Diopter Lenses?

Hello

I have a Canon 20D digital camera with the EF-S 18-55 lens and the Canon
75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 IS USM EF lens.
I have two questions.
1. Where can I buy diopter lenses. I've found them on the internet (B&H),
but nothing for this camera?
2. I would like to get a teleconverter. I'm especially interested in a Kenko
Teleplus Pro 300 3.0X lens.. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has
used this 3X Tele Extender with the 300mm zoom lens that I described above?
Thank you.

Ben wrote:

Hello

I have a Canon 20D digital camera with the EF-S 18-55 lens and the Canon
75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 IS USM EF lens.
I have two questions.
1. Where can I buy diopter lenses. I've found them on the internet (B&H),
but nothing for this camera?


The thing to remomber here is, since you are focusing close and shooting
stopped down, you can use a step DOWN ring with no problems as long as it's
not a crazy amount. The nikon 2 element diopters are very high quality and
reasonably priced.

--

Stacey

"Ben" wrote:

Hello

I have a Canon 20D digital camera with the EF-S 18-55 lens and the Canon
75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 IS USM EF lens.
I have two questions.
1. Where can I buy diopter lenses. I've found them on the internet (B&H),
but nothing for this camera?


A diopter is slang for a "close-up lens" that is mounted in a filter
ring so it can be screwed into the filter thread at the front of your
lens. First, you need to know the diameter of the filter your lens
accepts. The Canon web site shows your 18-55 and 77-300mm lenses both
have 58mm filter threads.

Second, you need to choose the strength of the close-up lens. I think
it's best to start with a +1.0 diopter, but if you are sure you want
to follow this route you can also buy diopters in sets. They usually
come in sets of three, +1.0, +2.0 and +3.0 diopters. You can use them
singly - 3.0 diopters being the most powerful - or in twos, when for
example 1.0 and 2.0 diopters used together will give the same optical
effect as a single 3.0 diopter close-up lens used alone.

As always, there is a range of prices. The cheapest close-up lenses
are single element lenses. They can produce severe colour fringing
unless you stop your lens well down, say f/11, f/16 or f/22.

Better close-up lenses cost much more, but they have two elements
glued together to form a 'doublet'. Doublets have much less colour
fringing, and you will not need to stop down quite as far for good
results. Try f/8 or f/11.

Canon sell close up lenses in 58mm size. Unfortunately they do not
express the power of the lens in diopters, preferring instead to refer
to the reduction in longest focusing distance. Here is an example:

http://www.canoncompanystore.com/epa...ail=2822A002AA
http://www.canoncompanystore.com/epa...ail=2820A002AA

I would guess that the 500D is a 1.0 diopter and the 250D is a 2.0
diopter, but that is only a guess. They are not cheap, but they are
doublets.

On the B&H web site, if you look in the section on threaded filters,
then select "Close Up Lenses" and choose all brands in 58mm diameter,
you will get the following page:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...y=12&Submit=Go

You may need to copy and paste this into your browser's address window
in sections or click on:

http://tinyurl.com/7n6tn

Here you will find single element close up lenses priced from $20.95,
with the Canon doublet close-up lenses priced from $86.95. My advice
would be to try one of the cheaper close up lenses and see how it
works for you before spending any more money.

$20.95 is cheap, but I would be tempted to put the cost of two or
three $86.95 close-up lenses towards the purchase of a specialist
macro lens such as the $439.95 Tamron 90mm f/2.8, which is also an
outstanding portrait and general telephoto lens.

Cheaper macro lenses are available; the Cosina/Phoenix/Vivitar/Soligor
100mm f/3.5 Macro is cheaply made but performs surprisingly well,
although it is not such a good choice for portraiture.

"Stacey" wrote in message
...
Ben wrote:

Hello

I have a Canon 20D digital camera with the EF-S 18-55 lens and the Canon
75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 IS USM EF lens.
I have two questions.
1. Where can I buy diopter lenses. I've found them on the internet
(B&H),
but nothing for this camera?


