Best Macro Lense bearing the price in mind...

[Glamourdiesel]

For the FZ20. What is it mates? I have the Phayee adapter and I'm looking forward to buy one soon. Cheers.

[genece]

I have the Raynox explorer set, but I find it difficult to use.
I have seen some great photos with a Nikon 6T.

[24Peter]

Any thoughts on using this lens http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?ci=1&sb=ps&pn=1&sq=desc&InitialSearch=yes&O=SearchBar&A=search&Q=*&shs=CACUL500D72&image.x=6&image.y=7

Canon 72mm 500D close up lens with the stock Panasonic adapter? The reason I ask is I could use it on my DVX 100 camcorder (72mm thread) as well.

[pwiles1968]

You could start with a simple set of close up lenses (Diopters) you can pick these up fairly cheaply I just paid under £20 for 3 and you can get some good results with these see the nzmacro hoverfly shots. Because they are cheaper CA may be an issue depending on what you take pictures of. If you want to get really serious I have been told the Nikon and the Canon are both Good lenses but 120 bucks is a lot of money :eek:.

How close do you want to go - Macro (http://photomacrography.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=974) :D

[genece]

Any thoughts on using this lens http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?ci=1&sb=ps&pn=1&sq=desc&InitialSearch=yes&O=SearchBar&A=search&Q=*&shs=CACUL500D72&image.x=6&image.y=7

Canon 72mm 500D close up lens with the stock Panasonic adapter? The reason I ask is I could use it on my DVX 100 camcorder (72mm thread) as well.


Someone ask that at dpreview and the opinion was it would be too far from the lens to work. I do not think anyone knows for sure.

[Glamourdiesel]

You could start with a simple set of close up lenses (Diopters) you can pick these up fairly cheaply I just paid under £20 for 3 and you can get some good results with these see the nzmacro hoverfly shots. Because they are cheaper CA may be an issue depending on what you take pictures of. If you want to get really serious I have been told the Nikon and the Canon are both Good lenses but 120 bucks is a lot of money :eek:.

How close do you want to go - Macro (http://photomacrography.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=974) :D

Pretty interesting topic that one. :D Cheers Y'all.

[nzmacro]

Yeah Peter, the Canon 500D will work just fine. The Canon 250D is just higher in magnification is all. Also a smaller diameter than the 500D. Both are excellent optics and corrected for CA. Good choice for macro and if you can use it for other things, all the better.

The Nikon 5T and 6T are in the same class, so you might want to check out the cost difference in those. The 5T has the larger threads I think from memory.

Danny.

[Payne]

Yeah Peter, the Canon 500D will work just fine. The Canon 250D is just higher in magnification is all. Also a smaller diameter than the 500D. Both are excellent optics and corrected for CA. Good choice for macro and if you can use it for other things, all the better.
Danny.

Hi Nzmacro.....I have a doubt on the Canon 250D, I've heard this close-up lens only can be used at 200mm.....is it true??? cuz I really need to catch some tiny details by using the full zoom = 420mm

Regards,

[nzmacro]

Hi Nzmacro.....I have a doubt on the Canon 250D, I've heard this close-up lens only can be used at 200mm.....is it true??? cuz I really need to catch some tiny details by using the full zoom = 420mm

Regards,

Where did you hear that. A +10 will work all the way with the zoom on the FZ's. A +3 will work all the way on the FZ's. So why a 250D wouldn't is optically way beyond me to be honest. I think someone has that wrong.

Another friend who just got the FZ20 asked me to see what a real cheap, single element +3 could do on the FZ10. So for Ken, I setup this page with a simple +3 on front and just varied the sizes using the zoom. I only do nature subjects, no coins, bank notes or watches from me, sorry. :)

Question is, do you really need more than this

http://www.nzmacro.50megs.com/ken/ken.html

Now if you do need or want more than those shots in ratio size, then you are as bad as me. :) The Canon 250D would do a much better job than those shots at 420mm. So would a Nikon 6T.

All the best and good luck.

Danny.

