WTB: macro lens, max budget £100

HI,
I'd like to try out some macro shooting.
So looking for something cheapish, ideally 1:1 but I suppose 1:2 would do.
Cheers,
Pa.

Why not consider the other macro options? They've been discussed many times...

* Reversing ring. About £10, but you'll need an old manual lens that has an aperture ring - even an M42 screw thread lens will do such as a 50mm, or 28mm. Total cost about £20). Since the lens mounts back-to-front you can always try this just by holding a prime lens over the mounting hole on the camera. Ultra close macro

* Extension tubes. Between £20 and £150-ish. Cheap non-electrical contact versions are available everywhere. You'll have to have a lens with an aperture ring, manual focus, and preferably a prime (e.g. 50mm, 28mm)

* Close up filters. These will work on all lenses, but will degrade the lens quality somewhat. However, there are some decent multi-coated compound optic close up filters that are worth looking at.

HTH!
Matt

Thanks, could you recommend me one altrtnative solition please?

I bought an extension tube for about £6 bit it was pure crap and never worked (used to get stuck on etc)
I have a sigma 30mm f1.4 prime, pentax 17-50 f 2.8 and 18-250 lens.
Cheers
Pa

Think if I was going to go the reverse route, I'd reverse one lens onto another. Buy an "A" 50mm f1.7 for instance and reverse another 50mm onto it. Doesn't matter if the reversed one is "A". With the one connected to the camera being "A" it would allow auto exposure.

No reason why you couldn't reverse a lens onto one of your current ones. I mentioned the 50mm as I know they are small and wouldn't put undue stress on the camera. Using different lenses gives different magnification, so a bit of research would be needed.

Any M 50mm ( better 1.7 ) and a 2x Macro MC7 PK ... et voila a 100 macro 1:1

Does it have ti be a manual lens and if so why?
Would my Sigma 30mm f1.4 AF work?

If you want to stay under 100£ for the kit you have to buy M series and a PK adapter.
The PKA adapter sometimes runs over the 100£ limit.
With the PKA adapter your Sigma works as any A lens works , but I don't know about the ratio,but i suppose a ratio over 1:1 ... i suppose

what are the thoughts on the Raynox DCR-250?
Cheers,
Pa.

Cheers, just bought it!

Good find Charlotte

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Here's the lens link:link

Thanks Algi,
I'll remember that for next time.

Oooh I see dinneenp's bought it - I hope it's a good lens I would have bought it if I hadn't just bought the vivitar.

Kind regards
Charlotte

Hi,
I'm opening up this old thread as I'm looking for a macro 'solution' again. Budget- not sure, cheaper is better but maybe £100 max

I cancelled the macro lens I bought the next day as I got a good deal on a sports lens instead.
So with Xmas not too far away I'm on the lookout for a macro 'solution' again.

I have a
* Sigma 30mm f1.4
* Tamron 17-50mm f2.8
* sports lens (out of the equation).
Currently I'm think it'd be for general macro, not insects & floral (even though I might end up getting into that when I have the 'solution')

some questions:
1. Extension tubes. I have to focus manually but everything else works as 'normal' (auto exposure etc)?
Can anyone recommend an extension tube, I bought a stupidly cheap one and it was total crap.
2. Reversing ring- will it work on either of my lenses or do I need a 'manual lens'? If so why?
3. Thoughts on Raynox DCR-250/150 with either of my lenses?
4. I suppose a manual focus lens is maybe the best solution wihin my budget...
5. no such thing as a stupid question but where in lenses specs/name does it say how true macro it is (Maximum Magnification (MM) 0.22x?)and what does 'Maximum Reproduction Ratio' mean?

thanks again,
pa.

sorry, should have posted this in lenses forum, not here.