Macro "Royal" Close Up Filters

"Royal" Close Up Filters · 03:55 PM

Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here.

I've been looking at a set of three (1x, 2x, 3x) close up filters to fit on my SMC Pentax-M 50mm f/2 lens and K-50 combo. They are made in Japan, and branded "Royal Close Up Lens." Nothing to be gained searching the Interwebs for Royal. It seems they've been relegated to the dustbins of photographic history. Has anyone used these? Are they the same as, say, using a macro filter?

Sliver-Surfer · 09-20-2015, 05:41 PM

Royal=not good from my experience better off buying reverse macro mount if you want macro on the cheap

Aaron28 · 09-20-2015, 08:28 PM

i got this and it is fine for me....even got another kit @ 55mm for some sigma lenses although I would prefer a 90 or 100 dedicated lens these fit my budget much better and a good way to learn about close up photography
52mm Close Up Macro Lens Kit for Nikon D5300 D5200 D5100 D3300 D3200 D3100 D40 | eBay

elementdtlop · 09-21-2015, 09:08 AM

i got the one aaron got and it works pretty well. since your lens is an m and is manual everything anyway the first suggestion might work better idk. the filters are nice because u can pick +# based on what you might need and you can stack them too but this is def going to put a strain on IQ I'm sure

mrNewt · 09-21-2015, 09:19 AM

Macro filter are not bad. Since you are adding glass, you will be losing some of the IQ (so if sharpness is a must, macro filters might not be the thing for you). However, they will give some very interesting renders (in my books very pleasant renders).

These are all taken with a Chinon 50mm and variations of x3 - x10 macro filters.

old4570 · 09-24-2015, 07:47 AM

They work , and work well if you take the time to learn how to use them ...

Just a few I was able to find with a CF filter ...

And one with lots and lots of glass

My advice is simple - Just do it !
It will either work for you or not , its that simple .
The lens you want to use M 50mm F2 , is not going to be the best choice . But if its what you have , then do it !
I would recommend a x4 CF filter , and they can be a little hit or miss depending on quality . If your unlucky you may get one that does not work well , on the other hand you may get one that is fantastic ( CF filter ) .
The cheaper you go , the more like a lottery it becomes .
Buy a brand name CF filter , and you should be good . ( But you will pay more = So you have to chose )

**WPRESTO** · 09-24-2015, 08:26 AM

For really close macro at reasonable price, the RAYNOX MACRO EXPLORER combo cannot be bested for IQ. The snap-fit adapter that comes with the Raynox fits 52-67mm threads, so you will need either 1) a 49-52mm (or 62) step-up ring (easiest to get); or 2) a 49-43 step down ring (may be more difficult to find). The two Raynox achromatic close-up filters have a 43mm male filter thread on the rear. I mount mine on a Voigtlander 180 close-focus using a 49-43mm step down. If the Raynox give too much magnification, get a Ricoh No. 1 close-up lens in 49mm thread. I have the original Pentax version of the No. 1 purchased about 1970. It was designed for the 50mm f1.4 and precisely starts focusing where the lens leaves off, about 17 inches, and brings it down to about 10 inches with the helical of the lens fully extended. The Raynox 1.5X starts @ 10 inches, but it is achromatic and will give better IQ at that distance than the single element Ricoh/Pentax No. 1

Aaron28 · 09-24-2015, 02:58 PM

side note.....I have rarely if at all use the +1 or +2 filters.......typically it's the +4 I use and if things are really tiny the +10 but I get the best results using the +4 on my sigma 28-80 macro 1:2 lens or the 18-55 kit lens
a few examples with the sigma
https://flic.kr/s/aHskm3QLqk

Ex-Camera · 10-15-2015, 01:25 PM

The images taken with close-up filters have definitely convinced me they're more than good enough for what I do. Thanks!

Vicioustuna2012 · 05-26-2016, 08:43 PM

Originally posted by old4570

They work , and work well if you take the time to learn how to use them ...

Just a few I was able to find with a CF filter ...

And one with lots and lots of glass

My advice is simple - Just do it !
It will either work for you or not , its that simple .
The lens you want to use M 50mm F2 , is not going to be the best choice . But if its what you have , then do it !
I would recommend a x4 CF filter , and they can be a little hit or miss depending on quality . If your unlucky you may get one that does not work well , on the other hand you may get one that is fantastic ( CF filter ) .
The cheaper you go , the more like a lottery it becomes .
Buy a brand name CF filter , and you should be good . ( But you will pay more = So you have to chose )

If that's a wasp in the last picture, then you're a crazy person. I hate those buggers! Otherwise, really tasty shots. I love it.

