Closeup filters

Couldn't resist a bargain on Ebay, now have a set of Hoya filters, which fit on the end of my G6.
Can someone explain how they work ? Do i push the Camera up against a Beetles nose or do i stand a few feet back and zoom in.
Thanks,
Clueless

More of the first scenario, I think. Zooming probably wouldn't work with the filters, in that the camera might be unable to focus.

At any given zoom setting experiment by moving the camera relative to the subject while watching the screen. You'll get the feeling of what you can do. Autofocus will work, at least it does on my G2, but only over a range of inches.

John from PA

Anything from 4" to 13" from the front of the lens.
Depending on the combination of filters.

DavidM wrote in post #5055195
Can someone explain how they work ?

Close-up filters (sometimes called diopter lenses) change the maximum focus distance of the camera's lens. They are like reading glasses for your lens, allowing you to focus more closely than you could otherwise.

When your lens is set to focus at infinity:

A +1 diopter lens (Hoya +1, for example) changes the maximum focus distance to 1 meter.

A +2 diopter (Hoya +2, Canon 500d) changes the max. focus distance to 1/2-meter.

A +4 diopter (Hoya +4, Canon 250d) cuts the maximum distance to 1/4 meter, allowing closer focusing and thus greater magnifications.

Whether or not your find close-up filters necessary on a camera with built-in macro focusing capabilities is up to you. In macro mode, your camera can not focus at infinity - you can set it to infinity, but obviously it's going to focus much closer. And when you add a close-up filter, maximum focus will be closer still.

So, you might want to try experimenting with the camera's macro vs. normal focusing modes to see which is more useful when using the close-up filters. You may find that you have a bit more working space (distance from front of lens to subject) by using a diopter in normal focus mode, and zooming in. Tight working space might be okay for photographing your stamp collection, but in the field you may prefer a bit more distance to that beetle.

Hope that's helpful.

(Oh, one caveat: all of the above is "if I recall correctly." )

Thanks all for your replies. Looks like it's trial & error, but at least i know which end to start from. slejhamerm i will try all options you mention and will report back, hopefully with some pics....