budget $60, this or that?


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zaynezhi

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Nov 30, 2008
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hi there! hope i can gain some knowledge on where i should spend my money on.
im using a 400d with sigma 70-300mm APO DG lens. now hoping to take some macro photos. but er, im pondering whether should i get hoya close up lens with my 60 bucks or should i save up and buy a raynox ? heard that raynox is a pain to focus ?

anybody ? help?
 

why not get a 2nd hand 50 1.8 and do reverse mounting... cheaper option :p
 

I'd get the Raynox. At macro magnifications, it's not the filter that causes the pain in focusing. It's the nature of macros. Most people prefer manual focusing although, autofocus is still possible, but not always spot on. Many macro shooters just move the camera back & forth till the subject is in focus, then shoot.

I say Raynox because it's an multi element close-up filter, compared to the Hoya, which isn't (I think). The image quality is obvious. I can see the difference when I shoot using a +4 Hoya and 2 stacked Nikon 6T's.
 

i see.. i intend to get the close up filters.. since i really cant wait to land my hands on macro. but after what u have said abt the image quality that hoya gives.. i better reconsider my options.. anyway.. i got a ef-s 18-55mm kit lens(non IS and USM) and a sigma 70-300mm APO DG, i thinking of selling both and fund for a zoom with greater range... should i ?
 

K la... alot of people use the Hoya. I thought it was fine when I first used it too. That is, until I got my Nikon 6T's... then when I look through past photos, there is a distinct difference for me la. But still, alot of people are happy with it.

As for your lens setup now, I think ok la. 18-55 is a good range for walking about in the day. The 70-300 Sigma has a useful macro function too, that, though it doesn't get you 1:1, is still acceptable with larger subjects like dragonflies and butterflies if you can get close enough, right?

You want a zoom with greater range, meaning something like a 18-200 or 18-250 or 18-270 is it? I can't advise you on that though. I've thought about getting one of those, but somehow the urge isn't strong enough for me to get one yet. It'll be a good travel lens though, but image quality will be different from those with smaller focal range.

Actually, if u want, u can get Canon's 250D or 500D close-up filters, or Nikon's 6T if u can find them, or just get a Raynox, and attach it to your Sigma 70-300. I'm using a Nikon D300 with a Nikkor 75-300 lens with my 2 6T's infront of it. This setup, although super heavy (including flash) gets me acceptable macros... for now. One day, I'll get my hands on a 105, a 150, or even a 200mm micro. =)
 

haha.. wah, thanks for ur reply man. think i will stick to my setup first. listen to u. if im serious abt macro, think i will be saving money for raynox. but for canon close up filter, this one ah, i think too much for me la.. haha still studying and working. but what i heard is the bad image quality that my kit lens gives. the 18-55mm (non IS and USM). but for now, guess i just stick to my setup and make full use. anyway thank you very much for ur reply! :)
 

haha.. wah, thanks for ur reply man. think i will stick to my setup first. listen to u. if im serious abt macro, think i will be saving money for raynox. but for canon close up filter, this one ah, i think too much for me la.. haha still studying and working. but what i heard is the bad image quality that my kit lens gives. the 18-55mm (non IS and USM). but for now, guess i just stick to my setup and make full use. anyway thank you very much for ur reply! :)

If you are thinking of using the Raynox DCR250 on your 70-300 lens, be warned that you will probably want to bang your head and smash your Raynox if you use it beyond 150mm - 200mm focal length. :)

A Hoya +4 filter at about $28 will be sufficient for you to take reasonable macros. :)
 

U already have $60 budget right? I think a Raynox DCR-250 is a good close-up filter. Seen alot of people using that with good pictures. Another $40 more u can find a good used piece here at B&S or something...

Cheers!
 

i was thinking, haha. i thought thru alot of combi.. haha. i was thinkin of selling my 18-55mm kit lens and sigma 70-300mm and buy a 55-250mm IS..
 

i was thinking, haha. i thought thru alot of combi.. haha. i was thinkin of selling my 18-55mm kit lens and sigma 70-300mm and buy a 55-250mm IS..

The EF-S 55-250 IS lens costs ard $360 new and you probably can get it for ard $300 in the BnS section. :)
 

i see..i tot new one cost $500++??
 

i got that price from canon website lea..not accurate ?
http://www.canon.com.sg/section/digitalcameras/eflenselineup/lenses_specs.jsp#zoom
the link.
anyway is the 55-250 IS good ?

The 55-250 is a good lens to get...;)

Catha is selling ard $360 I think. One of my friends just got it about 2 weeks ago...:)

Anyway price from the price list in the Canon sub forum as follows:

EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS (Yen/US$) RS$549/ CP-P$360/ CP-M$410/ JO$360/ MS$360/ SB-S$353/ AP-S$353/ CP $364/ Cathay (eQuote - 06/02/09) $330+7%GST / CP-P (eQuote - 13/02/09) $330+7%GST
 

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i see i see, i will consider abt that.. haha
thanks for the great help man!
 

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