Digital SLR question. Re: Lenses

Factual Questions
1

Help me! My SO has a Canon EOS Rebel Xti. No other lenses for it, just the camera as she got it, brand new. I’d like to buy her a macro lens as a surprise and have been scouring Ebay. I found a guy selling +1, +2, +4, & +10 diopter lenses for about $25.00 for all four. They’re Foxfoto brand and brand new.

Here’s my question and it will probably sound ridiculously stupid to the lot of you but will those only work if I buy some accessory lens (you know, those $150-on up lenses) and then you screw on the little macro lens to that or can the lenses be used directly on the Rebel as it came, with the original lens. I’m sorry I sound anencephalic but before I bid, I want to make sure I’m not getting something she can’t use.

Thanks for you help.

Chao

2

Screw in attatchments that allow for closer focusing are not in the same league as a true macro lens. (certain Zeiss and Leitz stuff can be an exception.) These often are prone to vignetting and curvature of the focus plane.

A true macro will have a fairly flat focus field. So, by that definition, even many “macro” zoom lenses are not really macro, but merely close focusing.

3

[QUOTE=NoClueBoy]
Screw in attatchments that allow for closer focusing are not in the same league as a true macro lens. (certain Zeiss and Leitz stuff can be an exception.) These often are prone to vignetting and curvature of the focus plane.

A true macro will have a fairly flat focus field. So, by that definition, even many “macro” zoom lenses are not really macro, but merely close focusing.
[/QUOTE]

I did sort of assume that based on the pictures that were demonstrated by the various lenses. I can’t afford to buy her a true macro yet but am hoping by our anniversary in September or by Xmas I can. I just wanted to get something fun for her to play with. She’s an actual photographer although hasn’t done any serious work since college. She’s trying to do some freelance stuff on the side.

So will those little screw in attachements screw into the original lens that comes with the Eos Rebel?

4

NoClueBoy is right about the limitations of diopters; they can also increase chromatic aberration and other distortion. But to answer your question: Most diopters screw in to the filter threads, so as long as your lens has threads (true for most SLR/DSLR lenses) and you get diopters of the same diameter as your lens (usually listed on the front of the lens, e.g. [phi]52mm) you don’t need any other attachments. (Diopters of larger diameter can be fitted with a cheap step-up ring; if you step down you will get vignetting and have to crop the image.) They’re also much less of a hassle to carry around than another lens, so it’s kind of fun to have a couple to play with.

What lens is currently on the camera?

5

[QUOTE=The Chao Goes Mu]
I did sort of assume that based on the pictures that were demonstrated by the various lenses. I can’t afford to buy her a true macro yet but am hoping by our anniversary in September or by Xmas I can. I just wanted to get something fun for her to play with. She’s an actual photographer although hasn’t done any serious work since college. She’s trying to do some freelance stuff on the side.

So will those little screw in attachements screw into the original lens that comes with the Eos Rebel?
[/QUOTE]

Check the filter size of the lens. It is often preceded by a 0 with a slash thru it. Common sizes are 49mm, 52mm, 55mm, 58mm, 62mm. Note that this is not the focal length, but rather the filter/accessory size.

Close up filters of decent quality are indeed fun to play with.

Another useful gift idea is a tripod or monopod or tabletop tripod.

6

As long as you match up the diameters, yes.

The trick is that almost all lenses have two dimensions measured in mm - the focal length, and the barrel, or filter size. They’ve probably got a zoom lens right now - something like 28-80, perhaps. The filter size is almost always next to a symbol that looks like an “o” with a slash through it.

Rather than optics, which can be really spendy - a true macro lens will start out at a bit under $300, and go (way) up from there - what else can they make use of? A better case, a better flash, memory cards?

I’ve had macro lenses, and have really only had use for them once or twice. If you think your SO is about to embark on a hobby of photographing insects and flowers, then they need a macro lens. If not, well…

ETA: How abut a monopod instead? They’re great for shooting in low light, or with long lenses and you need just a little extra support and don’t want to lug a full tripod.

7

I checked the specs. Canon EF mount. 55mm

The lenses on ebay will fit according to the seller’s page. So it looks like I can go ahead and bid.

She does have a monopod and a tripod as well as a tiny table top tripod. Right now, lenses and perhaps a new external flash are what I’d like to look into for her for future use. We’ve got to start small here due to financial constraints. I really want the macro lens too. When I’m dinkin’ around with the thing, my favorite thing to do is to take close up shots of mundane things. It’s like shooting a brand new world.
I guess this falls into the slightly selfish gift catagory. :eek:
Edit for a quick reply to Gotpasswords. I doubt her focus will be insects and such… More people animals and occassional landscape shots.

8

I’ve taken some macro pictures like this one using an ordinary lens (a 50 mm lens in this case) plus extension tubes that work with the automatic focus, etc., of the lens. It’s a cheaper option than a true macro lens, but it still gets some good results for me.

9

If you take a good look at the Rebel, I think that you will find a Makro setting in the menu. My old Olympus Mju would focus down to about 2", my current Kodak somethingorother does too, and my Olympus D500 SLR also gets down to a couple of inches.
All quite likely a better bet than add-on lenses. A true Makro will cost as much as the original camera and lens.

It is likely though that you can buy extension rings or bellows although I will admit I haven’t seen them for digital cameras but they were always available for 35mm SLR’s - there are some knocking around here somewhere for my old OM1.

10

Gotpasswords, did you read the previous post I made? We made virtually the same suggestions. Nice to know we photog types think alike! :wink:

11

Well, I lost the bids. :frowning: But there are plenty more being sold. One thing I just now noticed. The sellers’ ads said nothing, upon closer inspection, about these lenses being compatible with the Canon Digital SLR. The word Digital just keeps popping up all over the ads. So maybe it’s a good thing I didn’t win? Am I right in assuming that they wouldn’t work? Grrr…whatever happened to the good ol’d days before digital started confusing the hell out of everybody? Ok, so I really do like the DSLR, I’ve only recently just picked up a DSLR so there’s so damn much I need to learn.

