What do most people use for their macro photos? An actual lens or macro filter?
What do most people use for their macro photos? An actual lens or macro filter?
Lens! the macro filters are fun, and can create wonderful results, but nothing beats a decent macro lens. Mine is the Sigma 150mm F2.8 macro
"It is one thing to make a picture of what a person looks like, it is another thing to make a portrait of who they are" - Paul Caponigro
Constructive Critique of my photographs is always appreciated
Nikon, etc!
RICK
My Photography
As Rick says, a lens is best.
Lens. Tamron 90mm. Macro lenses can also make good portraiture lenses as well, so they are a good investment if you want to dabble in macro.
D800 & D7000
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As always a high quality lens will generally give you better results, but in saying that a very high quality close up lens accessory, which is wrongly referred to as a filter, and actually called a dipotre can still give you good results too.
As I currently understand it, the Canon D500 is the best value for money dioptre/close up attachment you can get.
There will be other dioptres manufactured by the usual established lens makers, such as B+W or whoever that may get top notch results too, but they generally come at a higher price.
if the bare lens is extremely capable to begin with, then a dioptre will still give very good results with that lens, but if the lens is marginal, then the final result will still be marginal.
Can't remember exact prices, but a 77mm D500 can cost in the order of $200(I think.. not sure) ... a very capable Tamron 90mm can be had for about $400. Sounds like a lot more for the actual lens, and there are pros and cons for each type.
Most macro specific lenses will go to 1:1(being actual macro), whereas the dipotre may only give something like 1:3 (one third magnification only).
But with the dipotre, you can pick and choose which lens you want to mount it too .. so if you had something like a 300mm f/4, or 400mm f/5.6 of very high quality, then you can get in closer, and still maintain a good working distance.
With a dedicated macro lens, you will be limited to the working distance of the lens.
Lens is better : Dioptre is more flexible
Thanks for your reply's!