Woot! Macro lens!

[Hob Took]

Due to a most generous Santa I was gifted with a macro lens for my camera! It's most fun, and the perfect thing for photographing lego. I took this and my sister took this picture.

For anyone who has access to a macro lens, goes off food for a month to save up, or just happens to have the money, use the power of the macro! The only difficulty is that you must be within a foot away from the photgraphed object. This can cause difficulties if you have lamps or such set up around the creation.

Most definetly macro=awesomeness

-Hob Took

[ottoatm]

I've never heard of this lens before - what sort of cameras does it fit onto? How much does it usually cost?

The pictures you have here are excellent, I'll give you that~

[siabur]

My camera had one built in. They are neet. And the pic qualities are nice too.

[Hob Took]

A macro lens is specially designed to photograph objects at close range. Most are built to easily snap or screw on to cameras. At least in my experience with many Canon cameras you need a converter to attach other lenses. A converter is a fairly cheap attachment (about $10) that snaps easily on to the front of the camera and puts some distance between the camera and the lense. This added distance makes the edges of the picture clear. Lenses can then screw on to the end of the converter. If I didn't describe it so well here's a wiki link that should help.

Major photographic camera companies like Panasonic, Sony, Nikon, and Olympus make lenses and attachments for their cameras. Macro lenses usually run close to $80-$100 so I highly reccommend that you do some research before you buy. The lens I use is a Canon 500d.

Thanks for the comments guys!

-Hob Took

[plums_deify]

If you shoot with a Canon and don't want to pay Canon prices for their lenses (of which they are QUITE proud), then Tamrons are a good substitute. I've used my Tamron 28-200 for years with no issue. It's a macro lense, too.

Depends on your camara, though. A lot of the point-and-shoots have a macro setting on them, too. Highly useful.

[Peppermint Pig]

Olympus has two models of Macro lens available for their digital SLR cameras, one being a good version and the other being the 'platinum' pro version. They cost 190 and 400 USD respectively. Unlike most other cameras, Olympus and I believe Panasonic, use a 4/3rds lens system, so they wouldn't be compatible with other cameras.

I'm hoping to get the 180 version. They accept filters at the 52mm size, as opposed to the 58 as on the camera lens which came with it, so if you buy it, I would suggest a step-up adapter so you can stick to buying filter lenses of a single size.

I do have a 'middle of the line' Olympus C 765 UZ which has Macro built in and would definitely recommend something like it to anybody buying their first camera. This model is a few years old now, though, but it has built in movie shooting (with sound), 10x optical zoom, and is an all-around good, reliable camera with straightforward menu navigation and some nice built in filter features too! (Amazon lists the camera used from 3 sellers starting at 175)

If you are on a budget, look for refurbished cameras like that and you should walk away happy, I hope!

[Thor]

Now I expect lots and lots of Lego Close ups. Keep the pics coming!

[Peppermint Pig]

Lucky me! I got a macro lens for my birthday!!!

I also received a circular polarizing filter and UV filter pack. The nice thing about polarizers is that they can reduce some of the light reflected off of plastic, so I have read. Of course, the principle should be the same as with reducing any reflection of light cast on a surface from a roughly perpendicular angle. Polarizers are also known to increase saturation in photographs as well.

The macro lens accepts filters at a 52mm size, but in order to keep all my filters at the same size to reduce headaches I got a 52 to 58mm step up ring.

I neglected to take account for the new size at the end of my lens, so I've ordered away for a 58mm lens cap. Until I get it, I will not be using my new lens, so I can't tell you how well it operates, or how effective the polarizer is.

I have already had lots of success with diffused lighting. The polarizer should put me over the top and *crosses fingers* eliminate virtually all harsh reflections and make my photos even more awesome.

The only two things I need at this point are 1. a table clamp tripod with a telescoping monopod arm for hovering a camera over a table to get those shots that are 'impossible' by hand without some shaking issues, which costs around 50 USD, and 2. a set of home made ultra light weight and flexible fiberglass ripstop light diffusers/reflectors (should cost less than 10 USD each, unless I opt for reflective ripstop material, which is pricy but performs incredibly well, so I have read!).

[kk634]

Yeah!
Macro lenses can REALLY help!
I wish you the best of luck photographing!