budget macro lens

Double check you're getting 1:1 not all "macro" lenses are macro lenses.

If you're on a budget, the best suggestion I could make to get you started is to buy a set of Extension tubes (quality second hand ones cost about £15, look at Ffordes Photographic) and use these on any old standard manual lens. You will be amazed how close you can get and the quality that can be achieved.

Regards
David

as a couple of people have mentioned, i looked at the raynox type lenses, the 150 and 250.
after reading a few reviews i decided that i would go for the 150 which was £34.99 on amazon (last friday)
now to go off on a tangent!!
i clicked on "1-click order", and was reminded that i need to sign in to use this facility. so i signed in (a matter of seconds!), only to find the price was now £38.99.
i didnt order it, but looking tonight, the price is now £47.75....unbelievable.
thanks to everyone who has taken the time to reply, and thanks for the advice.
will wait till it comes back down in price though, which it will!!

simon.

I heard rumours some web sites use cookies to monitor how many times you've viewed something, based on that the more you must be interested in it, the more you may be inclined to pay...

Errr, perhaps its time for a DAL85 f3.8 Macro ? with 1:1 Pentax? you out there?

re: raynox dcr 150 on amazon.
it may be co-incidence, but last night i checked the price again...still showing £47.75.
i ran a scan on my laptop and cleared all the tracking cookies, adware etc.
went back on amazon and low and behold...price now £35.98!!!!!!
ordered one while the going was good.

johnha....there may be some truth in that.

regards,
simon.

To see some good results using the Raynox conversion lens, go to the (Disabled Photographers Society), web site, then go to the forum, members images section, images by Claymore.

You do not have to be a member or log in to view the forum.

Note, the images using the Raynox lens are only in the forum, not in the site gallery.

www.disabledphotographers.co.uk

Take care.

Just in case anyone is looking in the future.

If I had known when I first started what I know now - I would have bought the Pentax badged FA 3.5 100mm macro, which is 1:2 and a set of Jessops tubes.

This lens is so incredibly sharp it's unbelievable and its colour rendition is nice as well. Bokeh is smooth and creamy. I haven't got the 1:1 adapter for it though and I'm not convinced about shooting through extra glass but used with tubes it's easy enough to get 1:1 +

Had I done that I wouldn't have spent the last year searching for something I liked and lusting after the DFA 2.8 (which is a lovely lens as well but obviously not a budget one).

Obviously that's just my personal view others will obviously have different ideas.

That's interesting Charlotte - that's a cheap lens compared to all the others! The 'plastic fantastic' Cosina version is probably the cheapest genuine macro out there. I had one (MF version) and I did like it (got stolen).

I was surprised when I got it how good it is - I had shied away from it because it was only 1:2 - it felt really plasticy and horrible but it certainly gives good results IMHO. I can't comment on the other marks only my Pentax badged one.

Here's an amateurish comparison of four photos - 2 taken with the 3.5 100mm macro and tubes, 2 taken with the 2.8 100mm macro on its own. Both f/22 with onboard flash and pringles tube. Shan't say which is which.














Light is terrible at the moment - no sun, but I might to a proper comparison later if the wind dies down and the sun comes out.

I'd say the 2nd ones are the 2.8 macro?

Personally I didn't get on at all with the Vivitar version of the 'plastic fantastic'. The build quality is appalling, but I could have overlooked that if the results had been o.k.

After fairly extensive testing I couldn't get anywhere near the results with the 100mm Vivitar that I can get with the M 50mm and tubes or macro tele-converter. The image quality definitely suffered when the 1:1 adaptor was added.

It might have been my copy or more likely just me, but I sold it on and don't regret it.

That's why I stipulated that I could only comment on the Pentax badged one that I have Chris.

Anywy - I'm probably talking out of my backside as usual but thought it was worth a mention as a cheap way to get into Macro.

The M50 macro f/4 is a phenomenal lens. When I tested it, I found it to be right on par with an el-nikkor 50 f/4 (which fyi is the mainstay of many ultramacro types like myself). Only difference is slightly less punchy colours but that's easily fixed in PP. I would not hesitate to recommend it.

I'm sure you are right Charlotte. I've seen too many good reviews of the lens to doubt it - that's why I bought it. We simply didn't get on so it's found a new friend

If you are on an extremely tight budget and you have the basic 18-55 kit lens already it might be worth 'splashing' the grand sum of £4.49 on a set of extension tubes from Hong Kong :-

See the link below to ebay:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Macro-Extension-Tube-Ring-for-Pentax-K10D-K20D-K100D-K...

I've used this seller before for lens hoods and a converter flange and am happy with the delivery time and quality. For this money it is worth a 'punt' ?

If the link doesn't work simply paste this into the ebay search box (as I did):-
Macro Extension Tube Ring for Pentax

You'll get lots of offers but the one from estores is the cheapest so I'll probably get a set myself for my K-r !

Good luck

Peter

Good luck