Raynox dcr 150 for Beginner (1 Viewer)

[Baron Birder]

I have been given a Raynox dcr 150 macro/close up conversion lens for Christmas to use with my Panasonic FZ50.

I have never done any macro photography and would much appreciate some advice on the basics to start out or direction to suitable reading material.

Such as what setting, what distance from object what zoom etc?

Does it reduce the minimal focal distance?

I have photographed dragonflies and hope to use it for that. But initially I am trying out on flowers. Tried it in the park this afternoon in good light and got some photos more by luck!

Many thanks

 

[Cactusdave]

If you want an inspirational view of what can be done with the Raynox add on close up achromats plus an FZ50 look here http://beingmark.com/macro-illustrated/ Work through the whole page, the technical stuff about the best way to focus etc. is towards the bottom. He doesn't use the name 'Raynox', but I believes this is what he uses. You might also be interested in this thread http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11522&highlight=raynox+dcr In fact you might find the photomacrography forum very informative if you search with the search term Raynox. It's amazing the variety of uses these simple high quality achromats can be put too, though some of the discussion is very technical.

 

[Cactusdave]

Raynox example photos

Just a couple of example photos taken with a Raynox DCR250 which is a bit more powerful than your 150. Both were taken with a Panasonic G1. The fly is with the Raynox mounted on front of a Canon 135mm FD lens and the small day flying moth has the Raynox on front of a Russian Volna 50mm macro M42 lens. Telephoto is good with the Raynox as it increases magnification. You will get the best closeup effect on your FZ50 at full telephoto zoom.

 

[Baron Birder]

Just a couple of example photos taken with a Raynox DCR250 which is a bit more powerful than your 150. Both were taken with a Panasonic G1. The fly is with the Raynox mounted on front of a Canon 135mm FD lens and the small day flying moth has the Raynox on front of a Russian Volna 50mm macro M42 lens. Telephoto is good with the Raynox as it increases magnification. You will get the best closeup effect on your FZ50 at full telephoto zoom.

Thanks CactusDave

There is a lot to take in on the weblink but it looks very interesting.

What kind of distant were you from the butterfly . Did you use Auto focus?

 

[Cactusdave]

Because I was using manual lenses on the G1, all focusing was manual and shots were available light. Mark in the first link i posted uses the FZ50's built in flash with a home made diffuser and there's a lot to recommend that. With the FZ50 you can use autofocus, but don't half press the shutter button to activate autofocus until you have found a pretty good approximate focus in the viewfinder by moving the camera nearer and nearer to the subject. This topic is discussed in detail on Mark's website. For the moth shot I was about 5cm away.

 

[Baron Birder]

Because I was using manual lenses on the G1, all focusing was manual and shots were available light. Mark in the first link i posted uses the FZ50's built in flash with a home made diffuser and there's a lot to recommend that. With the FZ50 you can use autofocus, but don't half press the shutter button to activate autofocus until you have found a pretty good approximate focus in the viewfinder by moving the camera nearer and nearer to the subject. This topic is discussed in detail on Mark's website. For the moth shot I was about 5cm away.

Having read through Marks website I took my first tentative steps indoors. Using a 5p coin I found the point at which the raynox 150 would focus with the camera zoom set at full 400mm and was very pleasantly surprised at the result. Distance was approx 210mm.
My first question is then, when wishing to photograph something small with the raynox and camera zoom at max, must I always shoot from this fixed distance of 210mm?

Thanks and loved the photos:t:

 

[Cristian Mihai]

If the DOF is acceptable at 210 mm, I can not see any other problem...

 

[Baron Birder]

If the DOF is acceptable at 210 mm, I can not see any other problem...

Not sure what you mean. To put what I said differently they are not many opportunities where I can get to within 210mm of a object without disturbing it. Similarly often its not phyically possible to get that close.

So is it 210mm or nothing?

 

[Cactusdave]

You shouldn't need to get that close if you can accept rather less magnification. Reducing the zoom will decrease the magnification, but also increase the working distance. At each zoom setting you will need to find the actual working distance by manual trial, autofocus will just hunt unless you are close to the correct focus. For a large insect, say a butterfly or dragonfly or even a bumblebee you can afford a lot less magnification and therefore have much more working distance while still filling the frame.

 

[Baron Birder]

Thanks CactusDave. I will continue to experiment on that basis.

 

[Cactusdave]

Many of the questions you have posed about using Raynox close up lenses on the FZ50 are being discussed by Mark in this thread. http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=76395#76395

 

[Brian Bullough]

I was thinking of trying a Raynox probably DCR-150 these seem widely available but the adapter rings are another story anyone know of a good source for these.Could any step down ring be used,or are the threads at a different pitch.

Brian

 

[Cactusdave]

The Raynox DCR series is sold with a 'universal' adapter that clips onto a wide range of filter threads covering the range 52-67mm. If you want to screw the close up lens itself directly to the filter thread of the lens you are attaching it to then a step down adapter will be needed to match the 43mm thread the lens offers. See here for the manufacturer's website http://www.raynox.co.jp/english/dcr/dcr150/indexdcr150eg.htm Suitable step rings are widely available on Ebay or from SRB-Griturn in the UK.

 

[Brian Bullough]

Thanks for the info Cactusdave I had checked the Raynox site for rings, they are listed but can't seem to get the sizes I want in the UK, will have to go for ones in the 52-67 mm range down (28mm) or up to(77mm) for the lenses I have , and use the adapter ,just wanted to make sure I could the rings before I purchased the lens.
Brian

 

[walwyn]

I regularly bust the universal mount lugs and source a replacements from digital toy shop which appear to be in Spain but normally get the goods to you with about 3-5 days.
http://www.digitaltoyshop.co.uk/Accessories_Lens_Holders_and_Adapter_Rings_Compatible_t2188

 

[walwyn]

WRT getting close to insects. With practice you can get very close indeed. The trick is not to cast a shadow and don't nudge them with your lens unless you want them on a better background.

 

[ceterach]

Having read through Marks website I took my first tentative steps indoors. Using a 5p coin I found the point at which the raynox 150 would focus with the camera zoom set at full 400mm and was very pleasantly surprised at the result. Distance was approx 210mm.
My first question is then, when wishing to photograph something small with the raynox and camera zoom at max, must I always shoot from this fixed distance of 210mm?

Thanks and loved the photos:t:

As I understand it (and practice with a DCR150) the focus distance for add-on macros is fixed whatever focal length you use. Higher dioptre closer to subject.

With the DCR150 (on a FZ30) there is vignetting at lower focal lengths. One alternative if you don't mind slightly lower magnification (2.5dpt) is the Olympus MCON40, a superb bit of glass that has a 55mm thread, screws straight onto the FZ30/50.

All the best

John