The thing to remomber here is, since you are focusing close and shooting
stopped down, you can use a step DOWN ring with no problems as long as
it's
not a crazy amount. The nikon 2 element diopters are very high quality and
reasonably priced.

--

Stacey
Thank you. I also found out that these were sized like filters. I will look
into what Nikon has.
Ben

"Tony Polson" wrote in message
...
"Ben" wrote:

Hello

I have a Canon 20D digital camera with the EF-S 18-55 lens and the Canon
75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 IS USM EF lens.
I have two questions.
1. Where can I buy diopter lenses. I've found them on the internet (B&H),
but nothing for this camera?


A diopter is slang for a "close-up lens" that is mounted in a filter
ring so it can be screwed into the filter thread at the front of your
lens. First, you need to know the diameter of the filter your lens
accepts. The Canon web site shows your 18-55 and 77-300mm lenses both
have 58mm filter threads.

Second, you need to choose the strength of the close-up lens. I think
it's best to start with a +1.0 diopter, but if you are sure you want
to follow this route you can also buy diopters in sets. They usually
come in sets of three, +1.0, +2.0 and +3.0 diopters. You can use them
singly - 3.0 diopters being the most powerful - or in twos, when for
example 1.0 and 2.0 diopters used together will give the same optical
effect as a single 3.0 diopter close-up lens used alone.

As always, there is a range of prices. The cheapest close-up lenses
are single element lenses. They can produce severe colour fringing
unless you stop your lens well down, say f/11, f/16 or f/22.

Better close-up lenses cost much more, but they have two elements
glued together to form a 'doublet'. Doublets have much less colour
fringing, and you will not need to stop down quite as far for good
results. Try f/8 or f/11.

Canon sell close up lenses in 58mm size. Unfortunately they do not
express the power of the lens in diopters, preferring instead to refer
to the reduction in longest focusing distance. Here is an example:


http://www.canoncompanystore.com/epa...ctDetail=2822A
002AA

http://www.canoncompanystore.com/epa...ctDetail=2820A
002AA

I would guess that the 500D is a 1.0 diopter and the 250D is a 2.0
diopter, but that is only a guess. They are not cheap, but they are
doublets.

On the B&H web site, if you look in the section on threaded filters,
then select "Close Up Lenses" and choose all brands in 58mm diameter,
you will get the following page:


http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...0&a=27_331&a=0
&shs=&ci=158&ac=&Submit.x=16&Submit.y=12&Submit =Go

You may need to copy and paste this into your browser's address window
in sections or click on:

http://tinyurl.com/7n6tn

Here you will find single element close up lenses priced from $20.95,
with the Canon doublet close-up lenses priced from $86.95. My advice
would be to try one of the cheaper close up lenses and see how it
works for you before spending any more money.

$20.95 is cheap, but I would be tempted to put the cost of two or
three $86.95 close-up lenses towards the purchase of a specialist
macro lens such as the $439.95 Tamron 90mm f/2.8, which is also an
outstanding portrait and general telephoto lens.

Cheaper macro lenses are available; the Cosina/Phoenix/Vivitar/Soligor
100mm f/3.5 Macro is cheaply made but performs surprisingly well,
although it is not such a good choice for portraiture.

Hi Tony
Thank you for your reply. I certainly couldn't have asked for a better
explanation and more information. I do intend to get a macro lens in the
future.
As for now, using the info you provided, I am going to order the Hoya 58mm
Close Up Kit Multi-Coated (+1, +2, +4) for $64.50. I can always add better
stuff later on. Your response eliminated the uncertainly that I had in this
area.
As for macro lenses, I'm undecided about the following:
Canon-EF 50mm f/2.5 Macro Lens--------------$239.95
Canon-EF-S 60mm f/2.8 USM Macro Lens-----$449.95
Canon-EF 100mm F/2.8 USM Macro Lens-----$469.95
Sigma-105mm 2.8 EX Macro Lens Canon AF--$399.99
I have not come across the Tamron lens that you mention. I would appreciate
if possible your opinion on these lenses also how does a 50mm lens compare
with a 100mm lens. I've seen write ups on both but I can't compare them.
I don't know that much about lenses, but from the newsgroups, it seems most
people favor Canon. However those other companies must have something or
they wouldn't be in business.
Again I thank you for the information.
Ben

