Macro with an 18-55mm? D5100

[SnappyFS]

I just got a D5100 (Refurbished) with the standard 18-55mm lens and so far its taken some really nice test shots.

I have a question on Macro shooting. I realize this isn't the proper lens for a macro, but with my old point and shoot in the flower/macro mode I've been able to get some pretty amazing and up close macro pictures. With the D5100, I feel like I can't get nearly as close as I could with my plain jane $150 point and shoot Canon camera.

When I saw macro, I'm not talking professional photographer see the hairs on a bee's legs, i'm talking the common super close up that is the best possible achieved from a regular joe.

Is this common? Trying to figure out if it is what I should expect, of if it may have a flaw due to it being a refurb.

 

[Chris De Schepper]

I made this with my 18-55mm kitlens. It is not perfect but I like it. It is not ideal and you can't do real macro but it is fun enough to use .Made several flower pictures with it as well. I spent the whole summer with nothing else than this lens and I find it an amazingly flexible lens. Cheap, light and good quality optics. Downside is the build quality.

 

[SnappyFS]

I made this with my 18-55mm kitlens. It is not perfect but I like it. It is not ideal and you can't do real macro but it is fun enough to use .Made several flower pictures with it as well. I spent the whole summer with nothing else than this lens and I find it an amazingly flexible lens. Cheap, light and good quality optics. Downside is the build quality.

Beautiful picture!

I guess I would say this is about as close as I can get too, so the lens is probably fine. With my old school Canon point and shoot, I can get a macro MUCH closer but it usually takes lots of patience and a steady hand.

With time I guess i'll have to just invest in a macro lense.

Anyone else have any macro style images they've taken with the 18-55mm lens to share?

 

[_sem_]

The 18-55 focuses pretty close for a conventional DSLR lens, but that's not as close as a typical P&S macro mode.

DSLRs are about interchangeable lenses, so getting a macro lens is the best idea. Plenty of threads on them here. Some of them do second duty for portraits reasonably well.

If you are less serious about this, you can try automatic extension tubes (Kenko for example). If you have a tele lens, a close-up diopter "filter" (preferably achromat type) may be more convenient.

 

[blue_cheese]

The minimum focus distance for each lens is printed on the bottom of the barrel. Yes the 18-55 has pretty close focus and when zoomed in at 55mm it looks macroish but it is not a true macro.

A cheap new macro is the 40mm Micro. Alternatively you can use tubes, or reverse the 18-55 for closer focus and more magnification.

 

[Leonard Migliore]

When you put a point and shoot camera in macro mode, it moves the lens elements so that the camera can focus closer. When you put a DSLR in macro mode, it just controls the aperture and shutter speed to a range that they think is good for closeups. Nothing happens to the lens, so it can't focus any closer than it normally does.

To do macros with a DSLR, you either get a macro lens, put a closeup lens on your existing lens, or put extension tubes on your existing lens. Getting a macro lens is the most expensive way but produces the best results. Good closeup lenses, which are not cheap either, also work well. Extension tubes on kit zooms are fraught with trouble but it is possible to use them.

--
Leonard Migliore

 

[PRATYUSHA]

1. https://www.facebook.com/prathyurvn...2523801462625/841529742562028/?type=1&theater
2. https://www.facebook.com/prathyurvn...2523801462625/840589739322695/?type=1&theater
3. https://www.facebook.com/prathyurvnl?fref=ts

First two are some of my attempts .. 3rd is my page which has a few clicks with it ..

I am an amateur and i seem to have more interest towards macro so far ... i want to take good macros in future.. comments and suggestions are requested

 

[RRowlett]

Many mid-range zooms will close-focus to around 1:4, which is close enough to do some nice close-up shots, although technically they are not "macro" unless you can get close to 1:1. An option for close-up photography if you have a telephoto zoom is to get a two-element achromat closeup lens that attaches like a filter to the front of your lens. While it is not as good as a true macro lens, for about $30-$90 it's a bargain, and the quality is very good. I'm not talking about single element closeup lenses (which are optically crappy), but a good achromatic lens. Canon (e.g. 500D)makes them, and Nikon has them (5T and 6T). You just need one that is the right diameter for your tele lens. I have used a modestly priced 70-300ED Nikon zoom lens and a Nikon 5T closeup achromat as a field macro lens for years. This combo would get to about 0.9X which is close enough to macro for government work.

Cheers.

 

[EcoPix]

Also remember that your new camera has lots more resolution and detail, so you can crop in quite heavily and still get the image quality you had with the P&S. The exception is depth of field - the tiny lens on the P&S gave you more. That's your trade-off with image quality. Bigger, finer images make you work harder.

 

[MoniMir]

Hi! I am a super/ultra beginner, and this is the only lens I have. I love macro shots, so thought of sharing a few.




Will I get there by tonight?




Ripening berries

 

[EcoPix]

Good one, MM. The beetle shot is a fine photo with effective composition, visual strength and 'story telling' (for want of a better term). Technically good, too.

The 18-55 has quite a close focus, and can fill the frame with fascinating details, especially at 55mm.

Subject.





18-55 @ 55mm Minimum focus distance

There are a couple of cheap fun ways of getting even closer:

1. With care not to damage anything or get your greasy fingers on the glass, take the lens off and hold it onto the camera the other way around. You'll need to position it so you can keep the aperture lever open or partially open with a finger. You might have to tell the camera to shoot without lens, depending on the model. My D3200 doesn't need that. See example.




18-55 @ 55mm reversed



2. Get yourself a cheap old 50mm standard lens of any brand. These used to be in pawn shops but nowadays you might have to hunt on internet marketplaces. No need to pay any more than $15 for one. They make good quality multi-element closeup lenses when reversed and held over your main lens. See example.




18-55 @ 55 plus reversed 50mm

Have fun with your macro, and like all photography, concentrate on clean, strong compositions and a visual story line.