Sample "Macro" pics taken with a 18-55mm kit lens?

qfrisco

Active member
Hi all -

I know that to get the best macro shots of corals, etc. that one should get a true macro lens. But as someone who's considering jumping into the D-SLR bandwagon, I'm curious how much I can get by with the kit lens until I've saved up enough money for a good 100mm macro?

Does anyone have any "macro" pics they've taken with a kit lens like an 18-55mm?

Thanks!
 
Here ya go:

macro_6185-edit.jpg


I'm pulling your leg a tad as that is in fact taken with the 18-55 kit lens but it's been taken apart so that it mounts on the camera backwards. That's the blade of a pocket knife at 3:1 magnification.

You can't take "macro" shots with the kit lens. By definition macro is 1:1 (or better) magnification; i.e. the image of the object on the sensor is the same as the object in real life. With the kit lens you can take close-up shots and then crop the image to make it appear even closer. That works fine for web use but limits the size of print that you could make from that image.
 
Wow, Doug, could you explain how you took it apart to do that? I almost want to take my 28-135 apart for that since I'm never going to use it again. :lol:

That's awesome.
 
Thanks very the replies, everyone. I knew it wasn't possible take true macro shots with a kit lens, but was just curious how close one could get with a one. Any sample photos would be great!

Thanks!
 
not sure if it is a macro pic but here is the kit lens i used with my canon t1i. if you want to get good macro pics the 100mm 2.8 is the way to go. I was holding the camera by freehand so it is alittle blurry

flower1.jpg
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15253300#post15253300 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kuyatwo
not sure if it is a macro pic but here is the kit lens i used with my canon t1i. if you want to get good macro pics the 100mm 2.8 is the way to go. I was holding the camera by freehand so it is alittle blurry

flower1.jpg

Thanks, pampee! Do you remember how close you were to the flower when you took this pic?
 
The 18-55 does some pretty good close up shots.
The minimum focus range is 11" or 0.28m thats
from the back of the body so you can get pretty close
to your subject. A true macro lens of course is going to
be your best shot but the 18-55 kit lens does a pretty
good job! Here is a pic from Ken Rockwell site using a
18-55mm Nikkor.

1855-macro.jpg
 
another issue with a macro shot on a kit lens, they ussually only have somewhere around 4-6f. which may make the lens a bit slow for a super close up photo in anything other than a studio setup. most macro lenses will be 2.8f, should make it easier to get a crisper shot at the extreme zooms.
 
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