500D Filter

I've been investigating the 500D close-up filter for use with my 70-200 f4.0 and can't find a 67mm available. (Probably not one made.)

If I opt for a thread adaptor, what is the best choice? Should I more than cover my 67mm with a 72mm 500D or will distortion play a factor?

If I choose 58mm, I will need to zoom from 70mm to compensate and other factors will become important. What is the best choice?

Thanks!

Hi Oops

Standard filter thread sizes on camera lenses as you know are 49, 52, 58, 62, 67 and 72.

It seems odd that a close-up lens would be made
in 58 and 72 and not in the intermediate 62 & 67.

I really think you should make further enquiries.
I'll do the same and let you know if I have any luck.

regards
eland

oops,

I have not made any enquiries, but Hoya make some close up lenses, and I'd be surprised if they didn't make one in the 67mm size...

Seems silly to stay with Canon if you have to use a step-up ring. Of course, if you have other lenses with the larger thread, then it may make sense to buy the larger-size close-up lens from Canon.

I'd also look at extension tubes (from Canon or Kenko). This way you won't be tied down to a filter size, and any optical aberrations should be smaller than with a close-up lens... you can also use them with any lens in your arsenal.

BTW, the 70-200mm f/4 is on my list of "things to acquire". Are you happy with it?

Rudi,

Sorry for the late post and thanks for the extension tube suggestion. I loved Roger C.'s tulip taken with the 500D so much I didn't even click on the tube option.

Eland, I simply searched B&H and, not finding the 500D in 67mm, just assumed it must be an "off" size. Being new to photography (30 years snapshot hero, one year serious), I find I learn every time I post. This is sooo great! Thanks for the common thread size list, it is now in my permanent folder.

Rudi, in regard to the 70-200mm f4 lens. I bought it with the D30 from Canoga but never used it much. I was shocked to discover a 4.98 rating @ photographyreview.com and a 4.1 rating @ photodo.com and decided I needed to dig this thing out of the bag and see what all the excitement was about.

On the D30 the 70mm is really 112mm on the short end so it really has a special application launch window for my needs. I photographed a 4x4 rock crawling championship this last weekend and forced myself to use the 70-200 as much as possible to answer both our questions. Many shots were "crop challenged" with only 30 feet distance_to_subject but the quality was fantastic. I found that by using a lens that 1.) is classified as L and 2.) is rated so high across the board, I shot with a lot of confidence and expectation. Confidence must be an important part of my need because, instead of the usual 10 to 20 percent "keeper" ratio I have come to expect, I came away with more "great" images of the same subjects than I know what to do with. The 70-200 just keeps cranking the same consistency shot after shot.

I am terrible at hand held shots as I tend to move away from the subject as I press the button. I shoot a gun the same way and can't believe I survived Vietnam!8)
(They gave me a BIG gun that shot VERY fast to compensate.) The 70-200 is a lot like this. I shot TV @ 500 just in case and most 200mm shots came out great.

In summary, now that I have used this lens, it is the best value for the price in this range. I will never part with it. I only wish I had a Canon film body to try some slides as I understand this is where it really shines.

Chris,

the "Kenko" brand extension tubes should only set you back about $120 (for a set of three: 12mm, 20mm and 36mm). I've got some coming in a couple of weeks or so (the local distributor is out of them at the moment, so I have to wait until they get them in from overseas).

Regarding slide film: I just got back a roll of Kodachrome 64 back in the mail, and was reminded about what it was that I loved about good old Kodachrome... the colour saturation and the fine grain are just beautiful! I know there are better slide films than Kodachrome (some of the newer E6 emulsions), but at much higher price, and not that much better, IMO. And NO films does reds the way Kodachrome does (flameproof suit on 8)).

If you send me your 70-200mm f/4 L lens, I'll shoot a roll of Kodachrome through it and email you the scans!

Seriously, though, I am going to scan some of these slides and post them here for people to see. I just hope that they don't lose too much in the scanning process.

Regarding your shooting habits - maybe you should buy a 1D... It shoots fast! 8)

Canon Lens Work says 500D available in 52,58,72 and 77mm. Canon say "To avoid AF actuator overload, manual focusing is recomended." David

Thanks David, suspicions confirmed.

Rudi, I saw a 1V on E-Bay and almost put my foot in the water. I'll wait for your post since you already have a film body and I have only the D30 and "some lenses".

I used to shoot slide film only with a Nikon FE, cheap Nikor lenses, not a clue what I was doing, and the results were very good.

I'll put the 1D on my wish list for sure, and I'll trade you my 70-200L f4 for a 28-70L and see if UPS ever gets them back to the right owners after the extended tests!8)

Tubes are on order tomorrow. Thanks.

Chris,

you might have to wait a little while, as the scanning will be done on my friend's film scanner (Canon FS4000), and he is busy scanning some of his stuff most of the time. Still, I should be seeing him in the next few days, to compare LENSES! (It's all your fault!)

I'm just ringing around now, getting the best price on the 70-200mm f/4 L, and should have it in a couple of days (don't know if I should thank you or not talk to you any more... ). Paul (my friend) has the f/2.8 version of this lens, so we will be doing a comparison shoot...

Please post some macros shot with the extension tubes, when you get them.

I'm off to get a better price on this f/4 L (You guys have the best prices in the US... )

Oops

A little research has really confirmed your suspicions.
Canon makes the 500D primarily for lenses in the 70-200 range.
The 250D is likewise specialized in their eyes.
It is intended for lenses in the 35-135 range.

As they are apparently simple, plus diopter lenses not unlike reading glasses, it seems strange that they want to limit the sales to owners of lenses of certain focal lengths.

Ours is not to reason why, but that is the reason that the full range is not available for either strength lens.

The paradox is that your lens is in the specified range and one STILL cannot get a 500 D to fit.

Curiouser and curiouser.

eland