Frank wrote:


Hi Tony
Thank you for your reply. I certainly couldn't have asked for a better
explanation and more information. I do intend to get a macro lens in the
future.
As for now, using the info you provided, I am going to order the Hoya 58mm
Close Up Kit Multi-Coated (+1, +2, +4) for $64.50.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...u=37298&is=REG

and a step ring is a MUCH better investment. On a zoom you can control the
amount of mag with the zoom ring so you don't need a "set" like you would
with a fixed focal length lens.



--

Stacey

"Frank" wrote:

Hi Tony
Thank you for your reply. I certainly couldn't have asked for a better
explanation and more information. I do intend to get a macro lens in the
future.

Glad I could help.

As for now, using the info you provided, I am going to order the Hoya 58mm
Close Up Kit Multi-Coated (+1, +2, +4) for $64.50. I can always add better
stuff later on. Your response eliminated the uncertainly that I had in this
area.

That's a good choice at a good price. At that price, I assume that
they are single element close up lenses. If so, stop down to f/11 for
best results.

As for macro lenses, I'm undecided about the following:
Canon-EF 50mm f/2.5 Macro Lens--------------$239.95
Canon-EF-S 60mm f/2.8 USM Macro Lens-----$449.95
Canon-EF 100mm F/2.8 USM Macro Lens-----$469.95
Sigma-105mm 2.8 EX Macro Lens Canon AF--$399.99
I have not come across the Tamron lens that you mention. I would appreciate
if possible your opinion on these lenses also how does a 50mm lens compare
with a 100mm lens. I've seen write ups on both but I can't compare them.
I don't know that much about lenses, but from the newsgroups, it seems most
people favor Canon. However those other companies must have something or
they wouldn't be in business.

All other things being equal, a 50mm lens gives a greater depth of
field than a 100mm lens but at the expense of a shorter working
distance. In the 35mm film market, over the years there has been a
steady trend away from shorter focal length macro lenses to longer
focal lengths. The main reason for this is the greater working
distance with the longer lenses - with a 50mm lens you end up working
very close to your subject, which - among other things - makes flash
illumination problematic.

I have no knowledge of the Canon 50mm f/2.5. The 60mm f/2.8 and 100mm
f/2.8 Canon EF lenses are outstanding performers, both well up to
professional standards. The Sigma is also a very good performer, and
is highly rated by people who use it. There is also a Sigma 180mm
f/3.5 which is a new product. It has performed well in bench tests
and also looks like a very good performer. The two Canon lenses are
better made than the two Sigmas, which are well finished externally
but probably not as well made internally as they might appear.

Your choice of focal length is a personal one. No-one can advise you,
it is simply a matter of what suits you best. If you value depth of
field, choose shorter focal lengths. If you prefer a longer working
distance, choose a longer focal length but be prepared to have a very
restricted depth of field. Don't forget that the APS size sensor in
your Canon digital factor means that you get the angle of view of a
lens with a 1.6X longer focal length, so the 60mm f/2.8 offers the
same angle of view of a 96mm f/2.8 on a 35mm film SLR.

(60 x 1.6 = 96)

The longer focal lengths also need a very sturdy tripod, but this is
in any case a prerequisite for serious macro work.

The Tamron 90mm f/2.8 is almost unique by 21st century standards, in
that it is not only a very good macro lens but also an outstanding
portrait lens.

Most macro lenses are optimised for ultimate sharpness at short macro
focusing distances. This usually leads to an unpleasant, harsh
rendition of out of focus backgrounds, especially highlights, which
are rendered as obtrusive bright circles with the edges brighter than
the centre. At portrait distances, the Sigma 105mm is especially poor
in this respect, although it is a fine performer in the macro range
that it was designed for.