Ex-Camera
	View full profile
	Contact via private message
	Find other posts by Ex-Camera
	Find threads started by Ex-Camera
	Find threads in which Ex-Camera has posted

09-24-2015, 02:58 PM	#8
Aaron28 Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 7,131	side note.....I have rarely if at all use the +1 or +2 filters.......typically it's the +4 I use and if things are really tiny the +10 but I get the best results using the +4 on my sigma 28-80 macro 1:2 lens or the 18-55 kit lens a few examples with the sigma https://flic.kr/s/aHskm3QLqk Last edited by Aaron28; 09-24-2015 at 04:31 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
"Click" in between "C" and "MF" mode on focus selector? K-50	maxwolfie	Pentax K-30 & K-50	3	01-29-2015 04:19 AM
Missing close up "attachment" in SMC takumar 85/210mm zoom.	pickles	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	5	05-23-2010 03:08 PM
Question about "close up lens"	walang23	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	5	03-04-2010 10:48 PM
"Micro Macro: A Little Close-up Prime With Big Results"	jhaji	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	23	02-27-2010 08:46 AM
"close up filter" was I cheated ?	simons-photography	Photographic Technique	11	02-09-2009 11:46 PM

09-20-2015, 05:41 PM	#2
Sliver-Surfer Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 1,558	Royal=not good from my experience better off buying reverse macro mount if you want macro on the cheap

09-20-2015, 08:28 PM	#3
Aaron28 Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 7,131	i got this and it is fine for me....even got another kit @ 55mm for some sigma lenses although I would prefer a 90 or 100 dedicated lens these fit my budget much better and a good way to learn about close up photography 52mm Close Up Macro Lens Kit for Nikon D5300 D5200 D5100 D3300 D3200 D3100 D40 \| eBay

09-21-2015, 09:08 AM	#4
elementdtlop Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 97	i got the one aaron got and it works pretty well. since your lens is an m and is manual everything anyway the first suggestion might work better idk. the filters are nice because u can pick +# based on what you might need and you can stack them too but this is def going to put a strain on IQ I'm sure

09-21-2015, 09:19 AM	#5
mrNewt Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ON, RH Posts: 2,181	Macro filter are not bad. Since you are adding glass, you will be losing some of the IQ (so if sharpness is a must, macro filters might not be the thing for you). However, they will give some very interesting renders (in my books very pleasant renders). These are all taken with a Chinon 50mm and variations of x3 - x10 macro filters.

09-24-2015, 07:47 AM	#6
old4570 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 2,551	They work , and work well if you take the time to learn how to use them ... Just a few I was able to find with a CF filter ... And one with lots and lots of glass My advice is simple - Just do it ! It will either work for you or not , its that simple . The lens you want to use M 50mm F2 , is not going to be the best choice . But if its what you have , then do it ! I would recommend a x4 CF filter , and they can be a little hit or miss depending on quality . If your unlucky you may get one that does not work well , on the other hand you may get one that is fantastic ( CF filter ) . The cheaper you go , the more like a lottery it becomes . Buy a brand name CF filter , and you should be good . ( But you will pay more = So you have to chose )

09-24-2015, 08:26 AM	#7
WPRESTO Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Massachusetts Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 59,138	For really close macro at reasonable price, the RAYNOX MACRO EXPLORER combo cannot be bested for IQ. The snap-fit adapter that comes with the Raynox fits 52-67mm threads, so you will need either 1) a 49-52mm (or 62) step-up ring (easiest to get); or 2) a 49-43 step down ring (may be more difficult to find). The two Raynox achromatic close-up filters have a 43mm male filter thread on the rear. I mount mine on a Voigtlander 180 close-focus using a 49-43mm step down. If the Raynox give too much magnification, get a Ricoh No. 1 close-up lens in 49mm thread. I have the original Pentax version of the No. 1 purchased about 1970. It was designed for the 50mm f1.4 and precisely starts focusing where the lens leaves off, about 17 inches, and brings it down to about 10 inches with the helical of the lens fully extended. The Raynox 1.5X starts @ 10 inches, but it is achromatic and will give better IQ at that distance than the single element Ricoh/Pentax No. 1

10-15-2015, 01:25 PM	#9
Ex-Camera New Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 7 Original Poster	The images taken with close-up filters have definitely convinced me they're more than good enough for what I do. Thanks!

05-26-2016, 08:43 PM	#10
Vicioustuna2012 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 157	Originally posted by old4570 They work , and work well if you take the time to learn how to use them ... Just a few I was able to find with a CF filter ... And one with lots and lots of glass My advice is simple - Just do it ! It will either work for you or not , its that simple . The lens you want to use M 50mm F2 , is not going to be the best choice . But if its what you have , then do it ! I would recommend a x4 CF filter , and they can be a little hit or miss depending on quality . If your unlucky you may get one that does not work well , on the other hand you may get one that is fantastic ( CF filter ) . The cheaper you go , the more like a lottery it becomes . Buy a brand name CF filter , and you should be good . ( But you will pay more = So you have to chose ) If that's a wasp in the last picture, then you're a crazy person. I hate those buggers! Otherwise, really tasty shots. I love it.