Anyone using a close-up filter?

[myjohnson]

I'm looking to get more than a 1:1 reproduction from my lens. Anyone have experience with close-up filter?

Are they worth the money?

Thanks in advance.

[paranoid1123]

Re: Anyone using a close-up filter?

? Bump for an answer.

[cichlid1409]

from what i hear they work. you dont get alot out of them but they are pretty cheap.

[cameracorpus]

Hi,
Advantages:
Great for low light- they do not reduce the light input like extension tubes and teleconverters do.
They come in varying powers- usually enough to combine all the way up to 7X.
Price- Whether you get a generic filter kit on eBay or use the Cokin system, they are pretty much the cheapest solution around.
Disadvantages:
Optical quality- Unless you get upper-end ones, some degradation of picture quality can be expected. Personally, I don't find this to be that much of a handicap. I use Hoya brand and Cokin brand.
Working distance- They reduce the working distance by 1/4 to 1/2 or more. This can be an issue with live animals. They also lower the hyperfocal length of the lens. That is the amount of the picture that is in focus.

Personally, I would start with extension tubes IF and only IF you have enough light (think metal halide or multiple flashes). But for versatility, the close-up lenses can't be beat. They can be attached to any lens, making a consumer zoom into a half-decent macro in a pinch. I regularly use them on my 100-400mm lens for butterflies and flowers.

[myjohnson]

Nice!

Thanks for the tips!