Close-up Lenses for Sony DSC-RX10 mod 3/4: I'm a devotee of Sony's DSC-RX10 Mod 3 bridge camera. Having an "all-in-one" has it's benefits, but also it's obvious pitfalls. One pitfall...

tonybear

I'm a devotee of Sony's DSC-RX10 Mod 3 bridge camera. Having an "all-in-one" has it's benefits, but also it's obvious pitfalls. One pitfall is the ability to shoot really close-up images. In the widest zoom setting, I find I can't get any closer than a foot or two, and still have the camera focus properly. So I was wondering if any you UHH readers have had any good experience using close-up lens combinations (+1/+2/+3) on the RX10? Your advice is appreciated.
Regards,
Tony Gomez

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

???

Specs appear to say 3cm for close focus.

My Sony H-1 goes down to 2cm in macro mode.

What am I missing?

Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida

tonybear wrote:

I'm a devotee of Sony's DSC-RX10 Mod 3 bridge camera. Having an "all-in-one" has it's benefits, but also it's obvious pitfalls. One pitfall is the ability to shoot really close-up images. In the widest zoom setting, I find I can't get any closer than a foot or two, and still have the camera focus properly. So I was wondering if any you UHH readers have had any good experience using close-up lens combinations (+1/+2/+3) on the RX10? Your advice is appreciated.
Regards,
Tony Gomez

I use Canon 500D close up lens (a supplementary lens: 77mm thread w 72-77mm step up ring) on my RX10m4 and I have been pleased with the result. I don't have an example of this at wide angle setting but it's on my short list to check out. I've used this lens (500D & 250D) on other P&S cameras with excellent results. Check this out.

https://www.eos-magazine.com/articles/macro/closefocus.html

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Don, the 2nd son wrote:

I use Canon 500D close up lens (a supplementary lens: 77mm thread w 72-77mm step up ring) on my RX10m4 and I have been pleased with the result. I don't have an example of this at wide angle setting but it's on my short list to check out. I've used this lens (500D & 250D) on other P&S cameras with excellent results. Check this out.

https://www.eos-magazine.com/articles/macro/closefocus.html

The Canon 500D and 250D are top quality close-up diopters.

Unfortunately, Canon has discontinued them. But you can still find them used.

The 250D was recommended for shorter focal lengths (up to around 135mm) and the 500D for longer (135mm and up).

If I recall correctly, the 250D was only offered in 52mm and 58mm sizes. And, AFAIK, the 500D was only ever offered in 58mm, 72mm and 77mm diameters.

The 500D is actually the weaker magnifying of the two.

NiSi is another manufacturer who appears to make similar, high quality diopters. They offer two sizes... a small one with 58mm thread and adapters for 52mm and 49mm... and a large one with 77mm threads and adapters for 72mm and 67mm.

I don't know the details, but am pretty sure Nikon makes some high quality diopters, too.

There are also a lot of "junk" close-up lenses out there. Avoid the really cheap sets. They're awful. Some of the pricier sets might be okay, but probably not as good as the above.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

In my opinion, Opteka is a better lens choice vs the popular expensive Raynox. I use 10x "High Definition II Professional Macro Conversion Lens from Opteka."
https://opteka.com/

To attach requires the addition of a thread unit.
"This custom compact 2 Part system allows you to add any standard 52mm filter to the Sony RX100 VII or RX100 VI with no vignetting" ... about $25
https://lensmateonline.com/products/sony-rx100-vi-quick-change-filter-adapter-kit-52mm-by-lensmate-coming-soon?variant=12499894108203

Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida

amfoto1 wrote:

The Canon 500D and 250D are top quality close-up d... (show quote)

Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida

dpullum wrote:

In my opinion, Opteka is a better lens choice vs t... (show quote)

The inquiry is for the SONY RX10 m3 or 4 which has a filter thread size of 72mm.

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

tonybear wrote:

I'm a devotee of Sony's DSC-RX10 Mod 3 bridge camera. Having an "all-in-one" has it's benefits, but also it's obvious pitfalls. One pitfall is the ability to shoot really close-up images. In the widest zoom setting, I find I can't get any closer than a foot or two, and still have the camera focus properly. So I was wondering if any you UHH readers have had any good experience using close-up lens combinations (+1/+2/+3) on the RX10? Your advice is appreciated.
Regards,
Tony Gomez

Here is a shot I just took. I had the lens so close to the measuring tape it was making it hard to keep the shadow off it. The blur is because it was hand held in poor light. The autofocus indicator (spot mode) was green. The jpg is SOOC. I have never felt the need for supplementary lenses but it's still not true macro.

