Site Supporter Registered: December, 2007 Location: Montreal Posts: 1,249 1 user found this helpful | Review Date: September 21, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | Sharp, cheap, adaptable | Cons: | fixed focus point, only one thread size | | This is one of the best of its kind. Contrary to most cheap diopter lenses, it is composed of multiple elements. That means that sharpness and CA are under control.
It works best with a zoom like the DA 50-200mm or the DA 55-300mm. Using a zoom is better because it allows you to vary the magnification as you would do with a dedicated macro lens. Vignetting is minimum with these two lenses but the DA* 50-135mm doesn't work well because the Raynox has only a diameter of around 43mm for the rear element (I'd suggest the new Marumi achromats that are sold in multiple thread sizes, up to 77mm).
The clip-on adapter is a very nice idea, it allows to adapt quickly the DCR-150 in front the lens. For 49mm threaded lenses like most Pentax primes, I'd suggest to use a step down ring 49-43mm. It works well on prime lenses but of course there is much less flexibility as the magnification will be mostly fixed. I had good results with the FA77 and the DA 40mm. It doesn't work well with the DA 21mm and DA 15mm.
Magnifications on the DA 55-300mm:
@55mm, focused @infinity: 1:3.6, @MFD 1:2.7 (MFD=minimum focusing distance)
@300mm, @infinity: 1.4:1, @MFD: 1.8:1
As the DA 55-300mm does around 1:3.6 by itself, the DCR-150 picks up nicely almost exactly where the DA 55-300mm stops.
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Senior Member Registered: June, 2011 Posts: 160 | Review Date: September 20, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $55.95
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | small, light weight, pretty cheap, build, IQ | Cons: | more money spent, one more thing to possibly lose | | Cheaper than a dedicated macro lens. Its small and light weight and thus doesn't hinder the AF of lenses. Came with a nice hard plastic outer box as well as front and back lens caps for the 'lens'.
Hope to use it lots and get some good pics out of it.
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Pentaxian Registered: January, 2011 Location: New York Posts: 4,833 2 users found this helpful | Review Date: January 6, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $42.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | Decent photos, compact, inexpensive | Cons: | Focus at the edges falls of a bit | | This is a great buy if you want an introduction to macro photography. It's also ideal if you already have a good dedicated macro lens but sometimes leave it home due to limited bag space
The DCR-150 easily clips onto the front of my DA L 55-300 and gives a maximum magnification of 1.4:1. It should fit most other lenses, too. The spring-loaded ring adapter holds well enough. You can also use generic step-up filter rings for a firmer screw-in mount but I don't think that's necessary.
It's very compact. I can put the adapter into a cloth pouch and stow it in my camera bag in case an unexpected macro opportunity pops up.
I rated this a 10 partly because of the price and size. In terms of absolute picture quality, I'd give it an 8.5 because focus falls off a little bit at the edges. I haven't noticed any CA or vignetting, though.
Yes, depth of field is narrow, but that's inherent to all macro photography rather than a limitation of this product.
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Veteran Member Registered: January, 2010 Location: Lansing, MI Posts: 509 1 user found this helpful | Review Date: July 19, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 8 |
Pros: | inexpensive, small & lightweight, IQ | Cons: | one more accessory to keep track of | | A handy accessory to allow close focusing for near macro shots. It works great on the DA50-200 and DA55-300 lenses.
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