Macro photography without a macro lens?

[Brypan]

Macro is my favorite type of phtography, I always did it on my old Canon Powershot (my avatar was taken with "macro"). Now I have the XS, but can't afford a macro lens. Does anybody have any tips to make the best macro photo out of a telephoto or any lens for that matter? Thanks in advance!

[HSK]

I'm pretty sure you can use extension tubes, or a cheaper option is these front lens attachments that help for focusing at shorter distances. I don't know what option would be best though, it's something i've been meaning to try aswell, as I can't get a macro yet!

Hopefully the other guys can give u a better idea. :)

[LordV]

Some ideas here
http://www.flickr.com/groups/macroviewers/discuss/72157594536861701/

[John_B]

Brypan,
How much are you willing to spend? ???
What lenses do you have already? ??? (I suggest you put what you have in your signature, as it helps us answer your questions.)

There are many ways,
ex.1 mounting a lens reversed to the camera (this can be done manually or by buying a converter)
ex.2 mounting a lens reversed to another lens (can be done manually or by buying a converter)
ex.3 using extension tubes (kenko is a great kit of 68mm of tubes)
ex.4 macro filters (comes in different magnification levels)
ex.5 bellows (same as extension tubes with more adjustments possible).
ex.6 a true macro lens (the absolute best option).
ex.7 heavy cropping a photo (can have bad effects on print size and quality).

[Rafromak]

I don't know enough about it to tell Brypan how to achieve such things, but maybe some of you can expand on this idea of mine: can he use a fairly cheap (under $100.00) EF 50mm f/1.8 lens coupled to a Kenko tube? A set of three Kenko tubes cost around $169.00, and he may be able to buy a used 50mm f/1.8 for around $50.00.

He would have to shoot during the day, and use sunlight to take photos. But a white LED flashlight and some imagination could get him by until he can afford a macro lens plus a ring flash. I could be wrong, of course :)

[Techuser]

If I had a DSLR Id go with a reverse 35mm M45 lens on tubes, probably the working distance would be less than 5cm, so having a external flash would help too, but without it you can just use the difused onboard flash

About the close up filters, for a good magnification you will need a long lens too

[Brypan]

How would you reverse a lens manually, hold it there? And why do I see black shading (Is this vignetting? I am learning my photography vocabulary.) with the picture in the middle when I see pictures said to be taken with tubes? Also, can anybody recomend a good extension tube for my 18-55mm
lens?

Last question for now, I have heard about cutting out the center of the lens cap, and somehow that lets you get closer to the subject. Is this really effective? How exactly do you do this?

By the way, I now put what lenses I have in my sig. It is not much, but I am new to to the DSLR world andthat is all I can afford for a while.