Covid Photo Projects #2: Let's get in close

Another thought in terms of entertaining yourself with a camera during the COVID-29 crisis might be to think Macro or, if you don't own a Macro lens, just think extreme close-up. 

OK, don't panic, no need to jump online and spend $700+ on a new Macro lens. It might be a good time to see just how close your regular lens - usually something like an 18-55mm zoom lens - can get to a subject. Most mid-range zoom lenses focus as close as 12-inches which is OK, but not great.

If you want to go physically closer to the subject, you'd obviously need something like a Macro lens. But if this is too expensive, then there are a couple of good, economical alternatives: consider either buying a close-up filter or an Extension Tube. 

Close-up filters are inexpensive alternatives to a Macro lens - it screws onto the front of the lens and changes the close focussing distance of the lens. While a quick solution to the problem of getting very close to the subject, optical quality might be a bit soft towards the edges of the frame. One way to try to cancel out edge softness by shooting at small aperture f-stops like f8, 11 or 16.

Extension tubes. This is a simple metal ring that fits between lens and camera body. You can buy these little gizmos for as little as $20 - but the cheap ones render the camera meter-free and focus free. To retain the AF and metering connection you might have to pay about $50-100 for a set of three different length tubes - although I see many brands offering AF-capable Extension Tube sets for less than $30. Most Extension Tubes come in sets of three:12mm, 20mm and 36mm widths, each of which which will give significantly different close-up results.