| There are a number of ways to get into macro | | | | focusing distance required. Bellows units work on |
| photography ranging from inexpensive to | | | | the same principle but are expandable like a |
| outrageously expensive. Tough decisions to make, | | | | "bellows" allowing a great deal of flexibility. There |
| especially for someone that doesn't make their | | | | real downside is the expense and they are bulky |
| living from photography. | | | | and heavy as well. I expect most people use |
| If you decide you want to explore macro | | | | bellows units for studio work only as they aren't |
| photography you have a number of options. I | | | | terribly practical in the field. One area where |
| have listed these options starting with what I | | | | extension tubes really shine is for making long |
| would consider to be the best equipment for the | | | | focal length lenses like a 300mm focus closer, |
| job. This doesn't mean that buying a dedicated | | | | great for photographing skittish dragonflies and |
| macro lens will always be better than extension | | | | other critters. |
| rings but in general you will get the best results | | | | Close up lenses are clear "filters" that screw onto |
| by going this way. | | | | the front of your lens allowing the lens to focus |
| * dedicated macro lenses | | | | closer. Quality varies from mediocre to quite |
| * extension tubes or bellows units | | | | acceptable depending on the quality of the filters. |
| * reversing rings | | | | This is likely the least expensive way to start |
| * close up lenses and | | | | shooting macro but does have its drawbacks. A |
| * macro zooms (that are pushing the limit of | | | | big factor that has to be looked at is the quality |
| what we are talking about) | | | | of the camera lens you will be using. Inexpensive |
| Dedicated macro lenses are the ultimate way to | | | | zoom lenses will likely produce less than stellar |
| go if you are serious at all about doing this type | | | | results while high quality prime lenses can produce |
| of work. It doesn't have to be expensive, I | | | | excellent results but none of these will produce |
| bought a wonderful 50mm Sigma Macro lens used | | | | tack sharp results like the dedicated macro lenses. |
| for all of $120 (new about $270) and it is tack | | | | The biggest advantage? As these are just fancy |
| sharp and produces amazing images. My main | | | | filters they are very light, no extra tubes or |
| macro lens is a Sigma 150mm Macro and cost a | | | | additional lenses to carry. |
| whopping $700, the best money I have ever | | | | You don't hear much about reversing rings |
| spent. This gives you an idea about the price | | | | anymore and I expect that's because most |
| range available and the sky's the limit with some | | | | people are using zoom lenses that likely wouldn't |
| highly specialized Nikon macro lenses in the $2,000 | | | | work very well. Reversing rings allow you to |
| range. Why the difference in focal lengths? I'll get | | | | mount a lens "backwards" on the camera body. |
| to that soon in another article that I'm working on! | | | | When used with high quality prime lenses the |
| If you are serious about macro photography | | | | results can be stunning and if you reverse a wide |
| buying a lens specifically designed for the purpose | | | | angle lens often you can achieve a high |
| is the best way to go. The lens designs are | | | | magnifications on the order of 2X or more. For |
| optimized for close focusing and the lenses are | | | | people interested in high magnification shooting this |
| also generally flat field (focus in a flat plane) | | | | is often the way to go, especially if you are on a |
| producing sharper corners on flat objects such as | | | | budget. |
| pieces of wood or slabs of rock. Flat field may be | | | | What about the macro zoom lens that you |
| a term that many have not heard of and I'll | | | | already own? Many of the new lenses that come |
| elaborate later on this as well. | | | | as part of a kit are labeled as macro zooms and |
| Extension tubes or bellows units are pieces of | | | | while they do focus a little closer than normal |
| equipment that put space between the camera | | | | they are not true macro lenses. My experience |
| body and the lens thus allowing the lens to focus | | | | has been that most of them are very suspect in |
| closer. They can work well with certain lenses, for | | | | terms of sharpness as these lenses are not |
| instance, if you have a 50mm prime lens this | | | | designed for this sort of application. Of course in a |
| might be a good option to get into macro work | | | | pinch they will work but to get in really close to |
| at an affordable cost. Extension tubes often | | | | your subject one of the above options would be |
| come in sets of three of different lengths (high | | | | best. |
| quality tubes tend to be sold individually) that can | | | | What are you presently using? Are you pleased |
| be used singly or combined to get the close | | | | with the results? |