Macro Bellows Anyone?

[XSharkboyX]

Anyone here use a macro bellows? Looking for expeiences with them. Are they worth the time? I found some on ebay for like $40. IMO it beats the heck out of spending $1200 macro lens if your on a tight budget.
Can it get you by until a nice macro lens is in the budget?
What is the quality to be expected?
You lose the ability to auto-focus, correct?

 

[Misled]

Before you go the bellows way, there's a few easier ways to get to 1:1 macro's. And first, which camera are you trying this with???

 

[90sShooter]

If your shooting Canon, a GOOD macro lens is not $1200... in fact not even the L macro lens goes for $1200... Not familiar with Nikon but I beleive Nikon has good macros for around $400 as well. One thing to consider is the resale value of a good macro. I bought my 100mm new for less than I sold it for (actually I ended up trading it but valued higher than I bought it for based on what they were selling for at the time.). You can pick up a nice 100mm non-L for around $400-$450 used and sell it for that in 6 months when you're done with it. So while you might have to put up the cash now, in the end it will cost you much less and you will get some great shots in the mean time. JMO good luck!

 

[XSharkboyX]

Before you go the bellows way, there's a few easier ways to get to 1:1 macro's. And first, which camera are you trying this with???

I am curretly shooting with the Canon 550D.

 

[XSharkboyX]

If your shooting Canon, a GOOD macro lens is not $1200... in fact not even the L macro lens goes for $1200... Not familiar with Nikon but I beleive Nikon has good macros for around $400 as well. One thing to consider is the resale value of a good macro. I bought my 100mm new for less than I sold it for (actually I ended up trading it but valued higher than I bought it for based on what they were selling for at the time.). You can pick up a nice 100mm non-L for around $400-$450 used and sell it for that in 6 months when you're done with it. So while you might have to put up the cash now, in the end it will cost you much less and you will get some great shots in the mean time. JMO good luck!

Ok so $1200 may have been a stretch... and yes, good glass holds its value for sure.

 

[90sShooter]

it sure does seem like $1200, but IMO worth every penny.

 

[XSharkboyX]

Before you go the bellows way, there's a few easier ways to get to 1:1 macro's. And first, which camera are you trying this with???

Care to elaborate?

 

[Misled]

Extension tubes

Reversing rings

Both of those can be very cheep and produce good results. There can be a bit of a learning curve. Also tubes and rings may, (the kinko tubes have connections), require you to have a lens with an aperture ring.

 

[XSharkboyX]

I have been reading about extension tubes, I might go with that first. I have the 18-55mm that came with the camera, and a 55-250mm. I dont think either one has an aperture ring on it. Just the zoom, and focus.

 

[swjim]

Nothing artistic, but just to give you an idea of what an 85mm f/1.8 can do with a set of $80 tubes http://www.amazon.com/Opteka-Focus-...W4C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1296348898&sr=8-1:

Here is a shot at the 85 f/1.8's normal minimum focus distance:

and here is a shot with the 85 + 65mm of exension tubes:

These tube are made of metal and do pass AF/AE and aperture control between the lens and camera. The only quirk is that with two of my lenses I can only stack two of the tubes together or I lose communication between the camera and lens with my other two lenses I can stack all three with no issues. I knew others had this type of issue before purchasing based upon the Amazon reviews but since I just use them for fun I was willing to live with it given that they're only $80.

Also, keep in mind that with tubes/bellows you lose the ability to infinity focus.

Hope this helps.

 

[XSharkboyX]

Nothing artistic, but just to give you an idea of what an 85mm f/1.8 can do with a set of $80 tubes http://www.amazon.com/Opteka-Focus-...W4C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1296348898&sr=8-1:

Here is a shot at the 85 f/1.8's normal minimum focus distance:

and here is a shot with the 85 + 65mm of exension tubes:

These tube are made of metal and do pass AF/AE and aperture control between the lens and camera. The only quirk is that with two of my lenses I can only stack two of the tubes together or I lose communication between the camera and lens with my other two lenses I can stack all three with no issues. I knew others had this type of issue before purchasing based upon the Amazon reviews but since I just use them for fun I was willing to live with it given that they're only $80.

Also, keep in mind that with tubes/bellows you lose the ability to infinity focus.

Hope this helps.

Thanks a bunch. Examples are very much appreciated! If I were using the tubes for macro shots, I wouldn't mind losing the focus to infinity. I would prefer a shorter dof to achieve the blurred background...
Here is another question...
Have any of you tried extension using tubes with your macro lenses to see what kind of results it yields?

 

[Misled]

Full set of tubes and a Sigma 105 macro.

 

[IPT]

100mm Macro.

 

[Dino]

If you haven't already experimented with extension tubes I'd go that route first. You can also pick up a reversing ring while you're at it if you have something like a 50mm or wider lens. Working beyond 1:1 macro is something that takes a good amount of practice and you more than likely will want to experiment with focus stacking once you get into the higher magnifications.

If, after getting a handle on that you decide higher magnification and your type of subjects are appropriate a set of bellows would be a good step. Keep in mind bellows aren't something you exactly do a lot of crawling through the underbrush chasing bugs with. If that is something you're looking to do you'd be better served by something like the MP-E65. Bellows are much better for static subjects.

 

[XSharkboyX]

Ipt- What camera, and what lens is that? Nice shots!

Dino- Thanks for the info. Yes, the bellows would be strictly for tripod work. Mainly corals, flowers, etc.

After all the great suggestions, I think I am going to splurge and get a macro lens. Taxes are a great thing... I have wanted one for sometime. I am most likely going with a canon 100mm, just havent decided if i want the L or the regular.