Oh and our camera does have a macro setting and we both use it quite often. We just wanted something to add to the experience. We want to get a little closer than what we can now and still keep the integrity of the shot.

So, dumb question number 8,456. So now I wonder if those lenses are even going to be worth it? Can I put the camera on the macro setting, slap one of the four lenses on and have it work that way? Will it give me a nice crisp close up shot?

12

Sorry for the double post but I wanted to tell you, Giles, that I love the shots you took. Nice stuff!

13

When you say the camera has no other lenses, just as she bought it, does it include at least one lens? My guess would be that you bought it as a kit, with the standard 18-55mm lens. To check this, take off the lens cap, and look at the lens from the front - as if you were staring into the camera when someone is taking a picture of you. You should see the following in a circle around the glass:

Canon Zoom Lens EF-S 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 II

And below that:

Canon Inc. (circle-with-a-slash) 58mm.

The 58mm refers to the filter diameter (which is what NoClueBoy was talking about), and if you plan to buy her the close-up lenses, they’d have to have a 58mm thread.

If you’d like to save and get her a true macro lens, look into the Canon EF-S 60mm macro. A little beauty, and I’m lusting after and saving for one at the moment.

Re: DQ 8,456: The ‘macro’ mode on the camera (marked with a flower) doesn’t change the inherent macro capabilities of the attached lens - it just alters camera settings to those most likely to be used in a macro situation. It won’t help you get closer or larger pictures. I’ve found that the quality of pictures taken using close-up lenses is satisfactory, but nothing to sing from the rooftops about. YMMV.

14

Missed the edit window.

Link to discussion about macro mode: Linky

Taken using close-up lenses.,

15

Thanks for all the help so far! I think I’m ready to buy, but before I do, I have just one more question. Since the lenses I am buying are not the big ol’ fancy macro lenses but are just the little close-up ones, is it ok if it’s not Canon brand? I’ve heard, and I don’t know if it’s true, that one should try to find the same brand lenses as the camera to prevent wear on the threads. The brand I’m looking at is Foxfoto.

16

[QUOTE=The Chao Goes Mu]
I’ve heard, and I don’t know if it’s true, that one should try to find the same brand lenses as the camera to prevent wear on the threads.
[/QUOTE]

No, I’ve never heard this. Plastic thread technology is pretty good these days. :slight_smile: I’ve got 3rd party filters and adapters and I’ve never worried about it.

17

[QUOTE=The Chao Goes Mu]
One thing I just now noticed. The sellers’ ads said nothing, upon closer inspection, about these lenses being compatible with the Canon Digital SLR. The word Digital just keeps popping up all over the ads. So maybe it’s a good thing I didn’t win? Am I right in assuming that they wouldn’t work? Grrr…whatever happened to the good ol’d days before digital started confusing the hell out of everybody? Ok, so I really do like the DSLR, I’ve only recently just picked up a DSLR so there’s so damn much I need to learn.

Oh and our camera does have a macro setting and we both use it quite often. We just wanted something to add to the experience. We want to get a little closer than what we can now and still keep the integrity of the shot.

So, dumb question number 8,456. So now I wonder if those lenses are even going to be worth it? Can I put the camera on the macro setting, slap one of the four lenses on and have it work that way? Will it give me a nice crisp close up shot?
[/QUOTE]
A diopter is just a piece of glass that screws on to the front of your lens. It will work on any lens that it can attach to (i.e., any lens with the same filter-thread diameter), digital or analog, autofocus or manual, whatever. Since it’s on the front of the lens, the camera electronics (autofocus, exposure, and aperture control) don’t need to know anything about it.

Using a diopter is like looking through a magnifying glass (which is all a diopter is). The diopter refracts light in such a way that you can focus on objects closer to the camera, thus getting a larger image. With a +1 diopter attached, focusing the lens all the way to infinity will let you look at objects 1m away; with a +2, to 0.5m, and so on. With a DSLR, “macro” mode will just select some reasonable choices for exposure, aperture, and maybe focus distance; you can control all of these manually as well.

I’ve never heard of thread wear being an issue with filters as long as you keep them clean, and I don’t know why that would change over different brands. (In any case I can’t imagine it being an issue except with very heavy use.) Filter threads are pretty standardized, and AFAIK the only common difference is the diameter. What can matter is that not all diopters are the same. Some are made from two pieces of glass sandwiched together; the two elements have different refractive properties, chosen so that the stack has less chromatic aberration than either individual element. Some are made from only one element, and these will have larger chromatic aberration (bright off-axis point sources will get distorted into bands of color). I don’t know anything about Foxfoto diopters, but I’d guess they are the cheaper single-element kind.

Here are a couple of articles about diopters which you might want to read.

18

[QUOTE=The Chao Goes Mu]
I’ve heard, and I don’t know if it’s true, that one should try to find the same brand lenses as the camera to prevent wear on the threads.
[/QUOTE]

If you’re referring to the threads at the front end of the lens, that’s what a 1A “skylight” filter is good for - in addition to keeping fingers and sneezes off the expensive glass, it guards against the threads from getting goobered when the lens gets bumped into things. At about ten bucks, it’s cheap protection. For any given diameter, the threads are universal.

If you’re referring to the back of the lens where it meets the camera, it’s been ages since lenses screwed in - they’ve been some sort of bayonet quarter-turn mount for a very long time. Not much to worry about here, other than not trying to do something goofy like jam a Nikon lens onto a Canon body.