[24Peter]

Wow, Danny, those macro shots are great! Forget about the lens, how do you get the insects to pose like that??? :D

So did you use something like this?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=96146&is=REG

[nzmacro]

Yeah thats the ones Peter. Just an el-cheapo +3. Thats all Ken had so thats why I took those. I hate cropping outside the box so thats where the zoom becomes important on the FZ's. The optics were what I was after and checking around and asking a ton of questions, I found the optics on the FZ10 to be excellent. Quite a shock really to be honest :)

I would urge you to get at least the Nikon 6T Peter. It has the extra element to help avoid CA which the cheaper ones do suffer from, especially on white areas. So go for the max you can afford, you won't regret it, I promise.

Danny.

[Payne]

Where did you hear that. A +10 will work all the way with the zoom on the FZ's. A +3 will work all the way on the FZ's. So why a 250D wouldn't is optically way beyond me to be honest. I think someone has that wrong.

Another friend who just got the FZ20 asked me to see what a real cheap, single element +3 could do on the FZ10. So for Ken, I setup this page with a simple +3 on front and just varied the sizes using the zoom. I only do nature subjects, no coins, bank notes or watches from me, sorry. :)

Question is, do you really need more than this

http://www.nzmacro.50megs.com/ken/ken.html

Now if you do need or want more than those shots in ratio size, then you are as bad as me. :) The Canon 250D would do a much better job than those shots at 420mm. So would a Nikon 6T.

All the best and good luck.

Danny.

Thanks Danny for your promt answer.....It seems you are a serious macro photography fan, your gallery is simply impressive....were those insects captured alive?

On the other side, I have several doubts on macro lens terms....first off, I've read
at "earthboundlight.com" the diopter strenght results by taking the focal length of the close-up lens and dividing into 1000....it means, the Canon 250D should have a focal length of 250mm, since its diopter strength is equivalent to 4.0......but here is my inquiry:

How may I know the focal lenght of any given macro lens??? for instance, the Raynox DCR-250...

Besides, this specific raynox adapter has a magnification power of 6.9x, if mounted on the FZ20......but on the FZ3 this power is increased to 8.5x......why is that?? since both share the same zoom range.....and a final question: how is compared the diopter strenght "numbers" with the "X"s related to the magnification power??

Thanks in advance.

[nzmacro]

Payne. I think I have a total of 2 dead insects. 1 fly I found in a sink and all wet and a Monarch I came across under a tree. I harm nothing and all alive in nature for the rest :) 100% nature macro nutter, LOL.

Ok the FZ3 has a zoom range 35-420mm (12x) optical, while the FZ20 has 36-432mm (12x) optical. Theres the difference in ratio size. I think they are using the same sensor, but if not, then that would also be another reason. Not too sure on that but the optical zoom would make a difference for sure.

A lot of this comes down to different CCD sizes for ratio magnifications. Those must be taken into account if we want to work the figures. Many equations you will see are related to 35mm film.

I'm not sure on the calculations on the dioptres. I mainly use 35mm slr lenses on front of the FZ10. Gets more complicated working out the ratios again. :)

Its all relative to how far the dioptre is away from the lens anyway. If we take a +3 and get it close to the lens, it gives an x amount of ratio. Now if on the other hand its mounted to a hood for example, we now have a larger distance between the lens and dioptre again. This also gives a slightly higher magnification.

Lets take the same +3 and mount it on lets say, a toilet roil tube, oh great description. Hold that in front of the lens with the +3 on the front, now the ratio needs to be calculated for the extra tube length as well. The magnification is now much larger.

So it all gets interesting and there are lots of ifs and buts. The other major factor of course is the CCD size. Thats also very relevant to the equation. Its also the reason I gave up trying to understand it all. :) No where near as straight forward as dealing with 35mm film and standard mounting.

So I just put on a +3 or +4, 35mm slr lenses and let the zoom take care of the ratio I want.

Sorry Payne but nothing is straight forward and it does depend on how we handle it.

All the best and thanks.

Danny.

[Payne]

Anyway, thanks for taking the time.

let me ask you a shrot question???

As you've noticed, I wanna buy a macro lens adapter for my FZ20, and I´ve narrowed my search to the Canon 250D, Nikon 4T and Raynox DCR-250.....which of them do you think is better?....I know the 250D diopter strenght is over the Nikon 4T.....but what about the Raynox D-250, I really dont know how to compare them???