The Tamron is optimised at macro and portrait focal lengths, and has a
very pleasant rendition of out of focus background highlights, with
the circles being brighter in the centre and having soft edges that
fade into the background. This gives what most people would consider
a more natural "look" to portrait images produced with this lens,
comparable with some of the finest specialist portrait lenses made by
Zeiss, Leica and Nikon, none of which will serve as macro lenses.

Buying the Tamron offers a unique opportunity to own a superb dual
purpose lens, equally at home in the macro range and when making very
flattering portraits, particularly of subjects who are not in the
first flush of youth. g

The Tamron was not unique in the late 20th century; macro lenses with
a similar aptitude for rendering portraits were also made by Tokina,
Vivitar, Sigma (all 90mm f/2.8) and by Kiron (100mm f/2.5) in the
1970s and 1980s, but only the Tamron is still available new today.

As an inexpensive entry to macro photography, I repeat my
recommendation of the Cosina/Vivitar/Phoenix/Soligor 100mm f/3.5.
This lens is not well made, and has the feel of very poor quality,
especially when focusing, but the results are surprisingly good for
such a cheap lens. Much like your Hoya close-up lenses, it would be
worth considering one of these inexpensive performers as a first step.

Versions of this lens were offered by Canon and Pentax under their own
brands several years ago, but I understand build quality issues meant
that both manufacturers dropped the lens from their ranges. You might
find examples of the Canon version for sale used on eBay.

Again I thank you for the information.

My pleasure.

;-)

Folks, I note that the latest 9OMM Tamron Macro is a DI lens (272E). The
site I looked at provides this information:

"Outstanding image quality by virtue of "Di" (Digitally Integrated) design
The lens provides outstanding image quality whether the medium in use is
silver halide (film) or a digital image sensor, since it features Tamron's
"Di" optical system designed* to meet the performance characteristics of
digital cameras as well as film cameras.


*Model 272E uses the same type optical configuration as that of the
conventional model 172E, but the "Di" design is achieved by applying a new
optical design to its coating surfaces to eliminate optical aberrations
commonly seen when traditional optics are used on digital SLR cameras"


Has anyone here experience of the new model? Most reports I have read have
been on the older model. Also, can the Canon Macro flashes MR14EX and MT24
fit to the front of the Tamron lens to offer the same functionality of the
equivalent Canon lens with either of these fitted. Look forwarded to any
and all comments.

regards

Don from Down Under





"Frank" wrote in message
...

"Tony Polson" wrote in message
...
"Ben" wrote:

Hello

I have a Canon 20D digital camera with the EF-S 18-55 lens and the Canon
75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 IS USM EF lens.
I have two questions.
1. Where can I buy diopter lenses. I've found them on the internet
(B&H),
but nothing for this camera?


A diopter is slang for a "close-up lens" that is mounted in a filter
ring so it can be screwed into the filter thread at the front of your
lens. First, you need to know the diameter of the filter your lens
accepts. The Canon web site shows your 18-55 and 77-300mm lenses both
have 58mm filter threads.

Second, you need to choose the strength of the close-up lens. I think
it's best to start with a +1.0 diopter, but if you are sure you want
to follow this route you can also buy diopters in sets. They usually
come in sets of three, +1.0, +2.0 and +3.0 diopters. You can use them
singly - 3.0 diopters being the most powerful - or in twos, when for
example 1.0 and 2.0 diopters used together will give the same optical
effect as a single 3.0 diopter close-up lens used alone.

As always, there is a range of prices. The cheapest close-up lenses
are single element lenses. They can produce severe colour fringing
unless you stop your lens well down, say f/11, f/16 or f/22.

Better close-up lenses cost much more, but they have two elements
glued together to form a 'doublet'. Doublets have much less colour
fringing, and you will not need to stop down quite as far for good
results. Try f/8 or f/11.

