jbmauser Loc: Roanoke, VA

I will talk and demo, tubes, bellows, reverse lens adapters, diopters and double lenses. I will talk briefly on prime lenses but I am looking to start talking about tubes as an effective and inexpensive way to enter the macro world. I have come across the Ravnox lens and do not know if I should include it in low cost start up solutions. Any user comments on this lens?

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

I've personally never used a Ravnox lens but have read a few articles that give them good reviews for certain types of macro photography if you don't want to spend the money on a dedicated macro lens. I have a Sigma 180mm Macro and a Nikon 40mm Micro and I'm in the process of setting up a bellows rig that will use a reverse lens configuration (waiting for a couple of parts to complete the system). One lens that I would love to get one day is the Venus Optics Laowa 15mm f/4 Macro Lens. This would give me what I don't have with my other lenses, a wide angle Macro view.

gym Loc: Athens, Georgia

I use the Raynox for most of my macros now, in combination with the Canon 100mm macro lens. Needless to say, I LOVE IT.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

I have used the Raynox 250-- and I would include it in your talk. The big advantage is that it is easily attached for additional magnification which gives it an advantage over extension tubes. I would also include close-up diopters. Both Nikon and Canon make a high quality diopter. They thread in like a filter.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

I own and use a Raynox M-150 'add-on' diopter lens with my 105-mm macro lens. At Minimum Focusing Distance, the Raynox allows about 2:1 magnification, but there is some loss of Working Distance.
Feel free to use ANY and ALL information & images found here: FAQ: Extension Tubes vs Bellows vs Tele-Extenders vs Add-on "Close-Up" Diopter Lenses at http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-26496-1.html

Raynox M-150

(Download)

Raynox M-250

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

I have the Raynox 150. Please note the 'y' in the name for these lenses.
Your list of topics seems pretty complete. The attachable lenses like the Raynox lens are an important option for close-up photography, especially for those interested in entry-level tools, and so I would spend some time on describing the Raynox lenses. There are pros and cons. On the pro side, these attachable lenses give good image quality (especially if the main lens is high quality), are not expensive, and are quickly attached and removed so a person can use their main lens for landscapes, scenery, portraits, and whatever. If they see a flower or insect that they wish to get close to, just pop on the Raynox and you are good to go. On the con side, well, if you look carefully I think you will see a very small loss in image quality. But the loss is very little, and these lenses are so darn convenient and fast that I am happy to live with it.