JamesN

New member from Texas here. I've been lurking for the past couple of days, getting a feel for this site. Clearly there are folks here who are very knowledgable and some like me who continue to learn.

I want to venture into macrophotography. I love seeing the world beyond what we see with our naked eyes...particularly insects.

Problem is, I don't have a ton of money to spend on an expensive lens. As I explore what's out there, I see tubes, magnifying filters, zoom lenses that have macro function, lenses that are "micro/macro" in varying lengths....it's a complicated subject. I'm rural, and wish I could sit in a lens store somewhere, and try them all on--like shopping for a new pair of tennis shoes. Only to find out I can't afford the one I like :-(

Anyone here care to give a short course in macro? I'm a Nikon D50 guy. Thanks

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

Check out the True Macro section here:

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-102-1.html

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Welcome to UHH!

Rathyatra Loc: Southport, United Kingdom

That is a good shot - well done - still learning myslef but thought yours was great :thumbup: :thumbup:

GPappy Loc: Finally decided to plop down, Clover, S.C.

Welcome to the hog! Latch onto the true macro forum right here on the hog. Nikonian72 and blurryeyed I believe are a couple of the best there are for knowledge in macro. All you have to do is ask. Just about everybody here will lend a hand in your quest to learn.

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

Problem is, I don't have a ton of money to spend on an expensive lens. As I explore what's out there, I see tubes, magnifying filters, zoom lenses that have macro function, lenses that are "micro/macro" in varying lengths....it's a complicated subject. I'm rural, and wish I could sit in a lens store somewhere, and try them all on--like shopping for a new pair of tennis shoes. Only to find out I can't afford the one I like :-(

Anyone here care to give a short course in macro? I'm a Nikon D50 guy. Thanks[/quote]

Just for fun I made my own "true" macro lens. It was free for me but enlarger and t mounts are cheap. I took two toilet paper tube and slit one. Then I put the slit one inside the other one and overlapped it so it would fit snug then taped it to that size. Then I used masking tape to tape the t -mount and the Omegra (very good flat field lens) to the ends. (looking at the pictures I see I used a 50 mm f/2.8 Nikkor enlarging lens on the lens pictured) I had a macro lens. To use I rough focus sliding the tube back and forth then do the fine tuning moving my head back and forth or use a focusing rail on a tripod.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Just for fun I made my own "true" macro lens. It was free for me but enlarger and t mounts are cheap. I took two toilet paper cores and slit one. Then I put the slit one inside the other one and overlapped it so it would fit snug then taped it to that size. Then I used masking tape to tape the t -mount and the Omegra (very good flat field lens) to the ends. I had a macro lens. To use I rough focus sliding the tube back and forth then do the fine tuning moving my head back and forth or use a focusing rail on a tripod.[/quote]

Very well thought out and since you are into DIY -
http://diymacrolens.blogspot.com/
http://www.pixiq.com/article/macro-photography-on-a-budget
and many others http://goo.gl/CT68p

Rich2236 Loc: E. Hampstead, New Hampshire

Hi JamesN, welcome to the hog. See, you are already getting info about macro. Keep asking, there are members here that can give you the info you are looking for.
Rich

Rich2236 Loc: E. Hampstead, New Hampshire

Hi JamesN, welcome to the hog. See, you are already getting info about macro. Keep asking, there are members here that can give you the info you are looking for. Those bug eyes are excellent.
Rich

GPappy Loc: Finally decided to plop down, Clover, S.C.

Very well thought out and since you are into DIY -
http://diymacrolens.blogspot.com/
http://www.pixiq.com/article/macro-photography-on-a-budget
and many others http://goo.gl/CT68p[/quote]

You jarred my memory with this one. I did something similar several years ago using film, I made extensions from frozen juice cans taped together, between the camera and lens. Of course everything was manual, as the camera was also and just had an internal light meter. It worked really well.
I also have very little budget for my hobby, but have slowly obtained, manual extension tubes, later I got a set of Kenko AF tubes, a couple of magnifying screw on adapters, and now a couple of used enlarger lens for an older bellows. eBay is a good source for low cost adapters, reversing rings and the like for your new venture. :thumbup:

Poinsettia flowers

grumpeegit Loc: Bridgend, Wales, U.K.

Welcome, fabulous shot......! Looks like you got it nailed already.......!!

:thumbup:

JamesN

Thanks everyone. I have studied the macro section and gathered a ton of information...eliminating the trial-error of self education. By the way, the photo I attached to my original post was not mine, just an example of what I wish I could do. Thanks everyone for sharing.

Brian46 Loc: Standish,Maine

Welcome!