Diopter 'close-up' screw-on lenses

[squeamishossifrage]

I have stripped my lightweight bag down to a minimum of just an FF body + grip and three zooms covering from 17 to 300mm. However, I want to be able to take close-ups of flowers etcetera by using diopter lenses. The lenses fit my 28-75mm f:2.8 zoom, but the light bag can only safely fit two of the three lenses of one, two and four diopters in the available pockets, so I have to discard one of them. I am currently leaning towards losing the one diopter, but am curious as to which the hive mind of SSC would drop.

For serious macro stuff I have 50, 70 and 105mm f:2.8 lenses, of which the 70mm is the most used, but that's mainly because it's the sharpest lens I have ever come across by a good margin.

Any comments, suggestions and words of wisdom gratefully received!

[zou]

Which are used the most, or, which is easiest to live without? I think you have probably reached the conclusion already.

[peterba]

I have a set of close-up lenses comprising +1, +2, +4, and +10 dioptres. I find that I use them in the following (descending) order of use: +4, +1, +2, +10..... with the +4 seeing by far the greatest use. YMMV, of course.

I also have a set of extension tubes - which I use if I need higher quality. Have you considered getting some tubes? (With tubes there is, of course, some light-loss to consider.)

[squeamishossifrage]

Mar 19, 2023 13:46:54 GMT peterba said:

I have a set of close-up lenses comprising +1, +2, +4, and +10 dioptres. I find that I use them in the following (descending) order of use: +4, +1, +2, +10..... with the +4 seeing by far the greatest use. YMMV, of course.

I also have a set of extension tubes - which I use if I need higher quality. Have you considered getting some tubes? (With tubes there is, of course, some light-loss to consider.)

Thanks - sort of confirms my view of dumping the +1, as I can always use the +2 and zoom out a little. As for the extension tubes, I already have a set, but my lightweight holster is already giving the impression of being a Tardis, with more inside it than could be realistically be expected. There are just two pockets under the top flap that can take the chosen two safely. This is the jobbie, but mine has a Kata label on it (Manfrotto took over Kata, or maybe just rebadged the bags) Pro Light Access H-16 PL. It holds all the stuff I mentioned - just! A tighter squeeze than Burton and Taylor!

[nickr]

Mar 19, 2023 16:46:41 GMT squeamishossifrage said:

Mar 19, 2023 13:46:54 GMT peterba said:

I have a set of close-up lenses comprising +1, +2, +4, and +10 dioptres. I find that I use them in the following (descending) order of use: +4, +1, +2, +10..... with the +4 seeing by far the greatest use. YMMV, of course.

I also have a set of extension tubes - which I use if I need higher quality. Have you considered getting some tubes? (With tubes there is, of course, some light-loss to consider.)

Thanks - sort of confirms my view of dumping the +1, as I can always use the +2 and zoom out a little. As for the extension tubes, I already have a set, but my lightweight holster is already giving the impression of being a Tardis, with more inside it than could be realistically be expected. There are just two pockets under the top flap that can take the chosen two safely. This is the jobbie, but mine has a Kata label on it (Manfrotto took over Kata, or maybe just rebadged the bags) Pro Light Access H-16 PL. It holds all the stuff I mentioned - just! A tighter squeeze than Burton and Taylor!

www.manfrotto.com/global/kata-bags/

[peterba]

Mar 19, 2023 16:46:41 GMT squeamishossifrage said:

my lightweight holster is already giving the impression of being a Tardis, with more inside it than could be realistically be expected.

I'm guessing that this particular problem will be familiar to most forum members.

[caledonia84]

I swear by my Raynox DCR 150 and 250 diopters. They are great as they will fit any lens from 52-67 threads, they are always in my bag. Super high quality but you might struggle with the size of some of the big full frame lenses

[zx9]

Mar 22, 2023 9:05:22 GMT caledonia84 said:

I swear by my Raynox DCR 150 and 250 diopters. They are great as they will fit any lens from 52-67 threads, they are always in my bag. Super high quality but you might struggle with the size of some of the big full frame lenses

^^^ I have never used the Raynox supplementary lenses but do recall that they were well regarded.

[nickr]

For years, I heavily used a Canon 500D close-up lens in 58mm thread - these, like the Raynox lenses, are of double element construction, so optically pretty good. It fitted my most-used Canon lenses of the time, but also the 210mm lens for my Mamiya M645 that I was using heavily at the time.

One thing I like about my Canon RF system is that many of the lenses focus to half life size unaided, which is enough for me if I'm not taking actual macro shots.

[petrochemist]

The magnification you get from a diopter will depend on the focal length of the lens you are putting it on (more for a given diopter as FL increases which is the opposite effect to that seen with extension tubes).

I love the Raynox DCR models but find the 250 far too powerful for even moderate telephoto lenses, and often make do with just the DCR150 (which is +4.8 diopter, the DCR250 is +8)
Note the Raynox lenses actually have 3 elements potentially making them more highly corrected than mere 2 element achromats .

There have been times I've wanted to use a low diopter on my 150-500 to reduce it's 3m minimum focus distance to nearer 1m. IIRC a +0.8 diopter would be ideal for that but such lenses are extortionate as 86mm diameter achromats.
Fitting a smaller lens was the more realistic option - I could even buy a decent one for the much less than cost of any of the large achromats I've found! Apart from such fits of silliness I hardly ever use diopters +2 & below.