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Close-up filter vs Post Process Crop

Started 7 months ago | Discussions thread
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JamesMorgan Junior Member • Posts: 36
Close-up filter vs Post Process Crop

I am experimenting with macro and thought I would try a close-up filter.  Managed to get a 2nd hand one very cheap (<£5 including postage).  It is a Hoya HMC +1.  Part of the reason for getting it is to verify that my calculations of improved image magnification were correct, which they were.  I am able to get approx 2.5x extra magnification using my Olympus 75-300 focused around 65cm from subject.

However, I am dissapointed with the image quality.  It is very soft.  Even if I do lots of post processing work with tone curves and local contrast, I can't get the image as good as a simple cropped image without using the filter.   Even if I use a tripod and get ISO down to 200, I can't get as good an image as a cropped image that is hand-held at ISO 6400.  This largely removes any value using the filter.

Does anyone have any experience of using similar close-up filters?  Are my results typical or am I likely to have simply bought a dud copy (not overly surprising at the price!)

As an example, below are 2 images - one without the filter but cropped to the same magnification as one with the filter.

Close-up filter

No filter - cropped image

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