Canon sell close up lenses in 58mm size. Unfortunately they do not
express the power of the lens in diopters, preferring instead to refer
to the reduction in longest focusing distance. Here is an example:


http://www.canoncompanystore.com/epa...ctDetail=2822A
002AA

http://www.canoncompanystore.com/epa...ctDetail=2820A
002AA

I would guess that the 500D is a 1.0 diopter and the 250D is a 2.0
diopter, but that is only a guess. They are not cheap, but they are
doublets.

On the B&H web site, if you look in the section on threaded filters,
then select "Close Up Lenses" and choose all brands in 58mm diameter,
you will get the following page:


http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...0&a=27_331&a=0
&shs=&ci=158&ac=&Submit.x=16&Submit.y=12&Submit =Go

You may need to copy and paste this into your browser's address window
in sections or click on:

http://tinyurl.com/7n6tn

Here you will find single element close up lenses priced from $20.95,
with the Canon doublet close-up lenses priced from $86.95. My advice
would be to try one of the cheaper close up lenses and see how it
works for you before spending any more money.

$20.95 is cheap, but I would be tempted to put the cost of two or
three $86.95 close-up lenses towards the purchase of a specialist
macro lens such as the $439.95 Tamron 90mm f/2.8, which is also an
outstanding portrait and general telephoto lens.

Cheaper macro lenses are available; the Cosina/Phoenix/Vivitar/Soligor
100mm f/3.5 Macro is cheaply made but performs surprisingly well,
although it is not such a good choice for portraiture.

Hi Tony
Thank you for your reply. I certainly couldn't have asked for a better
explanation and more information. I do intend to get a macro lens in the
future.
As for now, using the info you provided, I am going to order the Hoya 58mm
Close Up Kit Multi-Coated (+1, +2, +4) for $64.50. I can always add better
stuff later on. Your response eliminated the uncertainly that I had in
this
area.
As for macro lenses, I'm undecided about the following:
Canon-EF 50mm f/2.5 Macro Lens--------------$239.95
Canon-EF-S 60mm f/2.8 USM Macro Lens-----$449.95
Canon-EF 100mm F/2.8 USM Macro Lens-----$469.95
Sigma-105mm 2.8 EX Macro Lens Canon AF--$399.99
I have not come across the Tamron lens that you mention. I would
appreciate
if possible your opinion on these lenses also how does a 50mm lens
compare
with a 100mm lens. I've seen write ups on both but I can't compare them.
I don't know that much about lenses, but from the newsgroups, it seems
most
people favor Canon. However those other companies must have something or
they wouldn't be in business.
Again I thank you for the information.
Ben

"Don" wrote in message
...
Folks, I note that the latest 9OMM Tamron Macro is a DI lens (272E). The
site I looked at provides this information:

"Outstanding image quality by virtue of "Di" (Digitally Integrated) design
The lens provides outstanding image quality whether the medium in use is
silver halide (film) or a digital image sensor, since it features Tamron's
"Di" optical system designed* to meet the performance characteristics of
digital cameras as well as film cameras.


*Model 272E uses the same type optical configuration as that of the
conventional model 172E, but the "Di" design is achieved by applying a new
optical design to its coating surfaces to eliminate optical aberrations
commonly seen when traditional optics are used on digital SLR cameras"


Has anyone here experience of the new model? Most reports I have read
have been on the older model. Also, can the Canon Macro flashes MR14EX
and MT24 fit to the front of the Tamron lens to offer the same
functionality of the equivalent Canon lens with either of these fitted.
Look forwarded to any and all comments.

regards

Don from Down Under



Sounds like they have just improved the coating on the element faces towards
the sensor to reduce flar from the specular reflections from the sensor.

Tony Polson wrote:

All other things being equal, a 50mm lens gives a greater depth of
field than a 100mm lens


Thanks for your comments, I didn't realize there was any way to increase
DOF (other than aperture) at the same magnification.

--
Paul Furman
http://www.edgehill.net/1
san francisco native plants