Canon 500D Close Up Lens
When you want to try Macro photography but don't have the budget for a proper Macro lens is the Canon 500D Close-up Lens a good alternative?
The Canon 500D Close-up Lens threads onto the filter threads of a standard lens. It consists of a small double-element lens that fixes the focal length of the lens and increases the magnification allowing for close-up photographs to be taken. Ideally the Close-Up Lens is intended to be used with lenses with a focal length of 70mm-300mm.
So the question is whether a cheaper alternative like this produces good enough results when compared to a specialised Macro lens like a Canon EF 100mm f/2.8.
The quality of photographs produced by the Canon 500D Close-Up Lens is very good. The dual-element of the lens is definitely an advantage over similar single element varieties and I wouldn't recommend going for one of those. Does the functionality compare to a true Macro Lens? Probably not, but then you can do some things with a Close-Up Lens that are impossible with a Macro Lens.
For example, attaching the Close-Up Lens to a telephoto lens allows you to be a good distance from the subject and then increase the magnification further, effectively getting closer in to the subject.
There are some disadvantages however, for example, the fixed focal distance means the only true way of getting closer is to physically move closer. Also on test shots my Canon Macro 60mm USM Lens produced better shots than the Close-Up Lens for true macro shots. Some of the test pictures also seemed a little less sharp at the edges.
So would I buy a Canon 500D Close-Up Lens?
If you don't have the budget for a true macro lens then yes this is a good alternative to get you started. Also if you are travelling light and don't have room in your bag for a dedicated macro lens then the close-up lens is a good alternative.
I have added one to my kit but if I want to shoot macro then I use my dedicated Canon 60mm USM f/2.8 lens.