A good telephoto lens can be used far away or closeup.
If you want to photograph flowers and insects, you will need to get close to your subject. There are a number of different approaches to capturing an effective closeup. Try some of the less expensive gear before buying a macro lens. For all closeup gear, you will need a 35mm SLR camera. Know which lens attachments are interchangeable with your brand of camera.
Telephoto Lenses
A telephoto or zoom lens can be used for more than one application. You can shoot closeup, at normal range, and at a distance. If you can afford one lens, a telephoto is the most versatile. SLR cameras usually come with a 50mm lens, which is a standard fixed lens. A 70-300mm telephoto lens can go from slightly magnified, to enlarging your subject substantially. Though not considered a macro lens, it will take good closeup photos. Expect the visual field to be narrower with a zoom lens.
Macro Lens
Many cameras have an automatic macro setting. This will increase the success of certain shots, but is not the same as a macro lens. A macro lens is the ultimate tool for enlarging your subject. This is the most expensive way to take closeup shots. It may be worth the investment if you do a lot of closeup photography. You can purchase one from a reputable supply store that sells used camera equipment. It will take extra skill to execute shots using a macro lens. Due to the enlarged size of the subject, the slightest movement will cause blur. It is critical that you own a sturdy tripod for closeup photos. Your automatic camera settings are not as useful with a macro lens. You will need to know use your camera's manual settings.
Close Up Lenses
You can use a closeup lens along with your existing lens to enlarge your subject. This is a magnifying glass that screws right onto your lens. You can buy them in different magnifications. More than one can be attached to the lens to increase the effect. The advantage is that they can be added in an instant, and then removed just as quickly. It is important to buy good closeup lenses, but the quality of your primary lens will largely determine the outcome. This is a good way to go if you only do closeup photography once in a while.
Lens Additions
Teleconverters are supplemental lenses you place between the camera body and lens. They work by increasing the focal length of the existing lens. This is an inexpensive way to take closeup photos. Teleconverters will slow down the speed of your automatic lens, and there will be some loss of image quality. Extension tubes also fit between the camera and the lens. They work by bringing your camera lens closer to the subject. The biggest drawback to using teleconverters or extension tubes is the time it takes to add and remove them.
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