How To Use Macro (Close Up) Filters
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- čas přidán 20. 08. 2024
- I love close up filters - or to give them another name, Macro filters. They are like a magnifying glass you screw into the front of your camera lens which allows you to get in and focus closer. Macro filters come in varying strengths and you can stack them together one on top of the other for more or less magnification.
But what I really love about them is that you can use a macro filter on almost any lens so you can shoot close up but use the characteristics of different focal lengths. For example use one on a mid range lens of about 50 mm and you have a very natural looking perspective. Use them on a 200 mm lens and depth of field becomes minute and you get that wonderful narrow field of view.
Use good quality close up filters and image quality is fine - maybe not quite so good as with a dedicated macro lens but there's so little difference it's not noticeable.
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you're the jeremy clarkson on photography and i mean that as a compliment. I really like the mix or wit, knowledge and delivery in your videos
Thanks +tattoodrdoke Please share them around online - it'll help me make more of them. Best wishes for 2016 - MIKE
+Mike Browne I've only just found your channel. I watched through 3 of your videos and didnt skip a minute. I"m very much into macro do found these videos interesting and insightful. Keep up the great work.
this video takes concepts and ideas that are difficult if explained theoretically and simply and concisely shows the actions behind the theory. Thanks, brilliant.
Thank you scombs720 :-)
10 years late to the show. Great video. Just to add... an advantage of a dedicated macro lens over close up lenses is that the distance to subject is often greater with a proper macro lens: something important if you're shooting insects etc 🙂
Agreed. Filters are pretty good but for photographers into macro nothing beats a macro lens... MIKE🙏😊
Love the atmosphere and the simplicity of the explanation.
Thank you Matej Blagšič Please help me make more free vids by sharing them on forums, Facebook etc
For a second I forgot I was on youtube and thought I was watching Topgear on the TV...
lol my thoughts exactly
I could not resist to login to my account to give a thumbs up. Thanks
your video for a 9 yrs ago, still have good quality as if you were shooting it in 2022
Thanks Alisya - fundamentals never really change 😊
dayum, thats a best review that i ever seen !!!!!
Thanks Dato Marmarashvili - dayum you made me smile with that one :-)
good to listen to a person, who knows what they are talking about.
Thank you Daibhi
That's the best introduction I've ever heard.
It was extremely easy to subscribe to you after watching this video! Great Job
Thank you Jostrich Please help me spread the word by sharing my vids with other photographers...
Mike Browne Will do! keep up the great work
explained this whole process in such a way that complete novices like me can understand, and answered questions I had regarding this subject. Subscribed.
Thank you grouchomarxmusic happy you liked it. Please help me make more videos like this one by sharing it with other photographers on forums, Facebook, Flickr etc.
So that means my 70-300mm lens could focus even closer, very useful for too small things like tiny flowers. Thank you Mike for the video.
My pleasure 🌺🌺🌺
Thank you - Reversing ring will probably be better optical quality but it's more fiddly. Filters are easy and provided you use good ones there shouldn't be a problem.
No worries Candy - glad you found it useful
I really like Mike Browne. He seems like a really nice guy.
he is +Feefye Fofum :) - Melissa pp Mike
+Feefye Fofum Thanks - MIKE
best part is when mike's light bulb appeared above his head when he was thinking of the math, 6+4 (3.50 of the video) Love it Mike
I discovered while playing around with "light leaking" that if you take the lense off the body and hold it up against the bracket, and it greatly decreases the minimum focus distance!
Most of the other CZcams videos on this subject are terrible so thanks for this excellent demonstration.
Thank mclaren777 - please share it everywhere and help spread the word...
I'm really happy with your videos.I'm new to photography, I bought the equipments but you need knowledge to understand how things works,every day that I come from work I see your videos.Very easy to understand.Thanks a lot.really
You just saved me time and money Mike. Exellent way to explain tings, and on a warm and smiling way to. Keep coming back to your channel after years. Dont you
ever stop what you are doing. The best from Denmark 🇩🇰
Thanks Mikael
You have a very nicely moderated voice, and a very smooth delivery style. In my opinion, you are very comfortable to listen to, and the pace of your delivery is just exactly right.
