The macro photography is exciting. It is not necessary to try it so that its results impact you, but if the tests is another song. What happens is that the macro lenses are inaccessible to many pockets and are not as versatile as other types of lenses that eventually end up amortizing in one way or another. This is the reason why many photography enthusiasts see macro images with healthy envy and the desire to try one day (maybe in another life). If this is what happens to you, I have good news, very good, there are alternatives to the macro objectives with which you can obtain wonderful results with minimal investment. You do not believe me? Keep reading and you'll find out, you don't lose anything, right?
THE ECONOMIC ALTERNATIVE TO MACRO
You may be thinking that the solution is to use the automatic mode of your camera that points macro and get very close, but no, that is not possible. The objectives have a minimum focus distance below which it is impossible to focus, therefore, to achieve small objects or subjects to infarct sizes, or try, you do not worth any objective, because at the minimum you try to approach, you will not be able to shoot. To solve this, you can use a specific objective, but we have already said that it is too expensive, or use one of these two great inventions that you can buy for a few euros. We talk about investment rings and extension tubes. If you have ever been attracted to macro photography, you have no choice but to continue reading to know them. They are your salvation! Of course, before continuing, you cannot believe that you will get the same results in terms of quality as with a macro lens, that is drawer, if so, nobody would buy a macro and they would not manufacture them, right? But if you just want to try, play, experiment and have fun, do not hesitate, do not invest (at least for now) in a macro lens, better do it in one of these two alternatives.INVESTMENT RINGS
What does it consist of? The investment rings, as the name implies, reverse a normal objective, that is, make it possible to turn it around. It is a ring that serves as an adapter so that you can place your lens upside down, it is fixed to the camera body by curling on the front, where the filters are placed and the internal part of the lens is exposed. This reduces the minimum focusing distance, that is, allowing you to get much closer to the subject, so that it reaches the sensor with a much larger size. With what objectives can they be used? The short focal length lenses allow a closer focus distance, therefore more magnification. That is why it is used a lot with 50 mm and if you have a focal length between 50 and 28 mm, great. It is best to use it with a fixed focal point that are usually brighter as well as having better quality, although it is often used a lot with the objective of the kit (18-55mm). Here is the example of an eye taken with the inverted 18-55mm. You also have the possibility of using it with a TV, attaching the telephoto lens to the camera, and then the inversion ring with the other inverted lens. This last option offers you the advantage of being able to modify the aperture of the diaphragm, because simply with the ring and the inverted lens you cannot, because the connection with the camera is lost and this is an inconvenience, since the depth of field is affected . If you use only the ring and the inverted objective you have to shoot with the maximum aperture of the lens. To consider-
- It is recommended to protect the objective , as the internal part of it is exposed. You can do it with a 12mm extension tube or build a type of protector (only suitable for very handyman ). To transport it, always use a lens cap from those that are placed on the mount.
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- Be careful to choose a ring with the diameter of the lens and compatible with its brand.
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- Better be metallic , if the goal is broken it will go to the ground with its corresponding consequences
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- As you can not use the automatisms of the camera because when you invert the lens you lose the electronic contact with the body, you will have to shoot based on trial and error and without being able to control aspects such as the aperture or without information of the photometer, for example. In fact, you will have to work with the maximum aperture of the objective, therefore with very shallow depth of field. If you have the possibility of using an old lens with a diaphragm ring to adjust it manually, then great, although it is not easy to have it on your computer, you can get it second-hand at a good price. A good option if the bug is biting you a lot
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- If you finally have this option and can modify the opening, you better use small openings, because when you get very close to the object or subject, the depth of field is drastically reduced.
- To use them with moving motifs they are better than the extension tubes that we will see next.
EXTENSION TUBES
What does it consist of? They are tubes that stand between the camera body and the lens, thus varying not the focal length, but the minimum focusing distance, that is, reducing the distance at which you can shoot. In this way, when you get closer, the objects or subjects that you photograph will seem much larger, or what is the same, the effect that is achieved with macro photography.-
- Homemade This option is for the bricomaníacos and bricomaníacas, because it is almost the same to make it than to buy it, now, that if you are able to do it (there are a lot of tutorials on the web) the satisfaction of achieving a macro with a gadget built with your own hands ... that is priceless!
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- Tubes without electronic communication. For the practitioners who are not good at DIY, nothing happens, these tubes are found for a small price already manufactured. But like the homemade ones, they do not have any type of electronic connection with the camera, so they do not allow to vary the aperture, unless you are lucky enough to have an old lens with diaphragm ring around to modify it manually. You can find these tubes from 15 euros.
- Tubes with electronic communication. This is the most sophisticated option among economic alternatives to macro objectives. It is also a tube (extender) but in this case it does have communication with the body and allows you to make adjustments that the other alternatives do not. It is also a bit more expensive, although not as tango as a macro. For 4th or 50 euros you have them, for example this game for Nikon or Canon .
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
The advantages over the inversion ring are that you can maintain communication (with the "sophisticated" option) and that depending on the number of tubes and the combinations you use you will have a greater range of focusing and amplication distances. The drawbacks, which receive less light and are more bulky than the ring. In addition, these are not recommended much with moving objects, because you have to get closer to the subject than with the ring and the bugs will be scared.ASPECTS TO CONSIDER IN BOTH CASES
The light In macro photography, light is very important. When you use extension tubes or inverter rings, this is reduced, so you will have to compensate by photographing outdoors when you have a lot of light or with a flash. If you use a flash, it is an external one that allows lighting from other positions than the front. It is also highly recommended to use reflectors and diffusers to avoid annoying and not very aesthetic shadows. The movement Here everything is magnified, not only the size of your motive, also the movement, that of your hand and that of the subject you are portraying. That's why I recommend that you use a tripod as much as possible, and if you also shoot remotely , better than better. Minimal vibration when you press the button on your camera can vary greatly the result. The quality I insist, do not expect to obtain the same results as with a macro objective because you will not achieve them. You will find deficiencies, vignetting, decrease in brightness, color alterations ... It is for what it is, to start you, experiment and have fun. But for these prices you can not ask for more! If you have found it useful, do not save the info and share it, you do us all a favor, the team, your contacts and the tiny beings who are wishing to be ported on some social network And if you try it, please, we want See the results! Thank you and see you soon! Access the premium HTML editor and use the features like the tag manager, code cleaner, color picker.