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At work, I need to some close up shots of food and drink packs. Not professional standard, but good and hi res for presentations. We've a Nikon D7000 with a standard 50mm and 18-200 lens which I use a lot for other work stuff.
The business is small and new, with little spare cash. What's a good way of getting macro shots? I know nothing of extension tubes but could they work with the 50mm lens?
Or recos for a cheap but good-ish macro lens.
And my photography knowledge is v limited, but we're doing more and more and keen to learn!
ta
Will the D7000 work with extenions tubes?
If you dont need to get 1:1 close up, have a look at a Hoya close up filter that screws onto the end of the 50mm lens, they do them in different ratings and you will have no possible compability issues with the D7000.
[url= http://www.hoyafilter.com/products/hoya/oef-12.html ]http://www.hoyafilter.com/products/hoya/oef-12.html[/url]
Depends how 'macro' you want to be. Extension tubes end up with the lends getting very close to the subject - to the point where lighting becomes awkward. You also get a narrower & narrower DoF which might be a problem depending on what results you want. You'll also start losing light so will have to open up the aperture which means an even smaller area in sharp focus
A proper Macro lens is loads easier and a sight less 'faffy'
You will also need a rock solid tripod
thanks - DOV occasionally of some importance, and lighting v important so that prob rules extension tubes out.
Will have a look at filter - typically I take as close as poss and then crop on the pc (which is fine some of the time, but can lead to res issues).
Any (budget) lens recos to look at (currently scouring ebay!)
What ski said. I had a lovely 105mm Sigma macro lens which got nicked out of the boot of my car. Couldn't really afford to replace it, so bought a few magnifying Hoya filters from eBay. They're actually much easier to focus with than the dedicated macro lens IME. I use them for jewellery product shots and for the odd wedding ring photo.
I wouldn't bother with extension tubes and instead look at getting a macro lens if you are going to do a lot of close up photography.
As you're shooting Nikon any of their (macro) lenses from the year dot should work.
This
[img] 
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was shot with a 100mm macro and 65mm of extension tubes.
You can get very silly and do something like this
[img] 
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which gets you in a bit closer
[img] 
[/img]
How often will you need a macro lens?
If it will be used infrequently you could just hire one? Google 'lenses for hire' - I think there's a website of the same name.
How close is 'close'?
If 'really close', please ignore following ramblings.
If 'actually, not that close' then, maybe read on...
As a stater for 10 maybe's get as close as you can (closest focus distance of the lens)
As you mention the 50mm lens (Nikon?) i'd stick with that to begin with.
Use a tripod, sort you lighting out.
Lowest ISO (for best quality) then crop the portions you need from the resulting images?
As and when you earn a bit more dosh maybe's go for extension tubes or a true macro lens - if only so you can frame the portions you want 'in camera' thus cutting out editing time....
stumpy01 - MemberHow often will you need a macro lens?
If it will be used infrequently you could just hire one? Google 'lenses for hire' - I think there's a website of the same name.
http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/
Top bunch of people who I've had 300, 400, 500 and the 17mm TSE from.
thanks all. think a macro lens is prob the way to go when funds permit. Will stick to marsdenman's approach for the time being.