Thank you for your video! I have Native American artifacts I want to document, and your information is very helpful in helping me to do so.
Your photographic "jig" was simple yet very effective for illustrating magnification vs. field of view.
You have a teacher's natural gift for presentation, thanks! Rick
Thank you for answering that question. I have been considering these filters for a while. And wasn't sure of they really worked. I will be getting mine soon. Great job.
I've shared this with a friend whose daughter is keen on trying macro & I mentioned these filters would be the way to start, so tks!
Hi Amanda - it's the lens they fit on. As long as your lenses have a screw thread in the end you can use them. Even if they don't you can always keep them in place with tape. Google close up filters and you'll fine loads.
Excellent video. I have a set from my medium format film days and still use them, just bought adapter rings for different size lenses.
Glad you like it Memorable Moments Photography Please help me make more videos by sharing them with other photographers on forums, Facebook, Flickr etc.
Absolutely great video and explanation. Thanks a lot!
Thanks Nick. Please help me make more like it by haring it around with more photographers... MIKE :-)
I love your introduction
this is one of the best explanations. Thank you so much. I am bumbling around with beginning photography.
Brilliant mate! Such a down to earth way of explaining things. :)
thank you +Blizzard :) - Melissa
Hey Dan - yes provided you can make them fit. I've used everything from tape to blutak....
Amazing! You explained it in such a simple way. Thanks a lot!
The reasons I opted for the macro tube set are for the low price as well as they were compatible with my entire lens collection. With the Macro filter you can only use them on compatible lenses as well as a reverse macro adapter.
Tubes are a great option. Not sure what you mean by "the Macro filter you can only use them on compatible lenses"? Did you mean thread size? If so a step ring is one easy option. Hope that helped...
Thank you, nice review Mike.
This is my first time seeing you in this video. I can say for sure i liked every bit of explanation you gave. The purpose of the video was to give information and the amount of information i got from this video was satisfactory along with beautiful demonstration and there is a plus point for your sense of humor. I then immediately subscribed you. Now off to learn more from your videos! :D
I really appreciate your work and thanks a lot for the guide! :)
Thank you Ragnarok Gerard - Please help us spread the word and grow the community by 'liking' 'G+ing', sharing our videos and linking to us on photo forums, Facebook etc
I've been on CZcams since ages, but I think this is my first comment..."Dayum" ;) : your videos are great and hilarious...I'll definitely spread the word...
Thank you Ali Hammoud I appreciate it.
Most productive video on macro filters.Excellent info.TFS👍💐
Well thank you - and flowers too!
Pleasure... I agree with you about tubes giving much better quality. It's a question of how noticeable it will be at a given image size and how important that is to the photographer. For example if someone's shooting macro images for a poster company who'll print 40 inch posters then best quality tubes every day. If it's a hobby and pics are sometimes posted to Flikr / Facebook and enjoyed on screen the difference probably won't be noticeable.
Thank you for a wonderfully easy to understand video
You explain so very well... I am subscribed and will most certainly share your videos.. Thank you.. Denise
Thank you so much +Denise Pigeault I really appreciate it - MIKE :-)
:)
Very cool. I just got a few macro filters and I can't wait to use them,
You are the man, I subscribed and have begun watching most of your videos.
What features in a camera are most important for close up macro shots like this? I want to take pictures of my own eye for the study of Iridology. What should I look for in a camera? Sensor size? Megapixels? Or is it the lens that is most important? Then just add in some macro filters like the ones in this video?
If you need to enlarge a lot more megapixels are worth it Vegetable Police Also a proper macro lens will always be finer quality and for what you want to do that is probably the best way to go.
Vegetable Police Haha... Funny seeing the vegetable police on here. It's a small world really. 😊
Quinn Lawrence-Sanderson
I discovered while playing around with "light leaking" that if you take the lense off the body and hold it up against the bracket, and it greatly decreases the minimum focus distance!
4 years ago
1
Uc give
Very sorry we never got around to commenting at the time!
