Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I have extensive experience with the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens for Canon SLR Cameras for Macro photography, and highly recommend it to anyone who has over $500 to spare. Since most macro lenses are out of the reach of most people on budgets, however, this filter set is a great alternative.
BEFORE I BEGIN...
Amazon also sells Digital Concepts +1 +2 +4 +10 Close-Up Macro Filter Set with Pouch (58mm), which I closely looked at as well before pulling the trigger on this. I only got the Zeikos ones because of the shipping arrangement (this was eligible for Prime, the other wasn't). I don't know how different these two sets are, and I can't recommend one over the other since I only used this set. They're both in the same relative price range, however, so some of my review could theoretically apply to both.
PURPOSE
To start off with, it's really important you understand just what these filters are for. These will NOT magnify the image and turn an ordinary lens into a telephoto one. Instead, these will change the minimum distance from which you can focus with your current lens. In other words, you will be able to physically put your lens closer to the object in question, and achieve a macro-like effect. Which means this is great for stationary objects, but if you want to photograph bugs, you have to get very close in order to fill the frame, so a 100mm macro lens might be a safer bet since it'd allow you to achieve close focus from a safe distance.
BUILD QUALITY
When I purchased this filter set, I also purchased the Zeikos ZE-FLK58 58mm Multi-Coated 3 Piece Filter Kit (UV-CPL-FLD). Prior to this, I had never heard of Zeikos, let alone purchased their products. I am enjoying that set as well, and while I wouldn't say Zeikos necessarily makes top-quality products - these are cheap, flimsy, and probably wouldn't hold up well when thoroughly scrutinized by image experts - I do think that for most people's purposes, this filter set will be just fine. That being said, I think these are probably more of a starter set than a durable long-term investment. If one is very serious about image quality, they would probably benefit by getting an alternative solution.
ALTERNATIVES
There are two strong alternatives to close up filters Macro alternatives, but both are more expensive:
(a) Extension Tubes. These are basically tubes that you put in between your lens and the camera's body. There is no glass involved, it's just a tube that increases the distance from the sensor to the lens. The benefit of this is that with no glass involved, there won't be noticeable image degradation; the downside is that less light will be available, so you will either need an external light source or have adequate natural light. Plus, extension tubes are generally more expensive than this filter set!
(b) A dedicated Macro Lens. This is the optimal piece of equipment for macro photography, but these are generally very expensive. If you want to dabble in macro photography before making a major investment, get this filter set to experiment. For most people, this set should be fine, but I wouldn't be surprised if someone gets better quality shots with a thousand-dollar macro lens than with a ten-dollar filter set!
IMPRESSIONS
So far, I'm very pleased with my purchase. For around ten dollars, I can now focus much closer to small objects than before. This is especially great for small product shots (i.e. eBay sales), as you can highlight smaller areas much better than without the filter set. Photography is a very expensive hobby, and much in the same way a $150 telephoto lens won't provide the same image quality as one that costs ten times as much, this filter set is probably not for those who are very serious about macro photography. But for most people who don't want to yet take the plunge and fork over hundreds of dollars for a macro lens they might never use, this is a great way to start taking close-up photos.
PORTABILITY
This set has four different filters, all for the same effect, but in varying degrees. If one wanted, they could stack all four filters together, but there will be a noticeable decline in quality as you put more and more filters between your lens and the sensor. They come in a pouch which is very portable, and has a fold-out system (much like a wallet) that makes it convenient to keep all four in your pocket.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I don't regret this purchase. Like I said at the start of the review, I have played extensively with the Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro lens (which I've rented, and don't own)...this doesn't exactly compare to that, but then again, this is about one-fiftieth of the cost! This filter set is a great way for someone to get a feel for macro photography, especially beginners. Just by getting physically closer to the object you're trying to photograph, you can now compose your shot much differently than before, and that alone I believe is worth the cost of this set. A WARNING, however...getting close is great, but be mindful of just how close you're getting to your object! The first day I got this set, I was experimenting and actually slammed my lens into my girlfriend's eye. Injuries aside, this is a very worthwhile product. I hope to upload some photos soon to highlight this.
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Zeikos ZE-CU458 58mm Multi-Coated 4 piece Close-up Filter SetZeikos ZE-CU458 58mm Multi-Coated 4 piece Close-up Filter Set
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