On 06/02/2011 12:35 PM, Tim wrote:

> I am a novice and unsure wether to buy add on filter type close up

> lenes for my 55 - 300 telephoto or the standard 18-55mm kit lense.

> (different size filters involved). I want to try my hand at insect

> shots etc and cannot afford a macro lense so looking at the sets of

> diopters you get on ebay as an alternative answer.

I have done  pretty good shots of insects with a close-up lens on a 

55-250mm lens (used on the average around 100-150mm). 55mm is a bit 

short for insects.

For decent quality shots you need a good quality close-up lens 

(achromatic type). Avoid the cheap ones, a decent lens is at least $50 

and often closer to $100 (since lens price will vary with filter thread 

diameter, you may have an extra criteria here). Canon makes very good 

ones, but Marumi and Raynox are good brands too. Some of the Raynox ones 

have a 'clip-on' fixation which is very practical and works on a quite 

large range of filter thread sizes and so can work on your two lenses.

The close-up lens makes your lens myopic, with a very shallow focusing 

range, and the stronger the lens, the shallower it gets. It takes a 

while to get used to it (you have to aim blindly until you get the 

insect near your focus range). So start with a 2D or 3D lens (two to 

three dioptres). Stronger lenses may also not work with long focal lengths.

Once you get nice shots with the close-up lens, consider investing in a 

real macro lens.

-- 

Bertrand