Macro (Page 2): :sm24: :sm01:...

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

rjaywallace wrote:

Very good summary, Larry!

cactuspic Loc: Dallas, TX

Second hand macro lenses are often very reasonable. If you buy one with a right of return you can test it out. Sigma, Tamron Tokina make fine macros.

cactuspic Loc: Dallas, TX

Second hand macro lenses are often very reasonable. If you buy one with a right of return you can test it out. Sigma, Tamron Tokina make fine macros.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

R Crawford wrote:

I love macro photography. I have been away from it for many years. Back in the old film days (my own darkroom) I was into it big time.

Things are so different now, so I ask the question....

May I have opinions on the various methods?

A: Diopter lens.

B: extension tubes.

C: True macro lens.

Bear in mind my resource pool determines many of my decisions.

I like extension tubes, mainly for the price. The best way to go is with a good quality macro lens - but what focal length? Would you have to buy several?

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

If your budget allows just use a macro lens. Nothing different from the past.

SteveG Loc: Norh Carolina

I have tbose extension tubes and you're right, they work very well. My favorite though and inexpensive is an old film era Canon macro on an adapter. Most likely you'll be manual focusing anyway during macro, at least for me but the tubes are a great second choice.

Tjohn Loc: Inverness, FL formerly Arivaca, AZ

A: Diopter lens. Place one on a 35mm lens and it becomes a reasonable macro.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

R Crawford wrote:

I love macro photography. I have been away from it for many years. Back in the old film days (my own darkroom) I was into it big time.

Things are so different now, so I ask the question....

May I have opinions on the various methods?

A: Diopter lens.

B: extension tubes.

C: True macro lens.

Bear in mind my resource pool determines many of my decisions.

A true Macro lens is the way to go for best consistent results. If your a Nikon guy, this entry micro lens can be quite affordable. The following is just ONE example of what is now available. Many more to choose from.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-AF-Micro-Nikkor-60mm-f-2-8-CRC-FX-lens-for-F3-F5-D610-DF-D750-D850-D7200/143294619419?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item215d065f1b:g:kHsAAOSwI7ZcZqvw:sc:USPSFirstClass!33472!US!-1&enc=AQADAAAB4KX%2FKt4E1xf3SDqEdBclaYagDagXHW0lXlh6j%2BaQZdp0W95CH4KHP91r0U0vrNMjaeoXWiOLnRmAc6E1lepGO7Wyr9aICpCq3UI3EBrtD8OkL9kW6F3WwTy0ddQxVQOU%2BtyGvPS9Um1Wiqij%2FGVV06GX75iLQjAUFbyokRVdaKBZkbgxuW4RNQD2DC6MCHCCqXl2JAfoGYId9wMXLJhG8Axu%2B%2BgCi79F7KbY%2BPcdeJsmzOM5xrCaqzN3LwTNl7P6%2FJVHTVEstdrlhfd%2BE0fJi97vR%2BZD3kKpc3MG1C6oIWDfQF6TZAOeeRPfgkEOJDNvq1I2%2B5qgdWBacyRvQ55VEPQlEPHKtlw2SvQccaD5Wg%2FmFMVWiwi%2Bxi3CM5Df91DB%2F%2BL2FVR%2F29Gr0%2FSJPDG8gqgH3YjXwLL9NrMTVqUDeFZ%2FPcXIQNFrLv2SXqKKBfWtc93v5Jug%2BHFLLbdAljWy8z0rkPbkXHlyljXLm0epRl1BdvD7ELmzdI4wr6KJwUvZyk7vnO5Am3Y5JTcNR8fZ70hVPvoIVTZHsyOLq6y3nCC0PXjZVBNqUPBbuiUOxHYhS6NVE6pM4lRM6ZfAuABhNwW8T8L7CAVVeaDX6%2Fm4G5CQTjkBvJrMXCNIuYR0o73mMA%3D%3D&checksum=143294619419552030a4471b4373b78b7c50ebb8df03

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

R Crawford wrote:

I love macro photography. I have been away from it for many years. Back in the old film days (my own darkroom) I was into it big time.

Things are so different now, so I ask the question....

May I have opinions on the various methods?

A: Diopter lens.

B: extension tubes.

C: True macro lens.

Bear in mind my resource pool determines many of my decisions.

Only 2 element achromatic diopters are worth considering if you are looking for reasonably high quality in a flexible setting - you can pretty much used them with any lens. Several mfgrs make them currently - Canon (500D and 250D), Marumi, Sigma (SD15), Century Precision Optics, and Kenko - though the Kenko Achromats are very inexpensive, which leaves me wonder how good they are.

A macro is the best all-around choice for what you want to do, especially since the focusing ring has more to turn from infinity to minimum focus distance in many (but not all) cases, and the lens is optimized to perform at it's best at or near its minimum focus distance.

If you want closer than a true macro, using extension tubes with a macro is preferable to using a diopter.

The last consideration which you didn't mention is a bellows. Fotodiox makes bellows for popular DSLRs that are under $50.

You may want to check out B and H's Explora page on macro - there are some other options as well"

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/buying-guide/macro-photography-gear-bellows-reversal-rings-macro-couplers-and-focusing

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

I have a Lester A. Dine 105mm f/2.8 macro lens also and it is a sweetheart of a lens. It's branded under other names and there are some out there from time to time should anyone look for one that are well worth consideration when looking for a true macro lens at a fair price (manual focus though of course).

R Crawford Loc: Bryan, Texas

Screamin Scott wrote:

What camera do you have?

I have the Canon 6DII, my lens is the 70-300 f4-5.6

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

R Crawford wrote:

I have the Canon 6DII, my lens is the 70-300 f4-5.6

I have 3. An older Nikon D300, A D7100 & a D610 (the only FX)

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Ooops !!!

sippyjug104 wrote:

I have a Lester A. Dine 105mm f/2.8 macro lens also and it is a sweetheart of a lens. It's branded under other names and there are some out there from time to time should anyone look for one that are well worth consideration when looking for a true macro lens at a fair price (manual focus though of course).

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

sippyjug104 wrote:

I have a Lester A. Dine 105mm f/2.8 macro lens also and it is a sweetheart of a lens. It's branded under other names and there are some out there from time to time should anyone look for one that are well worth consideration when looking for a true macro lens at a fair price (manual focus though of course).

I have two of the Lester Dine 105's and a Kino made Vivitar S1 105mm macro. I still prefer them over my AF Micro Nikkor 105 or my AF Sigma 105 macro lenses. I also have a 55mm F2.8 Micro Nikkor (1/2 life size), A 55mm MM F2.8 Komine made Spiratone macro, a 180mm AF Tamron Macro and a Komine made 135mm F2.8 Vivitar macro (another one that only goes to 1/2 life size but is a true macro). Not to mention Bellows ( including specialty macro lenses for them), tubes, several types of diopters and a 2x macro focusing TC (meant to be used with a 50mm lens)

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

I viewed a post once-upon-a-time that showed your collection of lenses which is quite impressive and you have some quality vintage glass in your collection and the quality of your images shows that you are doing them justice.