The $25 Macro Lens Photography for Bloggers Hack
Bloggers know that you need to take good photos, but macro lens for your dSLR camera can be quite expensive. This Nikon AF-S FX Micro-NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED Fixed Zoom Lens costs almost $600, and this Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED costs almost $900. I am saving up my money to purchase these Nikon macro lens, but in the meantime, I want to show everyone the $25 macro lens photography for bloggers hack. Of course, anyone can use this hack, but bloggers (who can’t yet afford the expensive lens) will benefit from this.
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$25 Macro Lens Hack
I purchased the Neewer 52MM Macro Lens Filter Accessory Kit for $30.00. There is also a 58mm Vivitar Professional UV CPL FLD Lens Filter and Close-Up Macro Accessory Kit
available, as well as just the lens: Vivitar +1 +2 +4 +10 Close-Up Macro Filter Set with Pouch (58mm)
and Vivitar +1/+2/+4/+10 Macro Lens Filte Set (52mm). Please note the 58mm and the 52mm size differences. This is called the lens diameter.
I have a Nikon camera, and most Nikons have a 52mm or 58mm. (Since I do not own a Canon, I do not know what the lens diameter is.)
Macro Filter Comparison Photographs
So here is a picture of an onion taken on my regular lens (Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6G Zoom Lens). This lens is one of the standard lenses that come with the Nikon d7200, but you can purchase it separately for about $250.
1x macro filter:
Please excuse the lighting … I took these photographs in this lighting on purpose (see below).
2x macro filter:
4x macro filter:
and finally, the 10x macro filter:
The Macro Photograph Diffuser-Envelope Hack
You may have noticed a lighting change from the regular lens to the pictures that I took with the macro filters. That’s because I used an envelope in front of the flash.
This simple envelope hack prevented an ugly lens shadow from forming, when taking very close pictures of objects:
Compare to:
So how do you get it to focus?
If you purchase the macro filters, you will notice that your camera is unable to autofocus. That is because you are putting something on top of the lens, and the camera “goes haywire” and doesn’t know what to do.
So how do you fix this problem?
Very simple. You take the camera off of auto-focus. The pictures above were all “manual” focus pictures.
What I did was take a photograph of the onion on auto-focus. The camera did its thing, and I got a nice picture.
Next, I switched the camera to manual focus.
On the d7200, it is #1:
#2 is also part of auto-focus on the lens, but I use the button at position #1.
Then, you “creep” closer to the object. This means physically going closer to whatever it is you are taking the photograph of. For the 10x macro filter, I was practically touching the lens to the onion. You move yourself to put the object in focus (instead of focusing the lens).
Voila! You have picture-perfect macro photographs.
Great post thank you. I have pinned it to my photography board. My only question that the headline says $25 but the first paragraph says $30. I know it is only $5 but why the discrepancy? Have I misunderstood something?
I love the envelope tip.
Thanks for pointing that out to me! I went back and reread and even confused myself there. I think what happened is that I made the price ($25) for the kit without the accessories, e.g. just the lens filters … although I purchased the extra stuff in mine. I put on my to-do list to tidy that up so it is less confusing!!
Great post thank you. I have pinned it to my photography board. My only question that the headline says $25 but the first paragraph says $30. I know it is only $5 but why the discrepancy? Have I misunderstood something?
I love the envelope tip.
Thanks for pointing that out to me! I went back and reread and even confused myself there. I think what happened is that I made the price ($25) for the kit without the accessories, e.g. just the lens filters … although I purchased the extra stuff in mine. I put on my to-do list to tidy that up so it is less confusing!!
I use my iPhone for the majority of my photos. A few years ago, we bought my son a set of lenses for the iPhone he had back then. I think it was 3 of them…fisheye, micro and macro maybe but anyway this post got me thinking of get a set for myself. Thanks for the tip on the envelope. Wonder if it’ll work for iPhone as well?!
One thing that I did for my camera was to create a little “hat” for it. I took an old white t-shirt and fit it over the flash. (Hey, I feel a blog post writing itself!) I haven’t ever tried this out with a iPhone or Android, but I’m going to take some test shots this weekend. Thanks for the awesome idea!! (I’ll try out some envelopes too.)
I use my iPhone for the majority of my photos. A few years ago, we bought my son a set of lenses for the iPhone he had back then. I think it was 3 of them…fisheye, micro and macro maybe but anyway this post got me thinking of get a set for myself. Thanks for the tip on the envelope. Wonder if it’ll work for iPhone as well?!