I use Hoya because they're pretty good.
Really useful video. And I like the light humorous way you present. Thanks for the post, Mike.
Very nice video! I loved it!
Thanks for your posts - all good advice.
excellent tutorial Mike!
I have done a 1-2-4-10 on my Nikon J3 and got a great close-up of a D&D mini's eye. But you have to manual focus and you have to make sure your lens is zoomed out enough that you don't get a black halo. You may or may not (but more likely will) get chromatic aberration with this, as well. DOF will be hugely tiny.
Perfectly answered my questions about close up filters. Thanks!!!
No worries +Chris Newman (Fat Libertarian Dude) - MIKE :-)
Mike "I'm a bloke" Browne ! thanks for your most helpful tutorials.
Yes you can stack them up
Nice and EASY Tutorial, great picture examples, many THANKS! 👊
Cool. I was just having this debate myself. Lots of folks are lens purists and they said the quality of these "filters" wasn't as good as actual dedicated macro glass, but it seems fine to me. Thanks for making this (ten years ago as of my viewing, but still)
Thanks. They're right the filters are not as good as a macro lens for a dedicated macro photographer. But if like me you rarely if ever shoot macro and do it for yourself....... MIKE🙏😊
Very informative and clear tutorial. Many thanks. I had no idea about adding the lenses together and multiplying the magnifying power. Simply great info
Thank you Sanjeewa Marasinghe
super cool info
Thanks Mike. That was really good lesson to shoot close up shots
I got some of these macro filters when I purchased my Canon 60D. Although I haven't had an opportunity to try them yet. When I do they will altogether have a magnification of x17 so I have no idea what I will take pictures of but I am sure it will be great fun.
Thanks so much . This is really useful . I will buy these macro filters for my video camera .
You Sir are Lovely Love YOur Accent And Work Thanks a Lot !!
thank you Saketh Sharath Babu yes he has an adorable accent - MELISSA ( for Mike )
Just tried it out... Works miracles..;))
Saketh Sharath Babu wow that's fantastic! - MELISSA ( for Mike )
What if you stacked 10 + 10 filters on top of each other? 100? Will you be able to turn it into a telescope? lol
macro lenses are for small stuff so everything would seem blurred if you try to use a macro lens for that type of purpose. I know it was a joke, just saying
What you do is stack 3 ex converters in parallel and have a 400 - 600 mm on a crop sensor giving you an equivalent 8640mm !!!
I wish they made these as anamorphic lenses. A lens that just squeezes in the sides of the image, for filming in cinematic aspect ratios. The cheapest of those come in at € 1600,- but I can't see why it's not possible to make them like these macro screw-ons.
Thank you once more. I really did find this useful. and I appreciate the effort you put into these videos.
Thanks Tim Marshall glad they help. Please share them around - it'll help me make more...
Yes
Thanks Mike. Just been given a set of Cokin close up filters for my Nikon. Was wondering what they were for. Try them out tomorrow
Hi - I think you've answered your own question. I haven't used tubes for years but they are great. I'm sorry I can't give you proper advice on this because I don't have experience of the equipment your using. All my stuff is Nikon. If you have the kit you're right to do some tests of your own as you say. Best wishes.. Mike
Thank you
Great video. I was out with some Kood close-up filters at the weekend. I only used the No2 (I was shooting handheld), but I got some great shots of insects with it.
I'd love a macro lens, but these are a great way to get into it. Might also pick up a Reversing ring for my 50mm Prime.
Ok, I will as soon as I get a few great shots. Thanks
fantastic review !
(Ι'm a goldsmith and a was searching for solutions for close up photoshooting of small objects- your video was crucial for my final desicions !)
Κωνσταντινος Παπαμιχελακης Happy to help :-)
Hi - I agree in most cases you won't notice much if any difference, but it depends on what the images are to be used for. On Instagram you won't see any difference, but if they're to be printed up big there could be some softness around the edges. Supposing you were shooting for commercial purposes or just 'picky' this might not be acceptable. - Mike
Last night I ordered two sets of close up filters for my 35mm and 18-135mm. I'm really excited because I'm eternally struggling with my lens minimum focusing distance.
