Canon 500D Close up Lens on 300mm f4

slimrbp · #1 (**permalink**) 21-08-2010, 03:29 PM

I took delivery of a canon 500D close up lens this morning. My main reason for buying is when I am out and about with the telephoto attached often a macro subject appears and by the time I have changed to my macro lens it's gone!

If you aren't aware of this bit of kit to all intents and purposes it's a close up filter but with a dual lens system to help increase image quality. It screws into the filter threads and can be used on non Canon kit.

http://cpn.canon-europe.com/content/...e-up_lenses.do

I thought this would be a useful addition for those occasions and days when I just feel like travelling light.
Unfortunately being a gloomy, windy day the conditions aren't ideal for macro

so I took some shots of squared paper in the living room. It's not a very scientific set up as you can see the paper isn't exactly flat or level. I just wanted to get an idea of the magnification I could expect and thought I would share the results.

The lens was used on a 300mm F4 L with and without a 1.4x extender. Each square on the paper is 5mm across. The working distance was measured from the front of the lens to the target. The camera is an aps-c with a 2.2 cm wide sensor so magnification was calculated as 2.2/'distance in image' which I think is right

300mm F4

Lens was set at it's minimum focussing distance and placed at a point where the target was in focus.

300mm on it's own:

Approx. 9.5cm across so approx. 0.2x life size
Working Distance - 124cm

300mm with 500D at minimum focussing

Approx. 2.8cm across so approx. 0.8x life size
Working Distance - 35cm

300mm with 500D lens at infinity focus

Approx. 4cm across so approx. 0.6x life size
Working Distance - 51cm

300mm with 1.4x Extender

420mm

Approx. 6.8cm across so approx. 0.3x life size
Working Distance - 124cm

420 with 500D at minimum focussing

Approx. 2cm across so approx. 1.1x life size
Working Distance - 35cm

420mm with 500D lens at infinity focus

Approx. 3cm across so approx. 0.7x life size
Working Distance - 51cm

You can probably see there is a shallow depth of field as I was shooting a fairly wide aperture as I was indoors. The acid test of course will be how it performs in the field so fingers crossed for some better weather

slimrbp · #2 (**permalink**) 21-08-2010, 04:59 PM

Decided to have a play with a slightly more interesting subject (also a good opportunity to practice wirelessly firing an external flash using the 7D!)

300mm with the 500D lens @ f16

300mm with the 500D lens @ f22

420mm with the 500D lens @ f16

420mm with the 500D lens @ f22

johnf3f · #3 (**permalink**) 22-08-2010, 11:15 PM

Interesting! I have a 300 f4 and wonder how goos this is, did you see any/much drop in picture quality? How much are they?

slimrbp · #4 (**permalink**) 23-08-2010, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnf3f

Interesting! I have a 300 f4 and wonder how goos this is, did you see any/much drop in picture quality? How much are they?

The lens was £125 (nothing is ever cheap in the 77mm size

).

Didn't manage to get out yesterday but managed a few today, I was really pleased by the image quality. Especially with it being so gloomy I was shooting at a high ISO. Here are some taken today with the 300mm and close up lens I haven't applied any sharpening to the images.

1/80 @ f11, ISO 500

1/100 @ f16, ISO 400

1/100 @ f11 ISO 400

johnf3f · #5 (**permalink**) 23-08-2010, 09:59 PM

Thanks for posting the images, looks like this would make a very adaptable lens even more useful! Probably not as good as a macro but who makes 300mm + Macros, I think they would be a little more than £125! You could probably puy a zero or two on the back of that!
Thanks again, I shall investigate one of these.

I wonder if they do one for the 600 f4!?