True Macro vs ......

[Kevin W]

I am new to Macro, actually to DSLR completely. Right now I do not have a true macro lens, I am making due with a 50mm 1.8 and extention tubes.

What am I missing out on by not having true Macro glass?

Thank You,
Kevin

[xxloverxx]

You're not missing out on much, but a lot of extension tubes don't couple with the camera, which means you'll need a lens with the aperture ring, and you'll be setting the exposure manually without any metering. You'll also have to focus by moving the camera, the focusing ring won't do much. You lose infinity focus, which a lot of macro lenses have. Composition is also much harder when you stop down, so compose at 1.8 and then stop down later.

Also beware of dust getting into the camera.

[LordV]

If you have auto extension tubes (ie have aperture control) then you are not missing out on much , just lack of infinty/far focus and a slightly short focus distance. A 50mm lens with a full set of extension tubes gives you more max magnification (1.36:1) than a standard macro lens.
The only other thing is macro lenses tend to have a flatter field of focus than normal lenses but that really only matters if you want to shoot stamps :)

Brian v.

[John_B]

I am new to Macro, actually to DSLR completely. Right now I do not have a true macro lens, I am making due with a 50mm 1.8 and extention tubes.

What am I missing out on by not having true Macro glass?
Kevin W,
What you are missing is ease and working room, a true macro lens will give you more room between lens and subject.

Then with more working room it becomes easier to give light to the subject using a flash. ex. with a Canon 100mm macro lens set at 1:1 the cameras built in flash can usually give great results, not so with a 50mm and enough extension tubes to match the magnification