| 's a great way to make your digital camera more | | | | threaded mounts are very small in diameter, so |
| versatile without spending an arm and a leg. | | | | they may require a step-up ring to accommodate |
| Thanks to accessory lenses, practically any | | | | filters and lenses; that's an in-between coupling |
| camera can be made to handle close-ups, | | | | that allows larger filters to screw on to smaller |
| wide-angle shots and even telephoto | | | | lenses. |
| zooming—well beyond the camera's built-in | | | | Other cameras use a snap-on or snug-fit adapter. |
| capabilities. | | | | This type of adapter provides the means for the |
| Though many digital cameras offer an excellent | | | | accessory to fit securely to the camera. They |
| zoom range, you may want more to produce a | | | | may screw into a tripod socket, squeeze around |
| specific photograph. If you want to create an | | | | a lens barrel, or even clip on to the camera body. |
| expansive scenic image, attach a wide-angle | | | | (Check with your camera's manufacturer to |
| adapter. Connect a telephoto adapter so you can | | | | determine which adapter is recommended for |
| capture a shy bird at a feeder. Within moments | | | | your particular model.) |
| of attaching an accessory lens, a wealth of | | | | Macro |
| photographic opportunities can open up. | | | | The "power" of a close-up lens measures how |
| Lens Options | | | | much magnification the lens will provide. |
| Lens accessories break down into three major | | | | Therefore, a +4 won't give as much magnification |
| categories: wide-angle, telephoto and close-up | | | | as a +7, which isn't quite as powerful as a +10. |
| lenses. | | | | (The actual mathematics states that the |
| Wide-angle lenses turn "normal" focal-length lenses | | | | magnification of a lens equals one divided by the |
| into wide or super-wide lenses. The average | | | | focal length in meters. Just remember that the |
| wide-angle focal length on today's compact | | | | bigger the number, the greater the magnification.) |
| cameras is approximately 38mm (35mm | | | | Perhaps the best thing about close-up |
| equivalent). Such cameras are lacking true | | | | attachments is that they can be stacked for |
| wide-angle capability, but the use of these | | | | even greater image enhancements. Sure, with |
| inexpensive accessory lenses makes wider | | | | every lens you place between the subject and |
| perspectives possible. | | | | your lens you're cutting out more light. But if |
| Telephoto lenses convert standard or | | | | you're shooting on a bright sunny day or with a |
| telephoto-length lenses into moderate or | | | | flash, you shouldn't have anything to worry about. |
| super-telephotos, depending on the power of the | | | | You can take that +7 and add it to the +10 to |
| lens to which it's attached. Much like | | | | create a +17 lens that will get you really close to |
| teleconverters on an SLR lens, these add-on | | | | that little detail you're so wanting to capture. |
| lenses make it easy to fill the frame with your | | | | Accessory Lens Tips And Tricks |
| favorite subject—even if you can't move | | | | 1 If the viewfinder is blocked by the accessory |
| any closer to it. | | | | lens, compose your pictures by looking at the |
| Close-up lens adapters allow you to achieve | | | | LCD. This will ensure that you can see exactly |
| professional-looking macro and detail photographs. | | | | what the CCD will see. |
| Unlike a filter, which would simply screw on the | | | | 2 Be careful when using an on-camera flash. With |
| lens' front element, these adapters are designed | | | | close-up lenses, there may not be enough |
| to match optically with the primary lens. Several | | | | distance between the flash and the subject for |
| different lens elements are incorporated into their | | | | even illumination. If you're using a large lens |
| design to maximize optical quality. | | | | adapter, you could see a shadow cast from it on |
| Understanding Magnification | | | | your scene. |
| The strength of accessory lenses is measured in | | | | 3 With wide-angle attachments, make sure your |
| power, or magnification. Just as your camera's 2x | | | | camera's lens is set to the full wide-angle position |
| focal-length zoom lens doubles the image size | | | | to maximize the widening effect. |
| when adjusted from wide to telephoto, a 2x | | | | 4 For your telephoto attachments, set the |
| accessory lens will double it again. A 0.5x or 0.7x | | | | camera's zoom lens to the maximum telephoto |
| wide-angle lens will reduce the effective focal | | | | focal length. |
| length of your lens by half or three-tenths, | | | | 5 Consider using a tripod with telephoto |
| respectively. | | | | attachments since camera movement and normal |
| To determine your new focal length when such | | | | vibrations will be magnified along with the view of |
| an accessory is attached, multiply the | | | | your subject. |
| magnification number (the 2 in 2x or the 0.7 in | | | | 6 If needed, adjust your camera's exposure |
| 0.7x) by the focal length of your lens. For | | | | compensation if the accessory lens starts to fool |
| example, a 0.7x wide-angle adapter is connected | | | | the auto-exposure function. |
| to a camera with a 38mm lens (35mm | | | | 7 Always carry a cleaning cloth or lens tissue and |
| equivalent); the lens becomes a 26.6mm lens. A | | | | an anti-static brush. Periodically clean the lenses |
| 2x adapter on a 105mm focal length doubles it to | | | | and remove dust, debris or fingerprints. Such |
| 210mm. | | | | contaminants will accumulate and reduce image |
| Close-focus attachments decrease the camera's | | | | quality. |
| minimum focus distance and increase magnification | | | | 8 Don't toss the accessory lenses into your |
| needed to capture fine details in objects. Close-up | | | | camera bag unprotected. They're usually sold with |
| lenses are designed to work best at specific | | | | a carrying case that will keep them from getting |
| distances from the subject. | | | | nicked and scratched by your other gear. |
| Filter Fittings | | | | 9 Don't use close-up lenses in combination with |
| Though some models provide a convenient filter | | | | wide-angle or telephoto conversion lenses. Your |
| thread to attach lens accessories, others may | | | | camera might not be able to focus properly and |
| require an adapter to accommodate accessory | | | | image quality will suffer. |
| lenses. | | | | 10 Experiment. You'll learn what you can and can't |
| Cameras that provide a filter thread will allow | | | | get away with—whether that's using a flash |
| filters and accessories to screw on directly to | | | | with your lenses, combining lenses or maximizing |
| either the lens or the camera body. Some | | | | the effects of any particular attachment. |