Recommend me a macro lens.

[KenByrne]

I've only used a +2 diopter for getting macro shots and that seemed to be strong enough, maybe a +4 but I agree with Cerianthius that +10 is probably too strong.

I don't think the diopter you linked to will fit either of your lenses. I think You'd need 62mm filter for the 70-300 and a 58mm filter for the 28-80. or a 62mm and a step down ring for the 28-80. You can probably check the filter thread by looking at the inside of the lens cap, the filter size is usually stamped there as the lens caps fit into the filter thread and have to be the right size to fit.

[Cussy]

The 70 - 300 has a minimum focus distance of 1.5m. A +10 would reduce this to 15cm, which is a distance shorter than the lens. A +4 at most is what you want.
Rob

[Helen]

Thanks all for the great advice (sorry for my stupidity in some of these questions I'm a bit clueless about all of this!). Going to sit down and have a read/ digest all the info now.

Thanks again
Helen

[Cerianthus]

i'm a bit cross: clubhouse wasnt open, tv broken, so no life match....(the bbc streamer doesnt work for my IP)

so I could try some stuff..:

took some pictures of an insurance letter, the marks at the bottom are millimeters...

kitlens at maximum reproduction:




kitlens + 2 diopter




Kitlens +4 diopter





Kitlens + 4 en 2 diopters stacked together:




Comparison: 100 macro lens at 1:1






and for the heck of it: with the +4 diopter







The last ones are a bit shaky, didnt feel like using a tripod like I should.

Gerard

[KenByrne]

Checked the exif and Cerianthus is shooting with a lens at 55mm, you'd get more magnification with the 28-80 at 80mm and even more with th 70-300 but I'd guess your chances of hand holding it at 300mm to be pretty slim.

[Cerianthus]

Ken is right: Forgot to mention that. I was using Canon's 18-55mm kit lens for the shots: it's magnification is the best at the longest end.

The only thing a diiopter does is decrease your focus distance. Stronger diopters will decrease it more and more. The ultimate effect depends on the focus length of the lens, but also on the original minimal focus distance.

I just realised I have a 70-210 lens with the same filter size. This already is capable of 1:4 closeups. The effect at longer mm's is apparently more pronounced, which I didnt realise:

without diopter the image is 8-9 cm's broad. with the +2 diopter, the image is 3 cm and a bit.

Gerard

[TimIngmire]

I have the three Nikon Macro lenses -60mm, 105 and the 200mm, all of which have their uses. There is also a very good 70-180macro lens which almost covers the range of the three above, they come up on ebay every now and again.

One other thought, I also a have Nikon 4T(i think) diopter which fits nicely onto the 200mm macro lens BUT also fits onto the 70-300 lens which turns that into a maco lens of sorts as well.

I'll get and post some picture later of pics from all three of the macro lenses and the zoom plus diopter.

Cheers,

Tim

[ChristianG]

Originally Posted by Helen

Now in possession of my D70s and starting to look at lenses. Can anybody recommend a macro lens (for above water) that will give me nice photos but not super expensive? Have been told to get a sigma lens by a friend. Any thoughts?

As some of you would know I've just bought the Sigma SD14.

I also now have the Sigma 10-20mm, 18-50mm and 50-150mm lenses and although I am still testing these out, to date I am well satisfied. Yes there is some chromatic aberration, some vignetting at the extremes but that is to be expected when talking zoom lenses and if you do your homework you're well ahead of the game.

It beats the hell out of lugging a host of prime lenses around with you, and then changing them constantly.

I am particularly impressed with the 10-20mm (at this time), it seems to be superb and that is the one that I would recommend to anyone for u/w work.

Most of the stuff that I bought recently, a fair few dollars involved, was from B & H <cchttp://www.bhphotovideo.com/> in New York. Entirely painless, superbly efficient, best prices and I got the goods at an average of five days, including weekends.

My favourite local supplier, it's why he's my favourite, told me that he couldn't compete.

How sad is that?