DA50-200 for macro … with Canon 500D
Posted by David Chin on June 18th, 2007 in Pentax K10D Images
By default, the DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED AL does not have a favorable minimum working distance for macro work, not does it really provide good magnification. I don’t have a dedicated macro lens, and is probably not too keen to get one. As the saying goes, there is always more than a way to skin a cat. I use the Canon 500D close up lens.
The 500D denotes 500mm working distance, or 50cm (~19.7 inches, or 1.5ft) which essentially halved the minimum working distance of the lens. There is actually another close up lens, the Canon 250D, fit for use with lenses which are 50mm or less. I love this combination as the double aspherical elements on the Canon 500D does not degrade the optical quality as much as the cheap close up filters. Furthermore it does not induce chromatic aberation i.e. purple fringing. It’s sharp when used on the DA 50-200 which is already famed for its high optical quality.
It is another great weight saving feature especially when traveling. It is also not expensive, at least not as expensive as a dedicated macro lens.
June 28th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
this is a great tip! I too don’t do macro enough to justify a macro lens, but an adaptor for my 50-200? sweet! I’m slightly uncleas as to how it affect the focus distance of the lens though? does it simply make the min. focus distance of the lens 500mm? or does it *reduce* the existing min. focus distance *by* 500mm?
July 12th, 2007 at 10:26 pm
The Canon 500D essentially ‘forces’ your lens to focus within 500mm (from subject to CCD plane). Since the DA 50-200 has a minimum focusing distance of about 3ft, the nearer you focus, the higher the magnification achieved.