Pseudo Macro

Last week I had picked up a Canon Close-up Lens commonly known as a Macro Filter because it screws onto the front of the lens like any other filter. So I thought I would take some shots of cookies to see how this filter worked with respect to the original lens. The 58mm filter screws nicely onto my EF 50mm f/1.4 lens. I have mostly 77mm lenses but the store had only the 58. Anyhow with the amount of macro work I actually do the smaller equaled less money. Decision was made. 

I took some test shots of various items on the kitchen counter and realized two things. First thing was a tri-pod was in order and the second was that I was not shooting very good material. Then I saw the box of cookies... Who doesn't like cookies? The first three images are of the straight 50mm lens and the second three are the same lens with the Macro FIlter screwed on. I did have to adjust the camera position so the lens would focus but maintained perspective with the cookies. The specs for each image are below.

ISO 200, 1/2 Second at f/22:

ISO 200, 1/20 Second at f/8:

ISO 200, 1/800 Second at f/1.4

These have the Close-up lens attached to the front of the 50mm prime.

ISO 200, 1/3 Second at f/22:

ISO 200, 1/20 Second at f/8:

ISO 200, 1/800 Second at f/1.4:

This last image really shows how the Close-up lens tightens up the focal length throwing the background out of focus. I have used extension tubes in the past to get the same effect but even with the 12mm tube the focal length is only about 5mm deep. This lens make that quite a bit more flexible.

By the way... The set-up for the cookie shoot was to place the plat on a paper town setting on a stool that was positioned under a recessed ceiling light (tungsten) of 75 watts. All I did in Lightroom was tweak the exposure to balance the six images.

It back to the office project now. 

Take care... Doug