The Raynox DCR-250 macro adapter

[alfbranch]

How can you take macro shots without buying and expensive macro lens?

The sime answer is to buy a macro adapter I have two Raynox DCR-250 adapters. This will work with any lens over a focal length of 70 equivelant on 35mm format or 17.5 mm on 4/3 or m4/3.
Why two?
Well they are good and I intend to stack them one on top of the other eventually.

The Raynox is a multi element close up adapter and you can get less/more powerful versions.

The adapter clips on and off in seconds using an adjustable spring fitting adapter ring rather like a lens canp but raning from 52mm to 67 mm.

The lens unit has a 43mm filter thread on the lens side and a 49mm from filter thread.

Here is a Raynox fitted to a 4/3 fit 40-150 mk1 lens which had a minimum focus distance of 1.4 m.

This is it set at 40 mm the white card shows the minumum fcous distance

at 40 mm with raynox by Alf Branch, on Flickr

Here it is at 150 mm

at 150 mm with raynox by Alf Branch, on Flickr

here is a shot taken with the set up shown above

Hover-fly by Alf Branch, on Flickr


Now this does not make macro shooting easy as nothing does actually.

You end up with a very limited focus range but it brings you really close. One of the most effective ways of get a subject in focus is to zoom in and out until the subject is close to being in focus the half depress and holdthe shutter and after that rock back forth and shoot.

I now have three macro lenses but still use my Raynox to get closer

Here is my sigma 105 three sets of tubes and the raynox which is what I use the subject gets small I get about 2.9:1 with this

Macro-rig-2 by Alf Branch, on Flickr

Here is an uncropped shot from this

105-mag-test-tubes&R by Alf Branch, on Flickr

[pdk42]

Re: The Raynox DCR-250 macro adapter

Thanks for posting that Alf. I had a 60mm macro for a little while, but for the amount of macro I do, some tubes and the Raynox 250 is a much better cost/reward trade off. I've got some nice shots using it too. These were taken with the Panasonic 35-100 plus the little Oly FL600R hand held off camera triggered using pre-flash from the little commander unit.


May Fly by Paul Kaye, on Flickr


Bumble Bee by Paul Kaye, on Flickr

[alfbranch]

Re: The Raynox DCR-250 macro adapter

Well Paul I was about to do a thread on tubes until my PC started playing up. I will sort it tomorrow.

The Raynox will get you too close for the may fly shot. The bee could work.

[Jim Ford]

Re: The Raynox DCR-250 macro adapter

I've got a Raynox 250 and had a Sigma 105mm that it would have fitted. The Raynox doesn't fit on the Sigma 150mm that I have now. Maybe I'll have to make an adaptor. I found that the Raynox had little effect fitted to the Zuiko 50mm macro

Jim

[Mdb2]

Re: The Raynox DCR-250 macro adapter

Hi Alf have you tried the raynox on the 40-150pro? Also what kind of magnification do you think would be possible using the tubes from your previous thread?
Kind regards mike

[alfbranch]

Re: The Raynox DCR-250 macro adapter

Hi Alf have you tried the raynox on the 40-150pro? Also what kind of magnification do you think would be possible using the tubes from your previous thread?
Kind regards mike

I do not own and I am unlikely to own a 40-150 f2.8 lens

You may struggle with a Raynox as the filter thread is 72 and bigger than the 67 mm the raynox normally fits.

Tubes will work with it as they will with almost any lens the AF will hunt a bit but assuming the MF is as good as the 12-40 f2.8 it will work very nicely in MF.

[Mdb2]

Re: The Raynox DCR-250 macro adapter

hi again Alf, maybe the canon achromatic 250/500D will fit not sure about the thread pitch though
Kind regards mike

[alfbranch]

Re: The Raynox DCR-250 macro adapter

Here is a shot taken with the Sigma 105 f2.8 and three tubes and the Raynox 250

This is under 1mm long and moved quickly making it difficult to shhot

Collembola 2 by Alf Branch, on Flickr

[Guest]

Re: The Raynox DCR-250 macro adapter

I bought the 250 and 150 Raynox's many years ago for my Panasonic Bridge camera. Currently trying them stacked on the Lumix 20mm f1.7 on my E-PM2.
An affordable and effective way of doing close-up work without a dedicated macro lens.

[alfbranch]

Re: The Raynox DCR-250 macro adapter

Thisis a set up I have trying out it gives up to 3X magnification about 6mm across the frame.


This is my Olympus OMD E-M5 MKII with 60mm f2.8 macro lens 3 Kooka extensions tubes 48mm in total and a Raynox DCR250 and a Nissin Di466 with homemade diffuser.


Macro rigg E M5II by Alf Branch, on Flickr


This was taken with this set up I



Orchesella cincta juvenile by Alf Branch, on Flickr

This is an uncropped shot with this set up


Dicyrtomina saundersi by Alf Branch, on Flickr