BeanAnimal
Premium Member
thanks for stopping in and good luck with your pastime as well.
anyone getting good macro shots under $500
- Thread starter smellfishy
- Start date
DerrickBrown
New member
haha... fear of heights is very common. Atleast you are in the majority. haha...
I went back to your site from the link you posted and I must say, you really do have some very nice photos. Amazing actually.
What camera system are you using if you don't mind me asking?
Thanks
DerrickBrown
New member
I've been seriously looking at some Digital SLR including the Canon EOS Digital SLR but couldn't decide. I think your photos have really narrowed that searched down to only one for sure now.
Haha, thanks alot
jsbzmcdaniel
New member
DerrickBrown,
Sent you a PM!
Sent you a PM!
jsbzmcdaniel
New member
After reading this post I went out a bought a Cannon A620. Now all I need to do is get the macro lenses and I should be set. Can someone using this camera let me know the settings they are using for reference?
Jim
Jim
maroun.c
New member
Sorry if i missed something here, but why would someone run into the trouble of getting all those adapters, lenses,...
also as you state a bad choice of adapter even with a good quality lense would lead to suboptimal quality images.....
Also i guess lens prices would add a considerable sum to the price of the camera and adapters as we're talking in the P&S buget here.
I had very decent macros with a Nikon coolpix 5700 it's a bit old now but yet it's a very efficient camera for macros. i've taken some very nice pics with it. i'm sure it would cost less than 500 usd in the states nowadays. you could go for the 8700 or 8800 but that will be at an added cost.
the 5700 is 5.2 Mp accepts an external flash if needed, it will focus at 3 cm in macro mode. yes 3 cm. 8x optical zoom with 3x digital zoom. also the lens is the equicalent of 33-330 so its overall a great walkaround camera good for scenery and great for macros
and with the zoom and the decent number of pixels yo could achieve a decent imagae magnification as well as print.
also it offers manual, shutter and aperture control.....
i suffered with it because of slow focus and shutter lag and bad focusing in low light as it doesn't have an autofocus assist lamp. so it didn't do so great with action shots, but those are no problem with macro.
I got a D70s and even when i buy a macro lens for it i'll keep my 5700.
how would you compare macros with it to macros with the setup youre describing? do you think adding an additional macro lens over an attachment ring.... would offer better quality because yo are using a macro lens?
also as you state a bad choice of adapter even with a good quality lense would lead to suboptimal quality images.....
Also i guess lens prices would add a considerable sum to the price of the camera and adapters as we're talking in the P&S buget here.
I had very decent macros with a Nikon coolpix 5700 it's a bit old now but yet it's a very efficient camera for macros. i've taken some very nice pics with it. i'm sure it would cost less than 500 usd in the states nowadays. you could go for the 8700 or 8800 but that will be at an added cost.
the 5700 is 5.2 Mp accepts an external flash if needed, it will focus at 3 cm in macro mode. yes 3 cm. 8x optical zoom with 3x digital zoom. also the lens is the equicalent of 33-330 so its overall a great walkaround camera good for scenery and great for macros
and with the zoom and the decent number of pixels yo could achieve a decent imagae magnification as well as print.
also it offers manual, shutter and aperture control.....
i suffered with it because of slow focus and shutter lag and bad focusing in low light as it doesn't have an autofocus assist lamp. so it didn't do so great with action shots, but those are no problem with macro.
I got a D70s and even when i buy a macro lens for it i'll keep my 5700.
how would you compare macros with it to macros with the setup youre describing? do you think adding an additional macro lens over an attachment ring.... would offer better quality because yo are using a macro lens?
CH
New member
Well, I finally got my adapter and lenses, and I've been practicing all weekend!
I still have some work to do. I have a hard time getting it to focus right, get enough light, proper color, etc, etc. Just getting all the settings right is difficult for me
This shot of Digitata turned out fairly well, a lot better than before I had the close up lenses anyway. I wouldn't call it an award winner or anything, but I don't know how much I can expect out of my A80!
This clownfish would be a great shot if he was in focus! It's still not bad, but I just can't seem to get the fish shots to come out clear.
Comments or suggestion appreciated!
I still have some work to do. I have a hard time getting it to focus right, get enough light, proper color, etc, etc. Just getting all the settings right is difficult for me
This shot of Digitata turned out fairly well, a lot better than before I had the close up lenses anyway. I wouldn't call it an award winner or anything, but I don't know how much I can expect out of my A80!
This clownfish would be a great shot if he was in focus! It's still not bad, but I just can't seem to get the fish shots to come out clear.
Comments or suggestion appreciated!
DerrickBrown
New member
Not bad CH, which lens did you use on those? Tiffen?
DerrickBrown
New member
A macro lens will magnify the image even if it is already nice. So if you have great native macros already, a macro lens should make it that much better (closer) and vice versa. If the image is not good to start with, it wouldn't get better and only get worse. I don't think anyone ever said that the macro lens would make an image better with a substandard camera. I think that is what you are talking about.
BTW I never use the digital zoom on my camera or any digital camera. It only distorts things. The optical zoom is all I would use. It gives the best image IMO. The digitalimage is merely a cropped section of the image which is never clear and often grainy. It would be better to obtain a camera that has a higher optical zoom than one with a higher digital zoom.
I haven't used your camera so I'm unable to give a comparison.
