May 23, 2009

Up close and personal

Macro shooting is so much fun but if you don't have the facility on your DSLR lens, you are pretty much limited to getting up real close to your subject. I think most of us know that not all DSLR lenses have a macro facility unlike handy point and shoot cameras which seem to capture that macro magic so perfectly.
Fear not my friends as there are little lens attachments you can buy that will turn your fave lens into your new super fave lens. I discovered these for my 50mm lens the other day on an online auction shop for a meagre £10 ($13) and these babies will turn my 50mm lens into something of a phenomena.... and an extra feature to what already is a superb lens. The beauty of this discovery is that you don't lose clarity or comprise on quality of your shots.
So, instead of taking just whimsical shots of my garden favourites, I can now get uber close and enjoy what mother nature intended us to see up close and personal. A standard 50mm lens would only give you a certain focal length appreciation of your subject and on a non full frame camera its more likely to be 7-80mm instead of 50mm - no chance of a close up shot at all. So in these series of 3 photos you can begin to appreciate what a cheap addition to your lens collection can do for your photography practice.
The first picture is a general quick snapshot that many of us might take in the garden. Just a general snap.....mmm, okay!Use the 50mm lens to get in as tight as you cant like this picture but to get in even tighter you add the macro attachment to your lens and whoa! A bugs eye view of your fave flora and fauna!Those lilacs sure look pretty up close.... you would NEVER get this close with a 50mm lens, ever.

Also try out viewing a peony in all its unfurling glory. Standing back with your camera and you get a view of the whole garden - not very inspirng is it?Using your 50mm maximum best and you get a lovely shotbut get in close with the macro attachment and hey presto - breathtaking mother nature!Hope you manage to bag these attachments and if you do - share with us your macro world.

14 comments:

Kimber-Leigh said...

i'm jealous of those lilacs kirsty :) gorgeous pics!

Houston said...

Oooh la la, I think I shall have to go looking for one of those!

meganklauer said...

So much fun! These are on my wishlist for sure now!

Anonymous said...

very cool!

Anonymous said...

Ok ... I was off searching but how do you know what size you would need? With my 50mm, I have a filter on it already and that is a 58mm. Is it really a 52mm that you purchased?

thanks!!

Jana said...

What exactly are these? It looks like a set---do they go between your lens & the camera body or on the face of the lens? Could you give us a link to where you purchased these so we could see what they are actually? Thanks muchly! They look fun!

Deborah said...

What brand did you buy?? I'd love to see a link too! Thank you :)

corinne delis said...

OK this is cool, tell me what kind of lens this is and I have to get myself one. link if possible ;)

corinnexxx

Vera said...

a link would be great! Those are awesome pics, Kirsty!

Nancy L. said...

those are beautiful pics and flowers :)

Elisa said...

Thanks for the tip! I read about these thingies in a magazine, but was wondering how much "macro" I would get and your photos show it soo well.
Photo is worth 1000 words and all...:-)
Thanks a mill!

Kirsty Wiseman said...

I got these macro lenses from ebay. You simply type in "macro and close up lens attachment" inthe search facility in ebay.
Id link you but I used the British ebay.
ok - I will link you but the auctione ends soon...its just an indication for you all, ok? :)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MACRO-Close-Up-Lenses-for-Canon-EF-50mm-F-1-4-USM-NEW_W0QQitemZ390053996910QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CamerasPhoto_CameraAccessories_CameraLensesFilters_JN?hash=item5ad107a96e&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

lisa dickinson said...

great post, kirsty! those attachments are fabulous - must go find!!

Kimberly said...

Holy COW I need these! I have to go looking for them RIGHT NOW!