HELP! Extension tubes or close-up lens?

[Ian]

My daughter has an E-M1 Mark 1 and the 12-50 power zoom. She has borrowed my 60mm macro and has enjoyed using it. I don't think she can justify buying a 60, so I was thinking of getting her some extension tubes or a close-up lens - I haven't used the latter since my film days. I wonder what those who know better would recommend? She also has a ZD 12-60 that she uses for shooting video.

Ian

[ronidog]

Ian, I have some that were recommended on here a while ago. Kenko DG extension set 2 rings dedicated micro four thirds. They are in mint condition and free to you!
I cant post them until next week though.

dave

[Wildwood]

I like the 12-50 a lot. It's weather-sealed, small and light and it's macro function is quite good. I can get a 5p coin big in the frame so it's good enough for most small subjects as is. I've not tried extension tubes with it (I do have a set). The problem when you get that close is that the lens starts blocking the light from the subject. If I wanted to photograph anything really small I'd use my TG6 with its ring light add-on (LS-1?).

[Ian]

Ian, I have some that were recommended on here a while ago. Kenko DG extension set 2 rings dedicated micro four thirds. They are in mint condition and free to you!
I cant post them until next week though.

dave

Wow, Dave - that's amazing, thank you. I'm sure she will love these. I am still interested to know what people think of the clip-on-the-front option, though maybe I should have been more clear, I was thiniing about the Raynox clip-on lens that has been well reviewed.

I will PM you.

Ian

[blu-by-u]

Just beware that not all macro extensions are created the same. I had to return a few just to get a set that works and still not all lenses work flawlessly. It's something to do with the locking pin.

Ian, doesn't that 12-50 comes with a macro switch?

[Ian]

blu-by-u Yes, the 12-50 has a macro mode, but now she's used the 60mm macro, there's no looking back 😅 - the 12-50 macro mode isn't anywhere as close.

Ian

[blu-by-u]

I will stay with the Extension rings.

[Miketoll]

Just bear in mind that with extension tubes you lose light which is not the case with front of lens filters like the Raynox.

[Ian]

Just bear in mind that with extension tubes you lose light which is not the case with front of lens filters like the Raynox.

es, I was aware of that from using more conventional close-up lenses in the past.

How does the Raynox solution differ from traditional close-up lenses?

Ian

[alfbranch]

A Raynox DCR 250 is great and I have just one now I have used two but there are drawbacks with lenses that change length

[Matt_Hirst]

I have the 60mm and 30mm macro also some extn tubes and a raynox...the extension tubes i very rarely use, raynox I'll add for very small things...generally the 60mm macro is my go to. Am not into real extreme macro, just like to dabble.

As a side note a friend has tried the Nisi close up lens, the Siocore 10x close up lens and the Marumi close focus lens she has a Sony bridge camera.

The Siocore is the favourite and produces the best images, nisi next followed by marumi.

You could argue that she got to grips with Marumi then Nisi and finally the Siocore but as an outsider just viewing her images the Siocore stands out.

Suppose which way to go depends on what she's wanting to photograph...i do find with a working distance at 1:1 with the 60mm macro its very easy to scare things off.


Matt

[Miketoll]

How does the Raynox solution differ from traditional close-up lenses?

Ian

I've never used one but as far as I am aware it is the method of attachment to the front of the lens.

[wornish]

I have the Raynox DCR-250 Super Macro Conversion Lens.

I have posted some pictures on here using it.

The clip-on adapter that comes with it will attach to a lens with a filter diameter of 62mm max.
So, depending on the lens used, you may need a filter adapter to reduce the size down to 62mm.

I use mine on my 12-100mm Pro lens, so I also get the zoom capability. The lens has a 72mm filter thread, so I use two reducers to get it down to 62mm.
A 72 -67mm. and a 67-62mm that I leave permanently attached to the Raynox.

One downside is that you get significant dark circular vignetting, but the central image is perfectly clear.
The other factor is that you have to use manual focusing.

The depth of field is minuscule, so hand-holding is a real challenge and, imho, a tripod is essential.

So, bottom line, it's a way cheaper solution than using a proper OM Macro lens, but there are trade-offs.

[Matt_Hirst]

Forgot to add i am thinking of trying the siocore with the 300mm f4 to see what that gives as all i can find is it creates a working distance of around 8 inches but no real info on image quality etc.


Matt

[Ross the fiddler]

Wow, Dave - that's amazing, thank you. I'm sure she will love these. I am still interested to know what people think of the clip-on-the-front option, though maybe I should have been more clear, I was thiniing about the Raynox clip-on lens that has been well reviewed.

I will PM you.

Ian

I use the Raynox 250 on the 60mm macro lens but not tried it on the 12-50 lens though.

[alfbranch]

Ian I suggest that you daughter watches this video and maybe a few more by Michael Widdell. There are upside and downsides to both depending on the lens.

https://youtu.be/-biuJvoGtBg?si=NaGg33Ruqiugd0Ez

An MF macro lens may be cheaper than you think

https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/product/7artisans-60mm-f28-ii-micro-four-thirds-fit/sku-3267275?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=UK%7CGoogle%7CBuy%7CPmax%7CNew%7CPmax%7CAll%7CAll%7CUK&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20446624926&gbraid=0AAAAAD-5icYwsosgMYY2mYnY3Z85NiKGq&gclid=Cj0KCQjwkILEBhDeARIsAL--pjz5MvvqjcWLvYymtvic4XFpnOSk4_PCxyu_r1NqXbsppx88i3dwxPkaAvDEEALw_wcB