Thanks so much for that explanation; really excellent and easy lesson
No worries and thank you AboAyoob. Please share it around and help me make more like it... MIKE :-)
سلام اخي ان بدي اعرف اسم هده الكامرة
Thank you so much Mike! I can't wait to buy some of my own. You helped me so much.
Brilliant video. Am now a subscriber, thank you.
thank you arcanum70 for the kind words - MELISSA ( for Mike )
Thank you. Simple and good. Nice
This was awesome. :) Helped me out quite a bit. I didn't even understand what those filters did before this. haha
Glad you found it helpful Jenna Ice Please help me make more free vids by sharing them with photographers on forums, Facebook etc... Thanks again
Ok... also do you know what type of filter I would need for my Nikon CoolPix L830 to give it that blurred out background?
It's not a filter on the camera Jenna Ice - it's done with a wide aperture on a medium to long lens and a small distance to subject like I have here doing close ups. You probably won't have enough control on a Coolpix to replicate it - sorry to disappoint. Here's a vid about how it works.. (www.photographycourses.biz/focal_length.html) The other way to do it is in Photoshop. I'm making a course on this kind of thing at the moment..
Very educational video thank you.
👍very good video
Great lesson, thank you
Yes there is a drop in light as it travels up the tubes which means you use a slower shutter speed / higher ISO to compensate. Best Option? I still like my CUs
Wow the very first easily understandable filter tutorial.
I subscribed immediatly.
Sorry if my English isn't perfect I'm Finnish :)
Thank you Väinö Mehtola So far your English is perfect and I've no doubt many times better than my Finnish will ever be. Delighted you like my videos. Please help me make more by sharing them with other photographers on forums, Facebook, Flickr etc.
I didn't know these type of filters existed. I thought extension tubes was the only way to go. I wonder, could you add extension tubes to the mix?
I've never tried it +fatfro1 but I doubt you'd be able to get the camera close enough to focus if you did. Why not try it and see what happens.. MIKE :-)
Hi JumperUnexpected. They're not a substitute for any lens other than a dedicated macro lens which is usually between 50 and 100mm. You can't use them for anything other than close up work because basically they are a magnifying glass set for your lenses.
Thank you Mike !
First thanks for this informative video regarding close up filters . But, the glass element of the close up filters does affect picture quality in compare to the extension tubes . Extension tube has no glass element that is why it's better for conserving picture quality , but still close up filters are not bad cause they are cheaper . I think the Kenko extension tubes are the best option for macro after the dedicated macro lenses like the Nikkor AF-S VR Micro 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED :) .
thanks man...
This is fantastic. Just what I wanted to hear
Pleasure :-) Tubes will be better image quality but trickier to use.
Yea.. will go to the store and check it out!! Thanks!!
Really informative and broken down. Thank you.
Nice video Mike, I just got myself some closeup filters from Polaroid, they com with a nice pouch, a 1x, 2x, 4x and a 10x. Really nice way to get into the world of macro photography. Again, keep putting this videos out, they are just phenomenal. Thanks you
Nice one EverythingTech - and thanks for your comments...
You explain things quite well... Thank you 👍
I'm sorry i can't because it depends on what you want to photograph. Get yourself a full set of +2 to + 10 and you're covered for anything. I use Hoya because they're pretty good.
thank you for sharing :)
Thank you. I'm sorry I can't say which macro lens is best because I don't use one. I use the filters. Also i'm not very knowledgeable on the latest kit on the market. Have a look at some foto forums etc and see what people are saying about their lenses. Sorry about that but I'm not the best person to answer that question.
Close up filters will work great but don't forget you get what you pay for quality wise. I'm not very knowledgeable about all the lenses out there on the market and don't have a macro of my own, just use the filters. Sorry about that, suggest you check out some forums etc to see what people who use them say about their lenses.
Thank you so very much, I received a 4pc kit +1, +2, +4 and +10 and was confused to as how they worked, but now I know.
Merci !