These were taken with a 300mm lens

JoanYoung · Post by **JoanYoung** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 10:01 am

Paul
Kenko tubes are in the region of SA Rand 2,000. Anything to do with cameras are extremely expensive here if you consider the average wage for a person is in the region of SA Rand 3,000 per month!!

So to pay R8,000 for a camera and a 100mm lens at R6,500, you can see that I am needing to buy exactly what I need from the word go.

But I am going to test out all the options everyone has mentioned to see what is best for my needs.

Dave
Thanks for your input too Dave.

250D, 52mm Close-up Lenses are available too, but they seem to be for the Powershots and not the 400D. Is this the same thing?

DaveW · Post by **DaveW** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 11:05 am

Try EBAY for secondhand Canon fit macro lenses and supplementary close-up lenses Joan. Most amateurs, unlike pro's, do not abuse their equipment and you can often pick up mint ones cheap. If there are none on at the time you can "Save Your Search" and the site automatically e-mails you when one is posted.

Also look in the camera shops for secondhand accessories and lenses. You don't always have to buy new. Many photographers must have the latest "neck jewelry" and soon part exchange the old, then camera stores sell that off cheap even if still current lens models. Plus you can always put a wanted add in the local paper or Exchange and Mart type publication.

A supplementary close up lens is just like a filter and the thread is standard. Only the diameter varies. Nikon supplementary close up lenses fit Canon's and vice versa. The best are the twin element ones, but these are a lot dearer. The cheapo's are single element.

My Nikon extension tubes are an International set, obtained one by one off EBAY from the UK, USA and Germany! Also my Nikon 6T two element supplementary close up lens was obtained from a USA EBAY auction much cheaper than they were selling on EBAY auctions in the UK, even after post and packing.

Only thing is you have to watch they are cheap enough should you get import duty and taxes slapped on by your Customs and Excise. We are lucky in the UK in that we can get anything from within the EU without Import Duty as it is a free market. My 70mm-180mm Micro Nikkor came new from Germany off EBAY so no duty payable and was no dearer than secondhand ones were selling on EBAY auction in the UK, as it had then been withdrawn.

DaveW

rjlittlefield · Post by **rjlittlefield** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 11:14 am

DaveW wrote:If I am wrong no doubt somebody will correct my understanding of the differences between the two types of lenses?

What you wrote sounds like a great summary to me. One is designed specifically to work well at short distances and may not even focus at infinity; the other is primarily designed to work well at long distances, and has short focusing added in as a second priority.

--Rik

puzzledpaul · Post by **puzzledpaul** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 12:50 pm

<< Many photographers must have the latest "neck jewelry" and soon part exchange the old, then camera stores sell that off cheap even if still current lens models. >>

Or sell on Ebay, of course...

... and long may such ppl continue doing this - so that others (like me) can get their 'cast offs'

Never ceases to amaze me, when reading EB listings when someone describes their bit of kit as 'hardly used / low frame count / immaculate etc ... but that they still think it necessary to 'upgrade'.

pp

JoanYoung · Post by **JoanYoung** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 4:34 pm

Thnaks again everyone. We pay 100% import duty on things like this but still find it to be cheaper than buying locally. The only problem is on items like cameras, the shops will not take them in for repairs. I will rather wait until I can afford a new item as I am not keen on second hand stuff. I am not saying there is anything wrong with them, but just prefer new.