BetterPhoto Member |
How to use screw on macro lenses Hi, I've just bought a Canon EOS 300D (Rebel in US) and also purchased some screw on macro lenses ranging from +1 to +10. I was led to believe that I could just screw them on to my existing lens (canon zoom lens EF-S 18-55mm)to improve macro shots. However, I'm unable to focus when using the +10 and the +1 and +2 make no difference! Any ideas? Also, would a different zoom lens be better for macro shots, I love doing flowers/nature shots? Cheers
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Daniel Diaz |
With macro photography it's best to manualy focus. You have to move as close to your subject as possible while looking through your viewfinder until you find the right focus spot. moving towards and away from your subject is the way to do it, one mm could be the difference between focus and blur. With your current lens I would zoom it out to the 55mm point and try from there. Keep at it and you'll get it!
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Jon Close |
Ditto Daniel's response. The close-up lenses allow the lens to focus at closer distances, but at the same time severely limits the range of focus to a few inches or less. You basically have to do a "rough" focus by moving the camera closer to your subject, then fine focus by manually focusing the lens. A tripod (and macro focusing rail head) is helpful here as it is very easy to lose focus with a slight lean forward/backward, and shake from handholding is greatly exaggerated at macro magnifications. The +1 and +2 should make a noticable difference. You can combine them for +3. Each higher + factor makes for shorter focus distance, and the range of focus gets narrower. You may not be able to use the +10 with the 18-55. It is meant for longer focal length lenses and will essentially make the point of focus shorter than the physical length of the lens.
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