One thing that I did for my camera was to create a little “hat” for it. I took an old white t-shirt and fit it over the flash. (Hey, I feel a blog post writing itself!) I haven’t ever tried this out with a iPhone or Android, but I’m going to take some test shots this weekend. Thanks for the awesome idea!! (I’ll try out some envelopes too.)
Awesome! I need this. Thanks for the great information.
Awesome! I need this. Thanks for the great information.
This is really informative and interesting post. bookmarked this for future use. Thank you so much 🙂
This is really informative and interesting post. bookmarked this for future use. Thank you so much 🙂
This is a great tip! I have a Canon Rebel and will definitely try this out with that.
This is a great tip! I have a Canon Rebel and will definitely try this out with that.
omg this is brilliant thanks love , I dont normally do macro shots but when I do they come out so silly LOL definlity trying this one out next time
omg this is brilliant thanks love , I dont normally do macro shots but when I do they come out so silly LOL definlity trying this one out next time
Thanks for sharing this! I definitely need to fins a better lens for my camera.
Thanks for sharing this! I definitely need to fins a better lens for my camera.
This is so helpful! Photography tools/accessories can get really pricey so this is great!
This is so helpful! Photography tools/accessories can get really pricey so this is great!
This is great stuff! I never thought of using something to block the lens, always just adjusted the angle. Love it!
This is great stuff! I never thought of using something to block the lens, always just adjusted the angle. Love it!
I completely appreciate this post, I keep learning so much from other bloggers.
I completely appreciate this post, I keep learning so much from other bloggers.
Good tips. The on-camera flash is a ‘fill’ flash. That means that it will bring some light to a subject if it’s backlit, like in a sunny photo with the natural light behind the person. For an even light, get an additional flash, or even a light.
If you’re outside and you need to bounce some soft, even light onto a subject without creating additional shadows, use a reflection diffuser (a big reflective circle).
Thanks for the awesome tips!!
Good tips. The on-camera flash is a ‘fill’ flash. That means that it will bring some light to a subject if it’s backlit, like in a sunny photo with the natural light behind the person. For an even light, get an additional flash, or even a light.
If you’re outside and you need to bounce some soft, even light onto a subject without creating additional shadows, use a reflection diffuser (a big reflective circle).
Thanks for the awesome tips!!
Such a great hack! I hate spending insane amounts for photo “necessities”.
Omg, me too
Such a great hack! I hate spending insane amounts for photo “necessities”.
Omg, me too
I am new to photography and I am learning some hacks. This was a great tip, though I have never tried such photography!
I am new to photography and I am learning some hacks. This was a great tip, though I have never tried such photography!
Wow.. Great tip. I usually struggle to click such clean macro photos. One of such expensive lens was in my to buy list. I am sure I can delay buying it a bit more.
Wow.. Great tip. I usually struggle to click such clean macro photos. One of such expensive lens was in my to buy list. I am sure I can delay buying it a bit more.
That’s actually a pretty cool trick. I’ve been considering buy a camera and equipment for blog photo shoots, but I have no idea where to begin. ?
The answer depends on what your needs and criteria are. Do you want close ups? You need to stay under a dollar amount? You want a multi-purpose camera? You need to shoot in the RAW? Do you have children? My next photo post is going to be some camera suggestions. 🙂
That’s actually a pretty cool trick. I’ve been considering buy a camera and equipment for blog photo shoots, but I have no idea where to begin. ?
The answer depends on what your needs and criteria are. Do you want close ups? You need to stay under a dollar amount? You want a multi-purpose camera? You need to shoot in the RAW? Do you have children? My next photo post is going to be some camera suggestions. 🙂
This looks great and for $30 I may get this for Darcee. Can you recommend a good micro for a cell camera though? We often dont brink all of our camera gear cause it ways too much or is just to much to handle but we always have our phones and I have been looking for a good one to attach to my Android phone
Hello! Thanks for stopping by. I tried a few micro camera lens for the Android a while ago, and didn’t like them. But I put some on my Christmas list … if I get them, I will definitely let you know if I like them. If not, well, I’m going to have to buy one!! 🙂
This looks great and for $30 I may get this for Darcee. Can you recommend a good micro for a cell camera though? We often dont brink all of our camera gear cause it ways too much or is just to much to handle but we always have our phones and I have been looking for a good one to attach to my Android phone
Hello! Thanks for stopping by. I tried a few micro camera lens for the Android a while ago, and didn’t like them. But I put some on my Christmas list … if I get them, I will definitely let you know if I like them. If not, well, I’m going to have to buy one!! 🙂