[dinneenp]

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Thanks again for the very detailed reply.
My sports lens in 86.2mm diameter so i'd be looking at 55mm set.
Would Vivitar 55mm MACRO Adapter +10 and Case | eBay
work so.
I'm slightly confused (again) as everyone seemed to mention +7dpt but this is just one adapter and says it's +10.
Also how will a 55mm set fit when the diameter is 86mm?

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Last edited by dinneenp; 10-27-2011 at 03:49 AM. Reason: extra, extra, read all about it (more text)

[RioRico]

My sports lens in 86.2mm diameter so i'd be looking at 55mm set.
Would Vivitar 55mm MACRO Adapter +10 and Case | eBay
work so.
I'm slightly confused (again) as everyone seemed to mention +7dpt but this is just one adapter and says it's +10.

It's not a set, just a single strong meniscus. This +10dpt has a working distance of 10cm / 4in; it's stronger than a DCR-250 which is +8dpt. Magnification at a focal length of 70mm is 0.7x or 1:1.4, in the macro realm. The Raynox is corrected for optical aberrations while the Vivitar meniscus isn't, but the Viv probably costs much less.

[I have three of them (various brands) but that's because I'm a perv and I stack them on tubes to make a very fast crappy lens, about a 35/0.9. They cost me ~US$10 each.]

That +10dpt is strong medicine for specific uses. It only hurts a little to spend a pittance more for a +1+2+4 set also. The +1dpt is good for portraiture, with a working distance of ~1m. Combinations of these allow a diversity of uses; you can go from +1dpt to +17dpt which is quite insane. Just make sure they're all the same thread diameter.

Also how will a 55mm set fit when the diameter is 86mm?

Step-down ring or rings. Get a single 86-55mm step ring (NOT 55-86mm, that's step-up). Maybe look for ring sets in case you'll want to use more adapters on more lenses. But for just one lens, a single ring is fine.

ALSO, if you're paranoid like me, you'll maybe want to go to a 58mm set and ring, rather than 55mm, just in case. The larger diameter will ensure no vignetting and might give better edge results. Remember, a meniscus is uncorrected and will be worst around the edges; a larger diameter should minimize this.

[newarts]

Thanks again for the very detailed reply.
My sports lens in 86.2mm diameter so i'd be looking at 55mm set.
Would Vivitar 55mm MACRO Adapter +10 and Case | eBay
work so.
I'm slightly confused (again) as everyone seemed to mention +7dpt but this is just one adapter and says it's +10.
Also how will a 55mm set fit when the diameter is 86mm?

You want about a +5 Diopter achromatic close-up lens like the Raynox DCR 150 or the Marumi or Canon equivalent (costs more & is large diameter.) It is important the lens be achromatic or the image will be crappy; there's a drc 150 for sale on this forum for $50 -I'd buy it.

Diopter is the inverse of focal length in mm. The Raynox DCR is +4.8 diopter or a focal length of 208mm.

Magnification with a close-up lens added to a regular lens is (lens.focal.length/close-up.focal.length).

For the case of your 200mm lens, (200/208) ~ 1x.

Your zoom lens has a 77mm filter ring so you need a "77mm - 55mm Step down ring"

[dinneenp]

Thanks again
(I can see the finish line..)
Would this do the job without an adapter- 77MM MACRO CLOSE UP LENS SET 4 Filter Kit +1+2+4+10 77MM MACRO CLOSE UP LENS SET 4 Filter Kit +1+2+4+10 | eBay

If not can you verfity- I'd need one of these 77mm-55mm 77-55 Step Down Filter Ring Stepping Adapter | eBay

and then the DCR 150 or a 55mm +1+2+4 set like this 55mm Close Macro Up Filter Set +1 +2 +4 1 2 4 | eBay

for everyone who has helped me I'll share this inspirational macro link- 20 Spectacular Macro Photography Examples

[newarts]

