What's a cheap way to play around with macro?

[TyphoonTW]

So far I've considered buying extension tubes for my 50mm, and I'm also keeping an an eye on some of those Sigma/Tamron 70/300mm zooms with 1:2 macro.

I'd be also willing to buy some old manual lens as long as the price is cheap, my budget would be around the 100/150$ range, so enough for Kenko tubes or a cheap second hand lens.

I've had the 100mm f2.8 few months ago, but I used it very rarely and managed to sell it at a small profit. Considering how much (not) I used, I don't see myself spending that amount of $ for a macro lens, but I'd definitely like one to play around a bit.

(OT: how comes that EVERY SINGLE TIME I start a thread, in the suggested tags there's some Sony product? )

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Canon 6D + 50mm f1.8 STM + 85mm f1.8 + Samyang 14mm F2.8 + 17-40mm F4
Canon SX 50

 

[photonius]

So far I've considered buying extension tubes for my 50mm, and I'm also keeping an an eye on some of those Sigma/Tamron 70/300mm zooms with 1:2 macro.

well, those are not really macro lenses. I have a 17-70 mm sigma zoom, but at 1:2.3 or whatever, your are very close to the front lens. In fact, your existing 18-55 is almost as good, going to almost 1:3, so no need to buy an extra zoom lens for that

I'd be also willing to buy some old manual lens as long as the price is cheap, my budget would be around the 100/150$ range, so enough for Kenko tubes or a cheap second hand lens.

You can also get automatic tubes for as little as 20$ if you search. That's certainly an inexpensive way to play around and combined with the 50mm should be ok.

The old manual lenses require adapters (there are no EF manual lenses), and you have to set aperture, focus etc. It's fun to play around, but the extension tubes are probably easier to start, and they can always be used also with manual lenses to give extra magnification.

Alternative is used market, I'm wondering if you can get a used EF macro for 150$.

I've had the 100mm f2.8 few months ago, but I used it very rarely and managed to sell it at a small profit. Considering how much (not) I used, I don't see myself spending that amount of $ for a macro lens, but I'd definitely like one to play around a bit.

(OT: how comes that EVERY SINGLE TIME I start a thread, in the suggested tags there's some Sony product? )

 

[arty H]

Canon still makes the 50F2.5 macro lens, but it only goes to 1:2. It is sharp and will give you a flat field. I have the Sigma 50F2.8 macro lens, and like it a great deal. It has been discontinued, but you may be able to find one somewhere, perhaps used.

Canon may come out with a new 50 macro lens. Many people prefer a longer lens, like the 100 mm, for bugs. I get much more use out of a shorter macro lens, on crop and full frame. I have had the Sigma for a few years, and paid $250 for it new. It was a good buy for me.

Are you looking for a full frame lens or one for crop? I missed that.

 

[arty H]

Oops. I just went back and saw that you have a 6D. Unfortunately, Sigma has discontinued the 50 macro, but Tamron makes a (not cheap) 90 mm macro. This may not be much use for you, if the 100 mm focal length didn't serve your needs.

 

[James Larsen]

The 50f2.5 isnt a bad macro lens. 60mmf2.8 isnt bad either.
You could just get a macro extension, wouldn't be that bad of an idea if you don't want to spend a lot.

 

[nail33]

The 50f2.5 isnt a bad macro lens. 60mmf2.8 isnt bad either.
You could just get a macro extension, wouldn't be that bad of an idea if you don't want to spend a lot.

 

[James Larsen]

Forgot he had a 6D. I thought he had the 7D.

 

[Mike Blunzenstricker]

There are extension tubes abailable with electronic contacts to enable AF.

I bought a set of three tubes for travel at around €60

I think tubes are the cheapest way to start macro and the most compact solution for trav or hiking.

 

[henryp]

In addition to (expensive) macro lenses, extension tubes, bellows and lens reversal hardware, one of the simplest and lest complex options to get closer is a close-up filter (actually a diopter, but I'm trying not to be technical). This would simply screw onto the lens you already own. If you have an auto-focus and auto-exposure camera, you retain all those functions.

The only caveat -- they come in single and dual-element configurations. The image quality of the former is pretty mediocre. The latter, also called "achromat," offers considerably better quality. The Canon 250D and 500D are "achromat." So were the Nikon 3T, 4T, 5T & 6t, but they're all discontinued, sadly.

 

[trulandphoto]

There would be several ways to do cheap macro with your 50mm or 85mm lenses. Extension tubes are good. Another way is to reverse the lens with an adapter that screws on the filter threads.

I played around with these methods a bit a few years ago.

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[Macro guy]

Here's the cheapest, most flexible setup you're gonna find:

Bellows (from any manufacturer), old 50mm f1.8 or slower from any manufacturer. Reversal ring from the filter ring of the 50mm lens to the bellows manufacturer mount and then the bellows manufacturer to Canon adapter. The whole set up should run you anywhere from $50-$150 depending mostly on the bellows you get. The more expensive bellows have a focusing rail built in. The quality will be really good and I think that's by far the best bang for the buck.

 

[Rock and Rollei]

Here's the cheapest, most flexible setup you're gonna find:
Bellows (from any manufacturer), old 50mm f1.8 or slower from any manufacturer. Reversal ring from the filter ring of the 50mm lens to the bellows manufacturer mount and then the bellows manufacturer to Canon adapter. The whole set up should run you anywhere from $50-$150 depending mostly on the bellows you get. The more expensive bellows have a focusing rail built in. The quality will be really good and I think that's by far the best bang for the buck.

Beat me to it The multi-coated Carl Zeiss Jena 50mm f2.8 Tessar in M42 screw is a decent option - put it on M42 bellows and it's really cheap. I also use a 50mm f3.5 Industar the right way round - appears to work better than it does at infinity. This sort of setup isn't as convenient as some things, but quality is good and you can get very high magnification - which is why I use it.

 

[jitteringjr]

In addition to (expensive) macro lenses, extension tubes, bellows and lens reversal hardware, one of the simplest and lest complex options to get closer is a close-up filter (actually a diopter, but I'm trying not to be technical). This would simply screw onto the lens you already own. If you have an auto-focus and auto-exposure camera, you retain all those functions.

The only caveat -- they come in single and dual-element configurations. The image quality of the former is pretty mediocre. The latter, also called "achromat," offers considerably better quality. The Canon 250D and 500D are "achromat." So were the Nikon 3T, 4T, 5T & 6t, but they're all discontinued, sadly.