Macro photography on a budget: Close-up filters allow you to capture macro shots without buying a new lens

posted Friday, August 30, 2019 at 1:30 PM EDT

If you are interested in macro photography, but don't already have a macro lens, the prospect of buying one just to take up close-up photos can feel daunting. Photography is an expensive enough hobby as it is. However, there are ways you can take macro photos on a budget. As we see in a new video from NatureTTL, capturing up close-up shots of flowers, insects and much more doesn't require that you break the bank.

Photographer and Nikon Ambassador Ross Hoddinott recently tried the NiSi close-up filter and came away impressed. If you don't want to spend the money on a macro lens, there are numerous alternatives available. You can use close-up lens filters such as the one Hoddinott tried and discusses in the video below. You can also put extension tubes between your camera and your lens, which effectively reduces the minimum focus distance of your lens and allows you to get closer to a subject, thereby filling more of your frame with your subject.

An advantage of the close-up filter option is that they are incredibly simple to use. All you must do is screw it on to the end of your lens. An extension tube is also easy to use, provided you purchase one designed for you camera and lens combination. Extension tubes are available in automatic and manual versions, with the former retaining autofocus and metering. The third method is to utilize. A third option is to use a reversing ring. This allows you to mount your lens from front to back on your camera, which can result in very high levels of magnification. A potential disadvantage of this method is that it requires you to work very closely to your subject, which is tricky when photographing insects. Regardless of the method you choose, it is possible to capture sharp, beautiful macro images without spending a lot of money or acquiring a macro-specific lens.