Want to take Macros. Need help please.

[Maveri9720]

Hey all, I bought myself a Nikon D50 for Xmas and am now just starting to get into it. It came with a 28 - 80 lens and I bought a 50mm 1.8 prime to go with it.

I can take some nice pics, but I want to be able to take macros.

I researched alot last night and here's what I came up with. Let me know if I am wrong anywhere.

- I can get a reversing ring for the 50mm to take great macros, but my working distance is greatly reduced to around a couple inches. Is that right?

- I can buy extension tubes for the 50mm, but then that will reduce the amount of ligth coming into the sensor. And we are already working in reduced lighting when we are trying to take pics of the tank, so I don't want to reduce the lighting any further.

- Buy a close-up filter kit. Alot of people said the filter lenses are crap and really not worth the little money they cost and won't provide high quality macros.

- Go ahead and drop $400 on a 105mm dedicated macro lens. Trying to avoid this for now, b/c money is alittle tight.

So can anyone verify any of this or contradict it?

I appreciate any help or suggestions you all can give me.

Thanks.

[avshockey311]

If you really want good shots drop the money on a new lens. I have read a little on reverse lens macro, but I am not totaly convinced on it for tank shots. I have heard and seen some pretty good pics with a 50mm and extension rings so that is always an option to try.

[edwing206]

or you can try this
http://www.photocritic.org/2005/macro-photography-on-a-budget/

[Maveri9720]

Yea, I'm not going to put a pringles can anywhere near my camera or lenses.

As I posted in my original post, I could put extension tubes on the camera, but it does cut down on the light hitting the sensor. And we already have that as a disadvantage when trying to take tank pics.

Anyone else?

[jedininja]

You can also get screw on "close up" filters which will let you get closer to your subject.

[beerguy]

Keep in mind that, if your primary goal is sharing pictures online you can take a standard picture and crop it to isolate what you're trying to shoot without spending a dime. Extension tubes work fine, as for the light loss it's generally only ~1 stop. If you're using a tripod (and you should be) that's inconsequential.

Cheers