The camera is RX10m4.

(Download)

Luft93 Loc: Finger Lakes, NY

tonybear wrote:

I'm a devotee of Sony's DSC-RX10 Mod 3 bridge camera. Having an "all-in-one" has it's benefits, but also it's obvious pitfalls. One pitfall is the ability to shoot really close-up images. In the widest zoom setting, I find I can't get any closer than a foot or two, and still have the camera focus properly. So I was wondering if any you UHH readers have had any good experience using close-up lens combinations (+1/+2/+3) on the RX10? Your advice is appreciated.
Regards,
Tony Gomez

At 54mm equivalent zoom the camera will focus to cover an area about 2.25 inches wide. Credit card size. The actual focal length range of the lens is 8.8mm to 220mm with a full-frame multiplier of 2.7272727....
There is a menu setting that allows fixing the zoom setting at any native focal length. If you set 20mm you will have the 54mm equivalent. As far as I have been able to determine this produces the closest lens to subject distance for which the lens will focus.
This coupled with a cropping ability that seems improbable for the small sensor will take you a long way. No closeup lens required.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

I can’t speak to the Mark III and I generally don’t shoot macro with my RX10MIV but a friend uses his for macro quite a bit. This is a pretty big crop but nice focus on the antenna.

(Download)

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

tonybear wrote:

I'm a devotee of Sony's DSC-RX10 Mod 3 bridge camera. Having an "all-in-one" has it's benefits, but also it's obvious pitfalls. One pitfall is the ability to shoot really close-up images. In the widest zoom setting, I find I can't get any closer than a foot or two, and still have the camera focus properly. So I was wondering if any you UHH readers have had any good experience using close-up lens combinations (+1/+2/+3) on the RX10? Your advice is appreciated.
Regards,
Tony Gomez

I have the IV version and have a Marumi +1 diopter in 72mm on order at the moment. I want to be able to get to around 1:2 in the 200-300mm range which is where the close up abilities seem to be the weakest. I am feeling that the Canon 500D which is +2 diopter is a bit too strong for what I want - but I could be wrong.
.

Sendai5355 Loc: On the banks of the Pedernales River, Texas

tonybear wrote:

I'm a devotee of Sony's DSC-RX10 Mod 3 bridge camera. Having an "all-in-one" has it's benefits, but also it's obvious pitfalls. One pitfall is the ability to shoot really close-up images. In the widest zoom setting, I find I can't get any closer than a foot or two, and still have the camera focus properly. So I was wondering if any you UHH readers have had any good experience using close-up lens combinations (+1/+2/+3) on the RX10? Your advice is appreciated.
Regards,
Tony Gomez

Turn Mode Dial to SCN
Press MENU button
Go to SCREEN 7
Drop down to Scene Selection
Press DISPLAY button
Select Macro

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Don, the 2nd son wrote:

The inquiry is for the SONY RX10 m3 or 4 which has a filter thread size of 72mm.

I inferred that the filter diameter was not known to dpullum and he simply suggested the diopter model, purchased in the required diameter, not as a suggestion to explicitly get the "52".

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Don, the 2nd son wrote:

The inquiry is for the SONY RX10 m3 or 4 which has a filter thread size of 72mm.

Oops! RX10, not the RX100! Sorry, bout that... at times we read automatically and read wrong.

Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida

tonybear wrote:

I'm a devotee of Sony's DSC-RX10 Mod 3 bridge camera. Having an "all-in-one" has it's benefits, but also it's obvious pitfalls. One pitfall is the ability to shoot really close-up images. In the widest zoom setting, I find I can't get any closer than a foot or two, and still have the camera focus properly. So I was wondering if any you UHH readers have had any good experience using close-up lens combinations (+1/+2/+3) on the RX10? Your advice is appreciated.
Regards,
Tony Gomez

I popped out to the park to try a few snaps, uncropped.

The subject is the tiny white leaf/plant hopper near the center.