I would like to hear comments from those who use magnification filters/diopters. The kind that screw on like filters. I would also like to know what the best of these are, and where I can find them. Nikon used to make multi-element magnifiers (2T, 3T, 4T, 5T), but I don't know if they are still available.
I use the two element Canon 500D. It's actually pretty good. It gives me macro capability with no real bulk or weight. It performs very well, especially when used on a DSLR that crops only the center of the image from the lens.
The "magnifiers" and "close-up lenses" many refer to are actually diopter lenses. There are very cheap single element diopter lenses and there are more expensive double element diopter lenses. The double element diopter lenses are very highly corrected, accounting for the high cost of these lenses, and provide very good quality images. The cheaper, single element diopter lenses can introduce all kinds of optical aberrations and should be avoided.
Nikon, unfortunately, no longer make the 5T and 6T diopter lenses. You can sometimes find them on Epray but many times you will pay more for them in used condition than they sold for when new. Canon's 250D and 500D are excellent diopter lenses, too, but are significantly more expensive than Nikon's. Other than Nikon and Canon, nobody else makes highly corrected diopter lenses.
Diopter lenses yield their best results when used on lenses with longer focal lengths. Diopter lenses cause all lenses, regardless of focal length, to focus on a subject from the same distance when the lenses are set on infinity focus. Add a 500D diopter lens to a 50mm lens and add a 500D to a 200mm lens and both lenses, when set to infinity focus, will be exactly 500mm from the subject when the subject is in focus. Obviously, you will get a larger image magnification from the 200mm lens than you will from the 50mm lens.
Canon and Nikon double element diopter lenses are an excellent way to get into close-up and macro photography without spending a lot on a dedicated macro lens. If you already own a dedicated macro lens, the Nikon and Canon diopter lenses are an excellent way to extend the image magnification and usefullness of your macro lens.
BTW, bellows are a pain in the rear in a non-controlled environment. I don't recommend them for in-the-field use.
We have long owned the Nikon set, but only use it in emergencies, typically when we are caught on location without a macro or when traveling and weight is a serious limitation. They do the job, but in our experience the results are neither as sharp nor as contrasty compared to a macro lens.
I've used bellows quite a bit, and agree with Tom. They're really problematic for field use. In the controlled environment of a studio light table and LOTS of light for critical focusing, they are quite useful. In the field they would make you nuts, nuts, nuts.
Hoya has an air-spaced achromat of 10 diopters (10!, countem 10!) in 49mm, 52mm, and 55mm diameters. I cannot speak for the price or quality but it might be fun to play with.
Discussion
7 repliesI would like to hear comments from those who use magnification filters/diopters. The kind that screw on like filters. I would also like to know what the best of these are, and where I can find them. Nikon used to make multi-element magnifiers (2T, 3T, 4T, 5T), but I don't know if they are still available.
Kent in SD
Any opinions is that direction?
Is it possible to use AF with multi-element magnifiers?
Thanks,
Carol
Nikon, unfortunately, no longer make the 5T and 6T diopter lenses. You can sometimes find them on Epray but many times you will pay more for them in used condition than they sold for when new. Canon's 250D and 500D are excellent diopter lenses, too, but are significantly more expensive than Nikon's. Other than Nikon and Canon, nobody else makes highly corrected diopter lenses.
Diopter lenses yield their best results when used on lenses with longer focal lengths. Diopter lenses cause all lenses, regardless of focal length, to focus on a subject from the same distance when the lenses are set on infinity focus. Add a 500D diopter lens to a 50mm lens and add a 500D to a 200mm lens and both lenses, when set to infinity focus, will be exactly 500mm from the subject when the subject is in focus. Obviously, you will get a larger image magnification from the 200mm lens than you will from the 50mm lens.
Canon and Nikon double element diopter lenses are an excellent way to get into close-up and macro photography without spending a lot on a dedicated macro lens. If you already own a dedicated macro lens, the Nikon and Canon diopter lenses are an excellent way to extend the image magnification and usefullness of your macro lens.
BTW, bellows are a pain in the rear in a non-controlled environment. I don't recommend them for in-the-field use.
I found the following information in the Nikon Knowledge Base.
http://support.nikontech.com/cgi-bin/nikonusa.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=13981&p_created=1147805363&p_sid=L7gokiDi&p_accessibility=0&p_lva=900&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9MyZwX3Byb2RzPTAmcF9jYXRzPTAmcF9wdj0mcF9jdj0mcF9zZWFyY2hfdHlwZT1hbnN3ZXJzLnNlYXJjaF9ubCZwX3BhZ2U9MSZwX3NlYXJjaF90ZXh0PTYwIG1tIGYyLjggbGVucyArICBiZWxsb3dzIGZvY3VzaW5nIHVuaXQ*&p_li=&p_topview=1
As I recall you are also shooting with a D200.
Hope this helps. I'm still researching.
Carol
I've used bellows quite a bit, and agree with Tom. They're really problematic for field use. In the controlled environment of a studio light table and LOTS of light for critical focusing, they are quite useful. In the field they would make you nuts, nuts, nuts.
I found the following information in the Nikon Knowledge Base.
http://support.nikontech.com/cgi-bin/nikonusa.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=13981&p_created=1147805363&p_sid=L7gokiDi&p_accessibility=0&p_lva=900&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9MyZwX3Byb2RzPTAmcF9jYXRzPTAmcF9wdj0mcF9jdj0mcF9zZWFyY2hfdHlwZT1hbnN3ZXJzLnNlYXJjaF9ubCZwX3BhZ2U9MSZwX3NlYXJjaF90ZXh0PTYwIG1tIGYyLjggbGVucyArICBiZWxsb3dzIGZvY3VzaW5nIHVuaXQ*&p_li=&p_topview=1
As I recall you are also shooting with a D200.
Hope this helps. I'm still researching.
Carol