TEll me all about lens converters and filters etc, please!

[elise1030]

Okay, the reality is I probably won't be able to buy a DSLR for some time to come so for now I've decided to expand the capabilites of my Canon A610 via the use of the thread adapter and filters. If I buy a 52mm lense adapter, does that mean I can attach any 52mm filter to the adapter? Will I be able to attach the telephoto or wideangle lense to a 52mm adapter? Are those macro filters you can buy on Ebay worth buying to help the in-camera macro ability?

I was looking at buying this http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Canon-A620-A610-UV-Polarizing-Filter-Lens-Adapter-52mm_W0QQitemZ180023918101QQihZ008QQcategoryZ30066 QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem to get started and then go on to buy the telephoto lense and the macro filters.

I know this might sound like I haven't a clue what I'm talking about but honestly, I don't really know what I'm talking about here! Has anyone got any suggestions on where to start and what's best?

[RossW]

If I buy a 52mm lense adapter, does that mean I can attach any 52mm filter to the adapter?
Yes.

Will I be able to attach the telephoto or wideangle lense to a 52mm adapter?
Yes, assuming they use 52mm threads.

Are those macro filters you can buy on Ebay worth buying to help the in-camera macro ability?
Maybe; but much of the stuff on ebay is junk

Has anyone got any suggestions on where to start and what's best?
Absolutely!! www.lensmateonline.com for the adaptor, certainly; they sell some 3rd-party converter lenses, and offer some advice and comparison photos. You might do at least as well elsewhere for the converters, but the advice is free and very good.

[elise1030]

Thanks for replying RossW! I've looked at Lensemate before. Is there a difference between a 52mm or 58mm thread size aside from the diameter and is one better than the other?

[Jeff1]

Look here:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...d.php?t=203236

[dhbailey]

I clicked on that link and it took me to a page of RSO backstage photos which were taken on a Canon 1DMKII and makes no mention of the diffeence between 52mm and 58mm or which is better on the S3.

[sonnyJ]

adaptors are the same except for size - so determine which converter you want and get adaptor to fit it.
Otherwise - 58mm filters, etc usually cost a bit more than 52mm - that can be a consideration

[elise1030]

Thanks! Would this be a good starter kit http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Telephoto-Wide-Angle-Macro-Lens-for-Canon-A95-A540-A610_W0QQitemZ190015025899QQihZ009QQcategoryZ30066 QQcmdZViewItem ?
Lensmateonline would be a little expensive for me once you had converted to AUD and added shipping on top of that.

[dhbailey]

The price seems very reasonable, but with lenses, it very often is a matter of "you get what you pay for" -- none of those sample pictures appear to be taken with the lenses included in that set (their individual prices are higher than the entire set!) so you can't really see what sort of quality you'll actually be buying.

It would be a good starter set to try the different extremes (tele, wide, macro) and see how much you'll ever use them, but realize that you may well end up replacing one or all of them once you see the possibilities and also see the limitations.

Perhaps it would be best to simply buy ONE of the higher-priced (and probably higher quality) lenses, at whichever extreme you're more likely to want to be shooting, and put a coffee can aside on your dresser to drop your pocket change into, to go towards buying one of the other lenses eventually.

[elise1030]

So I supposed I'd be most interested in getting more zoom out of my camera and doing some macro work too being able to get closer without the zoom on the camera casting shadows on my subject. Would I be best to go for a tokina telephoto lens?

[Jeff1]

Sorry about that.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=203236

[Chenla Ou]

are those the only lense that will fit a620 a610 etc? or is that the only ones they have available?... just curious because i want to ask my dad if he has any old camera stuff laying around and see if i could ghetto rig something lol

[Chenla Ou]

^^^^