Macro filters

[subucni]

Any of you guys got much experience with macro filters? Tempted to pick up a cheap set (upto £15) to just have a play around with on my 50mm prime.

Obviously they wont be as good as a proper macro lens, but for the sake of something cheap to experiment with i can live with that. This is where you guys come in and have hopefully had some experience with them and can recommend any you've found to be decent quality.

Looking for 52mm diameter, some on amazon and plenty on ebay of course
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_...ter+52&x=0&y=0
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nk....c0.m270.l1313
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nk....c0.m270.l1313

Cheers

[Saracen]

By an larger, you get what you pay for. Cheap filters = something cheap and optical that will affect image quality. The question is, by how much?

A decent example of these is certainly a decent way to experiment or for occasional use, but if you're serious about macro, it isn't (IMHO, of course) the way to go. There are all sorts of options, including extension tubes, reversing rings and, of course, macro lenses.

Each of these has advantages, and each helps solve one or more macro problem, the most notable being that the larger the macro magnification you have, the more you have issues with being very close to the subject (which might be frightened and do a bunk), and limited light, slow exposures, and so on.

So macro filters are a fine way to experiment cheaply, but my bet is that if you're really after getting into macro, you won't be satisfied for long. And, as I said, you tend to get what you pay for. A cheap kit lens is not up to the optical standard of a Canon L lens (etc) for good reason, and cheap filters (macro or otherwise) tend to be, well, cheap.

[redddraggon]

I'd probably go for the extension tube option, it perhaps might cost more, but you don't tend to lose much optically.

Although depending on what camera you have, e.g. you might have metering issues with cheap extension tubes on low end nikon bodies.

[kalniel]

Get a reversing ring and stick the 50 on the end of a kit telephoto lens.