at its maximum FL because IQ declines significantly.

Regards,

Riccardo
 
I use a Canon 500D closeup on my 70-200 and love it. Its small, light and hardly takes up any room so it travels with me wherever I go. I love the results I get out of it and would recomend it highly. Here is a quick sample on the D300 with 70-200 and the 500D..



--
http://stringfellow.smugmug.com
 
First, you're looking for a lens, not a filter...

Get one of quality equivalent to your lens. Single-element uncoated may work OK for point&shoots, but you should look for a fully coated achromat.

The strength you want depends on the closest focusing of your lens without it. If your lens focuses to 0.5 meter then you can use as strong as a 2 diopter closeup lens and get continuous coverage; focus to 0.2 m lets you go as high as 5 diopter. (Diopter strength is 1 divided by the focal length in meters.) It's most convenient to get a bit lower power than the maximum to give some overlap.
 
I have both the Nikon 5T and 6T lenses, and I can't recall needing both (but I have experimented with them together), although they can be combined, but I can tell you they are high quality and produce excellent results. They can be found on eBay, but do command a high price due to their high quality and scarcity — I sold a pair last year, the 6T for over $200 and the 5T for $175 I believe. (BTW, I retained another pair for my own usage). I have used them on my 50/1.8, 70-300 VR and 18-135.

GS
 
Thank you all for your input. I have a much better understanding now of all the ins and outs of close up lenses. So I have left the idea of buying a cheap close-up filter and will go for either the Canon 500D or the Nikon 6T. As it will be at least three month before I will really need it I will try for a 6T on ebay first. They may be expensive in the USA but for us europeans the dollar is very cheap these days so may be I will be successful.
 
Here's a sample of a Nikon 6T ( 100% crop ) on my D80 and 50/1.8
(warning: large file)



GS
 
--

I am using Raynox DCR 250, this is 2 glass element close up filter, first time I used it I was blown away by the result. I am using this filter on my 105VR micro. This combination produce sharp image.

This picture was taken by 105VR micro and Raynox 250 macro filter

 
Gary Skirvin said:
They can be found on eBay, but do command a high
price due to their high quality and scarcity — I sold a pair last
year, the 6T for over $200 and the 5T for $175 I believe. (BTW, I
retained another pair for my own usage).
Click to expand...
Given that you can now buy a +3 Hoya Digital One Pro multicoated achromat for in 62mm or 67mm for about $135, perhaps I should sell my 5T/6T set!

--
I miss the days when I used to be nostalgic.
 
I know !

That spider is about a quarter of an inch in length, in real life !

GS
 
As far as I know -from experience- the B&W close-up filters do a fine job as well and they are much cheaper. A few days ago I used the B&W +2 to produce an image of a hallmark of a silver object, combined with my 50mm. I cannot say it was a bad image. ;-)
--
Leen Koper
http://www.fotografieleenkoper.nl
 
Hi Leen,

Could you post that image or give links. I am looking for the close up lens and it would make me to decide about getting one.
Thanks,
Abi
 
I have a 200 f4 macro with a ratio of 1:2 what ratio does it become on my d70 when i reverse mount a 6T. How can if calcualte what depth of field I will be getting (is it strictly eyeball) ?

Jack
 
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