Macro, filter questions. Plus hello

[hoffman68]

I got an XT with the kit lens a few weeks ago and am very pleased with it. I used to shoot an AE-1 and it was a pain with the processing and all. Digital kind of does away with that! Anyway, I ordered a polarizing filter that's supposed to be a circular but you have to rotate it for it to filter. If I remember correctly that's a laminar. I didn't think you had to rotate a circular. (Ebay, well it is round...)
I was also wondering about those filter type macro lenses. My daughter and I are into macro.
Thanks, and I'm glad I found this forum.

[tim]

Welcome to POTN :) Yes, you have to rotate circular polarisers. I don't use filters with macro lenses so can't help more.

[ddelallata]

filter type Macros? I'm thinking that you mean close-up lenses.. Just get a real macro lens like the Canon EF 100 f/2.8 Macro or the EF-S 60 Macro. You and your daughter will be much more happy with the results. Just visit the Nature and Animal phorum below.

[hoffman68]

Thanks guys! Yes I'm talking about the close-up lenses that screw on like filters. I've seen them on ebay in sets that have plus 1, plus 2 etc. and can be stacked. I'd love to have a real macro lens but after the $$ I dropped on this camera my wife would kill me... Are the close up lenses even worth bothering with?
It's hard enough to explain a UV and polarizing filter to the wife.
What a fantastic tool that P-filter is! I'm really enjoying it.

[ddelallata]

Ah yes... the wife. I wouldn't bother with those adapters. What lens(es) are you using with you D-Rebel? These cameras have such good resolution that you might be able to use the kit lens for macro work and then crop all of the unwanted stuff.

[ddelallata]

Have a look at this LINK (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=75127&highlight=macro+reverse) for a cheap alternative that provides really good results. I think that you'll enjoy reading it. Welcome to the board.

[Leorooster]

You will get some usefule info on various equipment used for macro work here:

http://www.beautifulbugs.com/howto.htm

[wolf]

I have a set of Hoya close up lens +1, +2, +4 and they do quite well for macro work using a 50mm lens. They are not as versatile as a Canon 100mm macro lens (which I used to own) but they do quite well.

[D Boone]

I really like the extention tubes. There are no lens elements to degrade the image quality. They can get you pretty darn close too. Work really well on a zoom lens, but mine don't work with EF-S (kit) lens. Pictures are amazingly sharp when taken with my 50mm, but very hard to focus on a that lens.

[PhotosGuy]

I've used a +10 filter for years & like it a lot. If I hadn't had it in my shirt pocket, I'd have missed these shots.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/PhotosGuy/Samples%20-%20General/Grasshopper-IR-03.jpg

[Leorooster]

...... no lens elements to degrade the image quality.......

Although extension tubes contain no lens elements, there would still be a slight degradation in image quality as the enlargement process also enlarges any distortions in the lens.

[PhotosGuy]

Forgot! :o

[hoffman68]

I think I may just wait and get a nice macro lens in the future. My daughter is 12 and is shooting some SUPER flower photos but I'm afraid she may cross thread the filter type lenses especially since the kit lens has plastic threads. It's hard enough to let her prance through the bushes with a $1000 camera but it makes her happy.

For now I think we'll just explore what the camera is/isn't capable of and try not to get caught up in "Gadget Mania". So easy to do...