MACRO - ALMOST - ON A SHOESTRING PART 2

Close up photography is usually considered to be photography that produces an image of at least 1:4. True macro photography produces an image of 1:1. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN IN SIMPLENGLISH? The image magnification (on the film plane or camera sensor) termed close up is a minimum of one quarter the size of the subject. With true macro, that image is at least the same size as the subject. We'll mostly concentrate on how to shoot close up inexpensively. First of all, let's address the macro setting on your camera. Well, it ain't macro. Period. What these close up settings actually do varies from camera to camera. Consult your camera's manual for more info. A lot of zoom lenses have a macro setting. So does that mean they're macro lenses? NO! However these settings do enable you to achieve a higher magnification than you would attain without their use. Bear in mind though, it ain't true macro. One of the cheapest ways of attaining a higher magnification is through the use of close up lenses. Close up lenses screw on to the camera's lens just as a filter would. Now, what exactly is a screw on close up lens? It's a diopter. So, what exactly is a diopter? It's - Well, think reading glasses. The bottom line is that close up lenses are a cheap means of achieving true macro (or even greater) capability. So why would anyone buy an expensive macro lens? Well, because close up lenses are a trade off. The optical quality of the image is definitely less than with a decent macro lens. How much less? That all depends on how wisely you choose. Close up or secondary lenses are available from filter suppliers. Choose a major filter manufacturer and your chances of going wrong decrease dramatically. The least expensive option is to purchase one or more single element lenses. The best of these can work quite well. The worst can produce totally unacceptable aberrations. The next step up is to choose an achromatic doublet. A doublet consists of two glass lenses which when attached, provide a relatively high quality magnified image, although still of less quality than an expensive macro lens would deliver. If you want do try close up photography without breaking the bank, close up lenses may be the ticket. There are other options. One is the extension tube. An extension tube is just that, a tube. (No glass optics are provided.) The tube quite simply extends the distance between the lens and the film plane or camera system. Guess what? This magnifies the image. Advantage - No glass equals no loss in sharpness. Disadvantages - longer exposures, disabled autofocus or increased expense possible loss of aperture control. Oh, and there's one other advantage. Cheap cheap. An adjustable bellows works pretty much like an extension tube. A teleconverter is like an extension tube with glass. It's another method of achieving magnification which may aid in achieving macro or near macro. Again, there are trade offs. One other option is a reversing lens. Use of a reversing lens is a little more complex. I haven't used one. I'm not all that comfortable advising on the pros and cons. Fell free to do your own research. Of course, a top option is a dedicated Macro lens. The pros? Lots. The cons? Mucho moolah. For my money, start with a good single element close up lens. LARRY ELKINS ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY