The Canon 500D Close Up Lens--Big "wow", little package.

500D Close Up Lens by Canon

By Kel Casey

8 Jun 2009

I had been toying with the idea of purchasing a macro lens for my Nikon D80, but wasn't wild about spending a lot of money. As I enjoy gardening and photographing the "fruits" of my labors, I wanted to be able to capture the flowers close-up.

In doing some research on macro photography, I learned about the close up lens. I bought a cheap one at a local camera store just to see how it worked. Not great. Tiny area of focus, lots of blur.

So I ordered the much-lauded Canon 500D (77mm) and the step-up ring to fit my Nikon lens. To be clear, the 500D isn't a lens, but is a relatively inexpensive accessory that screws to the front of your existing lens, exactly like a filter. It is designed to fit Canon lenses, so if you have a Nikon, you'll need to get an inexpensive adaptor "step up" ring, sold by most good camera supply stores.

When it arrived, I screwed the ring adapter and 500D onto my 18-200mm lens (over the UV filter) and headed out to the back yard.

What I saw through the lens was at times other-wordly. Little bugs, aphids, pollen, imperfections, and glorious detail. I am sure the neighbors thought I had lost my mind, muttering "holy cow" and "wow" every time I zoomed in on a flower or a bug or leaf edge. Little things became big as life. The zoom lens became a whole 'nother tool. And not only did I get some great pix (at least I think so), I found out what was chewing on my vines.

I'm a relative newbie to the world of photography, so maybe I'm just easily impressed with this kind of thing, but for just over $100, in my opinion, you get a lot of "wow" for not a lot of money.

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13 responses

david ong gave props (9 Jun 2009):
great story, hm... makes me want to try after seeing all these amazing macro! rocks!
Nicolas Whittaker said (19 Jun 2009):
Very interesting story.
I use an extension tube for my macro shots.
It's not very expensive, it's attached between the camera and the lens, so you can use a variety of lens(es)?
Kel Casey said (20 Jun 2009):
Hi, Nicolas,
I was deciding between the extension tubes and the 500D (eventually I'll probably have both). Mostly I was factoring in space--where do I keep all my stuff, lol... I think the set of Kenko tubes was slightly more expensive, so the 500D won the toss-up.
John Linton gave props (5 Jul 2009):
Hell...Yeah! It rocks!
Michael Adams gave props (8 Jul 2009):
Great article!
hamra yahya said (16 Jul 2009):
wow! i like your picture...i just start buying third party lens, I am using Nikon D70s and D300. i use standard lens. i took wedding and other picture.

i just brought tamron 10-20 mm, may be you can teach or give me a tip on using this lens. by next week my marco lens will be come. you can visit my blog and put some comment.

the address www.gleefulbrunei.blogspot.com
Ron LaFond gave props (18 Jul 2009):
"Yeah!" I'm really tempted to get the 500D filter myself now. I do have the Kenko extension tube set and I like them. There's just something about having lots of photography gadgets laying around. . . . "Yeah!" R
Maura Wolfson-Foster gave props (20 Jul 2009):
My enthusiastic vote......thanks for the info and the beautiful photos!!!
Greg Lightbourn (Deleted) said (27 Oct 2009):
Ok you've sold me on this...
Aaron Schwartz gave props (28 Oct 2009):
me too - excellent work
Michael Griffey gave props (10 Nov 2009):
Ask the divine powers for "how to" inspiration & it comes the next day in the form of a jpg story. Fantastic shots, Kel! A 550d is now on my Christmas list!
Ann Reece gave props (28 Nov 2009):
I have a 18-200 Nikon lens myself and I would love this close-up lens also. I am definitely going to check this out and add it to my camera equipment!!! Voted : )
Monique Guilbault (Deleted) said (2 Sep 2010):
As I enjoy myself macro photography, but with the 60mm macro lens of a friend for the moment, I will just try that. thanks for the tip....