Macro doesn't HAVE to be expensive...

...right? I use stackable filter sets with a general use 55mm lens, as well as the macro feature on my telemacro lens and get amazing results. I find that a tripod, great lighting (and playing with it), and patience are often the only tools I need to take interesting close-up/macro shots. Of course, when I'm playing macro, I'm usually shooting something in my "homemade" macro studio and it's often something to do with flowers. I'd like to venture out into being able to shoot good macro shots of things in a natural environment (insects, etc.) but the closest I've come are a few nice close-ups here and there (using my telemacro lens)...

One awesome tool to look into for macro photography is the extension tube, and this doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg - I've seen them as reasonably priced as $100-150 with five star ratings by groups of as many as hundreds of users. Sadly, I can't find them for my camera (the only place I HAVE found them is at B&H online but they're NEVER available)...

Do you have any macro equipment tips or camera setting tips for shooting macro with "regular" equipment?

Tags: equipment, filters, macro

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Permalink Reply by Matt Needham on July 22, 2009 at 5:44am

You can buy an adapter that allows you to mount your lenses backwards. I've never done it myself, but if you google "reverse lens macro" there are lots of articles.

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Permalink Reply by Christy Grimes on July 22, 2009 at 6:23am

Wow - that's very interesting. Until your post I had never heard of this!

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Permalink Reply by Matt Needham on July 22, 2009 at 7:23am

The folks that I've known who've tried it often use old prime lenses. The adapter screws onto the front lens threads, so it doesn't matter what the lens mount is. There are lots of excellent prime lenses on the used market that have an obsolete or unpopular lens mount, so they go for cheap.