For years I have been enjoying the use of add-on "filters" to add close up capabilities to zoom lenses. These look like thick filters but are actually acromatic lenses.
I have two made by Canon: the 500D and the 250D. They are about $100 each. Both of mine have 58mm threads. This makes them a perfect fit for the Panasonic 35-100 F2.8, which I used yesterday at the nearby botanic garden, and the Olympus kit 40-150mm F4-F5.6. The Panasonic lens is a zoom with a big aperture so it had an advantage yesterday because I wanted to shoot with a narrow depth of field to get a blurry background. But both lenses provide very sharp images.
The 500D is designed to focus your zoom lens at 50cm (about 20") and the 250D is designed to focus your zoom lens at 25cm (about 10")
When the Panasonic is zoomed to 100mm (FF=200mm) you can get a 1:2 macro (FF equivalent) with the 500D and a 1:1 macro (FF equivalent) with the 250D. Of course, a longer zoom will get more magnification, and is one reason I have used the Olympus kit 40-150 from time to time.
Here's the set up I used yesterday at the botanic gardens. (I'm still reviewing the images, hoping for a few "good" ones to post later this week.)
I have two made by Canon: the 500D and the 250D. They are about $100 each. Both of mine have 58mm threads. This makes them a perfect fit for the Panasonic 35-100 F2.8, which I used yesterday at the nearby botanic garden, and the Olympus kit 40-150mm F4-F5.6. The Panasonic lens is a zoom with a big aperture so it had an advantage yesterday because I wanted to shoot with a narrow depth of field to get a blurry background. But both lenses provide very sharp images.
The 500D is designed to focus your zoom lens at 50cm (about 20") and the 250D is designed to focus your zoom lens at 25cm (about 10")
When the Panasonic is zoomed to 100mm (FF=200mm) you can get a 1:2 macro (FF equivalent) with the 500D and a 1:1 macro (FF equivalent) with the 250D. Of course, a longer zoom will get more magnification, and is one reason I have used the Olympus kit 40-150 from time to time.
Here's the set up I used yesterday at the botanic gardens. (I'm still reviewing the images, hoping for a few "good" ones to post later this week.)
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| In the foreground are the two Canon Close-up lenses: 250D and 500D |
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| 58mm threads fit perfectly on the Panasonic 35-100 mm zoom. I used the 500D yesterday shooting flowers, and will post some images soon. |
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| A 500D or 250D in a larger size would work, too, but a step up ring would be required. The advantage of the 58mm size is that it doesn't interfere with the lens hood. |
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