CH
New member
I used the Tiffen, and I've been using all three of them stacked to give me a total of +7. I still don't entirely know what I'm doing, but I'll just keep fiddling. I have trouble figuring out where to set the focus on the macro setting, it seems like I'm setting it farther away than the object really is. For example, I use the optical zoom to zoom in, and then in the manual macro mode, I have to adjust it to about 2ft before it's focused right.
I don't know if this makes sense or not, but I'm still just working out all my settings.
I don't know if this makes sense or not, but I'm still just working out all my settings.
how about the fuji f11? i hear it has a better iso and a faster shutter speed, is that important but haven't been able to find a lens adapter for it.
i have been looking at getting the Cannon A620, but see alot of things still about the Cannon A95. I know the 620 is higher mega pixel but my main concern is for the macro.
Is there a consensus at all?
i have been looking at getting the Cannon A620, but see alot of things still about the Cannon A95. I know the 620 is higher mega pixel but my main concern is for the macro.
Is there a consensus at all?
maroun.c
New member
Totally agree on the Digital zoom. i don't recall using it. However what i intended to know was that if you have decent macro with your camera lens alone, can you still improve them by attaching an additional macro lens?
I'll post a few macros i took with mine, their not the best this camera could achieve but do you think i can get much better results if I used your setup? I already have the ring that goes from the camera to any additional tele or wide angle lense, and i will be getting a macro lens for my D70s do you think it's worth buying the adapter ring to fit this macro lens on the 5700 and try some pics or would hte macro lens alone on the D70s give better quality?
I'll post a few macros i took with mine, their not the best this camera could achieve but do you think i can get much better results if I used your setup? I already have the ring that goes from the camera to any additional tele or wide angle lense, and i will be getting a macro lens for my D70s do you think it's worth buying the adapter ring to fit this macro lens on the 5700 and try some pics or would hte macro lens alone on the D70s give better quality?
trmiv
Active member
Glad I found this thread.
I have a Canon A70 that I've had for awhile. I've been tempted to get a new camera to take better macro pics, but do I need to? Really, even though it's only 3.2mp, the camera serves its purpose for me. I'd love to get some nice macro shots, but I can't really afford to get a new camera right now.
Would purchasing a macro lens for this camera be worth it, or should I just save for a new camera? If I do get a macro lens, is there anyway it could be used on a newer canon if I get one later on?
I have a Canon A70 that I've had for awhile. I've been tempted to get a new camera to take better macro pics, but do I need to? Really, even though it's only 3.2mp, the camera serves its purpose for me. I'd love to get some nice macro shots, but I can't really afford to get a new camera right now.
Would purchasing a macro lens for this camera be worth it, or should I just save for a new camera? If I do get a macro lens, is there anyway it could be used on a newer canon if I get one later on?
maroun.c
New member
Funny I forgot having posted on this thread before and was about to answer after I reread page 1.
Anyway another suggestion would be to pay just a bit more and get a DSLR like the D50 or D70, I'm sure prices will drop now that the D80 has been announced then get the cheap but sharp lens (50mm 1.8) and get yourself a couple of closeup filters. you would have exceeded the budget by more than 2-300 usd but at least you would have a body that would allow you to directly moove into more professional stuff by getting 2 more lenses. and forthe time being youwould have a great lens for portraits, in addition to some using it as walk around lens ( I don't) and also with the cheap close up filters you would have acceptable macro capabilities. After thatone could buy the kit lens (unless you got it with the body (for a much lower price so I suggest getting it with the body) then a flash and a tele after that and finally a decent macro lens if one realizes he's into macro and voila a perfect near professional setup.
Bottom line everyone (at least with serious intentions about photography) will move into DSLRS eventually especially with the prices dropping due to severe competition (the Sony DSLR is for less than 700 usd and expected to drop, Nikon D50 is cheap and decent body to have, Canon DSLRs are not that expensive too...)
So basically I would suggest buying things slowly however not buying something that will be totally limiting like a point and shoot. I'm not saying it won't give decent results however if you buy a Dslr body you only have to get additional lenses over time however with a P&S you still have to begin from the start by buying a DSLR body.
Anyway another suggestion would be to pay just a bit more and get a DSLR like the D50 or D70, I'm sure prices will drop now that the D80 has been announced then get the cheap but sharp lens (50mm 1.8) and get yourself a couple of closeup filters. you would have exceeded the budget by more than 2-300 usd but at least you would have a body that would allow you to directly moove into more professional stuff by getting 2 more lenses. and forthe time being youwould have a great lens for portraits, in addition to some using it as walk around lens ( I don't) and also with the cheap close up filters you would have acceptable macro capabilities. After thatone could buy the kit lens (unless you got it with the body (for a much lower price so I suggest getting it with the body) then a flash and a tele after that and finally a decent macro lens if one realizes he's into macro and voila a perfect near professional setup.
Bottom line everyone (at least with serious intentions about photography) will move into DSLRS eventually especially with the prices dropping due to severe competition (the Sony DSLR is for less than 700 usd and expected to drop, Nikon D50 is cheap and decent body to have, Canon DSLRs are not that expensive too...)
So basically I would suggest buying things slowly however not buying something that will be totally limiting like a point and shoot. I'm not saying it won't give decent results however if you buy a Dslr body you only have to get additional lenses over time however with a P&S you still have to begin from the start by buying a DSLR body.