Any advice??

Thanks again.

[nzmacro]

Nick Troop uses the Raynox with excellent results. The Canon 250D is superb optics. If money was no object I would go for the 250D. Its more than enough and the quality is well and truly proven, even on 35mm lenses.

If I wanted to save money and still have superb results, a Nikon 6T. We see excellent results from that with the FZ20 at dpreview and steve's. Well corrected for CA, no doubt about it.

Why the 4T Payne ?? Diameter size ??

All the best Payne, I think a few have problems getting used to the Raynox BTW.

Danny.

[Payne]

Why the 4T Payne ?? Diameter size ??

All the best Payne, I think a few have problems getting used to the Raynox BTW.

Danny.

Thanks Danny....you are right, I asked for the Nikon T4 because of the diameter, I have the Raynox RT5264P which has a male filter size of 52mm....

Just to say, Im almost decided to go for the Canon 250D.....I'll have a look at the sample images posted on Dpreview and also Steves (gotta search for Nicktroop's posts)...and probably in a couple of weeks I order a close-up lens.

Best rergards,

[nzmacro]

Nick's posts should be easy to search for at Steve's. Also ask him, he is one heck of a nice guy and also a great photographer IMO. Willow1 is using the Nikon 6T with excellent results so far. Plenty down at Dpreview are using the 6T, a heap of them, no idea where they got that idea from, LOL. The results are excellent as they would be with the 4T and 5T.

Skippy in the Sony forum at Dpreview is using the 250D. She is another friend thats using it on the Sony 828 and again the results are SUPERB for her. Dani also on the 828 uses the 250D, another fine macro shooter. Females are very clever at macro, I know many that leave us males for dead. :)

All the best Payne and if you want a few links, I can dig those out for you, no problem.

Danny.

[Payne]

All the best Payne and if you want a few links, I can dig those out for you, no problem.
Danny.

It's gonna help me a lot......you forgot to mention tchuyane macro shots....I think this guy has posted the best macro shots (along with yours) that I've ever seen

I really appreciate you could share some links on macro photography.....thank you very much....nice guy.

Regards.

[arghman]

I really appreciate you could share some links on macro photography.....I don't have that much experience but here are some links to pages that get into the technical specs on diopters/focal length/depth of field, etc.; I had some of the same questions.

http://www.cs.uu.nl/wais/html/na-dir/rec-photo/lenses/faq.html
http://xoomer.virgilio.it/ripolini/Close_up.htm
http://www.rags-int-inc.com/PhotoTechStuff/DoF/

[Payne]

Thank you arghman, valuable info.....I'll print some pages.

Regards,

[nzmacro]

tchuyane's work is superb. We post on other forums together as well. Hes not using a 250D or a 6T though. He uses a hoya and a sigma, off memory. He would be another great one to ask. I saw some jumping spider shots he posted at a site in singapore, fantastic shots and work. Think he posted those at steve's as well.

Mark is simply one of the best. Check out his shots and his articles. Many of his shots were taken with a G2 or a G3

http://www.mplonsky.com/photo/


Just found one of Maxine's (Skippy) posts using the Sony 828 and stacking 2 Canon 250D's :) Nothing wrong with those optics.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1009&message=10163768

smac just posted a shot at Steve's with a 6T, spider shots, excellent !!.

So thats a couple anyway. If you want higher magnifications again, let me know.

All the best Payne.

Danny.

[Payne]

Mark's galleries are awesome, really hard to beat, his work has a professional level, actually he sells his shots.......too I've already seen smac shots at steve's site, and also tchuyane's jumping spiders (amazing)....what an incredible things you can get with a simple close-up lens /

Thanks again Danny, you are a very kind guy, I really dont need extra magnification, I think is quite enough to get started, maybe in the time to come I go for a stronger macro lens....but by now, the Canon 250D or Raynox DCR250 are gonna satisified my photographic needs....just I hope to could get fantastic shots as yours or as one of the shots posted by the guys above mentioned.....

Very pleased to talk to you....

Good luck and have an excellent new year.

Warmth regards,