Thanks again
(I can see the finish line..)
Would this do the job without an adapter- 77MM MACRO CLOSE UP LENS SET 4 Filter Kit +1+2+4+10 77MM MACRO CLOSE UP LENS SET 4 Filter Kit +1+2+4+10 | eBay

If not can you verfity- I'd need one of these 77mm-55mm 77-55 Step Down Filter Ring Stepping Adapter | eBay

and then the DCR 150 or a 55mm +1+2+4 set like this 55mm Close Macro Up Filter Set +1 +2 +4 1 2 4 | eBay

for everyone who has helped me I'll share this inspirational macro link- 20 Spectacular Macro Photography Examples

Those lenses are poor compared to an achromat..the images will be muddy & fuzzy in comparison.

I looked up the specs on the sigma 70-200:2.8 - the filter diameter is 77mm. Therefore you need an adapter to step down to whatever the filter you by requires. For the Marumi 77mm +5 adatper that's no step at all while for the Raynox a 77mm-55mm step-down would do.

As the close-up lens will be put on a zoom a range of magnifications will result as you zoom the lens so a selection of closeup lenses is not required..

[RioRico]

I'm not sure how 77mm crept in here -- I thought you said your sport lens was 86mm diameter? That you weren't looking for a solution for your 70-200 because it's too heavy?

Yes, an achromat like a Raynox will have better IQ than a closeup set. One reason for a closeup set (and a +1+2+4+10 set looks decent) is to have not just a choice of magnifications, but a choice of working distances. A single adapter always has you shooting at the same distance. That may or may not work for you, I can't say.

Just for ducks, I held my DCR-250 (in its wide clip-on adapter) in front of my 86mm-wide 170-500 @170mm -- and I didn't see vignetting! Next I held a 49mm-wide +10dpt adapter (in a fairly wide mount) in that place -- same thing! I'd like to hear from others here, see if they get a similar result.

So, some possible strategies:

* Get that 77mm set for your 70-200, accept that you'll be carrying weight, but this gives you an (imperfect) entry into closeup|macro shooting for just US$20.

* If that works for you and you want to increase image quality, and use your lighter sport lens, get a 86-77mm step-down ring so you can use the set on your sport lens, and a Raynox adapter, and a 77-67mm step-down ring. You can thus use the Raynox on either zoom.

* Or just decide that you want to go straight to quality; get either Raynox (the 150 for working at 6.5-8in / 16-20cm, the 250 for working at 5in / 13cm), and 86-77mm and 77-67mm step-down rings so you can use it on either zoom.

But I'd wait to see if others have used a Raynox on a wide-objective lens without vignetting.

[dinneenp]

Hi again,
I checked properly and it's 77mm.
I had my mind made up, didn't wNt the weight and size of the sports lens. I even put a wNted ad for the AF Cosina lens.
Bit then I read that for about €25 I coild get a solution so said why not try that for starters?and cheap.
Unless I can add loads of adapters to my 17-50 f2.8 and get good magnification. Just have to stand closer then?

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Last edited by dinneenp; 10-27-2011 at 12:15 PM.

[RioRico]

Hi again,
I had my mind made up, didn't wNt the weight and size of the sports lens. I even put a wNted ad for the AF Cosina lens.
Bit then I read that for about €25 I coild get a solution so said why not try that for starters?and cheap.
Unless I can add loads of adapters to my 17-50 f2.8 and get good magnification. Just have to stand closer then?

No lens-front adapters will give much magnification with the 17-50. If you used a Raynox DCR-250 (+8dpt) your maximum would be 50*8/1000 or 0.2x or 1:5 at a working distance of 10cm. If you use two deglassed 2X TCs you could go to 1:1 at 50mm at a distance of 5cm, or to 3:1 with the lens against the subject -- but those tubes will eat light, at (M+1) f-stops. If you can stand the weight, a +1+2+4+10 set for your 70-200 is cheapest, and won't eat light. Life is a maze of compromises. Good luck!