250D 500D Diopter for 77mm 24-70mm (Beginner question)

<p>Hello Folks:<br>

I'd like to buy the above two diopter lenes for my 77mm camera lens. (5D Mark II camera). I'm a little confused, I'll need an adapter I assume. A simple step down: 77 to 58mm stepdown. Is that all that's needed? Thanks for the help.<br>

Jim C.<br>

</p>

<p>Hello Jim.</p>

<p>The 500D comes in 77mm thread version as well, but it's intended for lenses above 70mm and less than 300mm.</p>

<p>The 250D is for 135mm and less but with a step-down ring I am not sure how useful this will be on the lens you have.</p>

<p>Did you read this ?<br /> http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-500D-Close-up-Lens-Review.aspx</p>

<p>For what it's worth, I've used a 500D on my 24-105/4 and had pretty good luck with it, even well below the 70mm focal length. It can't match a real macro, but it's light enough to carry when you merely might need it, and adequate quality for many uses. (Though I might add that, as filters go, it is by no means light. I just weighed mine and it's 8 ounces including the case.)</p>

<p>I'm not sure what you mean by 77 to 58mm stepdown - are you thinking of getting 58mm versions of the diopters? I would recommend using the 77mm versions for that lens to avoid vignetting. But if you're thinking of using it on crop-frame, and only at the long end, you might be able to get away with that - I've never actually tried it. Step-down rings are risky.</p>

<p>If you use closeup lenses, use them in the diameter of the lens ... don't step down to a smaller diameter ... image borders are already becoming weak with those lenses if you use a version too small for the lens, this becomes even more visible.</p>

<p>For the shorter lenses, the 250D (which is a +4 dioptren) is more helpful than the 500D (which is +2) ... the 500D is intended for longer lenses.</p>

<p>I occasionally use a +4dpt. closeup lens from B+W on a 24-105 with accetpable/good results (just don't compare it with the output of a true macrolens).</p>

<p>The 250D is available only in 52mm and 58mm sizes, whereas the 500D is available in 52mm, 58mm, 72mm and 77mm. I assume that your mention of a step-down ring means that you are aware of this, Jim, but, as Alan and Rainer said, trying to use a 58mm close-up lens on a lens that needs the 77mm size will almost certainly cause severe vignetting, and with what I guess may be the 24~105 lens on your 5DII, your only Canon option is the 77mm 500D. According to the 24~105 manual, the 500D gives a magnification range at 105mm of x0.02 to x0.34, whereas the lens on its own will give a maximum magnification of x0.23, again at 105mm. That's not much of a gain for the very high cost of a 77mm 500D, and, even on a lens for which it is better suited, the review referenced by Diana suggests that there is a significant hit on performance.</p>

<p>The sad fact of the matter is that the 24~105, like many zoom lenses, is out of its comfort zone for close-up work, whether with close-up lenses or tubes. The EF12 tube, at about a third of the price of a 77mm 500D, does look like a better choice (x0.12 to x0.4 at 105mm, and up to x0.6 at 24mm but with far too short a working distance for it to be practicable). The best answer is of course a macro lens, and you might well be able to find a s/h 50/2.5 for no more than the cost of a new 77mm 500D – although many users prefer the longer working distance of the 100/2.8, which is certainly needed for a lot of insect work, the 50/2.5 is a very fine lens optically.</p>

<p>Just for a quality comparison ...<br>

I append some shots taken with the 24-105 at f/8 and at minimum focus distance ...<br>

- 1st - just the 24-105<br>

- 2nd - the 24-105 + a +4dpt B+W<br>

- 3rd - the 24-105 + a 2xTC (Kenko CD7)<br>

- 4th - the 24-105 + the 2xTC + the +4dpt.<br>

all are 1:1 crops from the image center.</p><div></div>

<p>the 24-105 + a +4dpt</p><div></div>

<p>24-105 + 2xTC</p><div></div>

<p>24-105 + +4dpt + 2xTC</p><div></div>

<p>That lens takes a beating with the 2x converter... though f/8 is wide open with it. I've found with the 500D that quality improves a lot as you stop down.</p>

<p>Shot on a 5D: 24-105/4 with 500D, at 105mm f/9, full pic,<br>

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v490/alanpix/IMG_0845M2.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>100% crop<br>

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v490/alanpix/IMG_0845MCrop.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Another use, I was going for a quick very-narrow-depth-of-field macroish shot, so I went with the 85/1.8 with a 500D, with a 58-to-77 step-up ring, shooting wide open at f/1.8, full shot<br>

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v490/alanpix/IMG_7198M2.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>100% crop<br>

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v490/alanpix/IMG_7198MCrop.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Thanks all very much for the info! I know what I'll do now after all your great advise...I have some Canon extension tubes and I'll use them until I save up enough for the Canon 5X macro lens. I LOVE closeup work and I think this is the way to go if I'm going to be doing a lot of work w/ it. Thanks again for all the info and work. Great forum!</p>