Macro photography with kit lens 18-55

<p>I am in the process of purchasing Canon EOS 450D along with 18-55 lens kit. I want to under take table top photography of coins, jewelry and glass ware. Would these lens be adequate? If no, which are the ones to be purchased for the most affordable pricing.</p>

<p>

<p>1. Start by reading <a href="http://photonotes.org/articles/beginner-faq/lenses.html#closeup">this</a>. <br>

2. What is your budget?<br>

3. May I suggest a search?</p>

<p>Happy shooting,<br>

Yakim.</p>

</p>

<p>There is a lot of information on this site (as suggested by Yakim) related to lens and macro photography, but just to toss in my real-world 2 cents...</p>

<p>I have the same base kit (450D with kit IS lens). An easy item to help me with macro photography (mine is action figures and general items) was to purchase a close up filter set. I am not sure of the rules on posting links to sites that sell them, but you can perform an easy search on any of the photo sale sites to see who carries them.</p>

<p>I purchased a kit of 3 close up filters (+1, +3 and +4) and have been using them on the lens with very decent results. I also have a +2 Cokin-P filter that gave just as good results, so the manner of the filter is a choice for the photographer. The 3-filter kit cost roughly $35-40. The Cokin-P closeup filter was a little less ($20ish), but that isn't considering if you have to pay for the start up pieces of the filter adapter ring, the holder, etc...</p>

<p>I did take the step to purchase a slightly better lens (the inexpensive 50mm f/1.8) along with a 52mm-58mm step up ring to allow me to use the same close up filers on either of the lens. The only advantage of the 50mm f/1.8, over the kit lens is the additional faster apeture values. I eventually plan to purchase the Canon 100mm f/2.8, but after the 405D, 50 f/1.8, 18-55 IS, 55-250 IS, the battery/vertical grip, extra battery, hotshoe flash and all the other odss and such, it was a bit much to tack it onto the order this year. Maybe next year.</p>

<p>This example was taken with the +4 filter on the 18-55 IS kit lens. That pincusion cactus was only about a 1/4 inch in size.<br>

<img src="http://pandtdavis.net/albums/Digital/Tony/Phoenix%20Botanical%20Garden/IMG_1042.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="560" /></p>

<p>Before you buy anything else, take a few coins to the store with you, put them on the counter, see if that lens will focus close enough for your taste.</p>

<p>To get closer with that lens, assuming the answer above was no, you have some options. <br>

Closeup "filters" as suggested above. Canon makes some nice two-element models, as does Nikon. 250D and 500D are the Canon labels for the closeup lenses.<br>

Extension tubes.</p>

<p>Or you will find yourself looking at macro lenses. If you do a lot of closeups, macro lenses are a great way to go, and aren't that expensive, relatively speaking.</p>

<p>You will need a good tripod if you don't already have one.</p>

 

<p>If you don't want to spend a lot of time reading about options, another way to go would be to just buy the EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro. It's a nice lens, priced around $400, and it is capable of very close focusing. Should be great for all the uses you mention.</p>

<p>FYI, coins, jewelry and glass are all very difficult to photograph, regardless of your equipment. Good lighting and a tripod will help.</p>

<p>Or you could get <a href="http://haodascreen.com/reversing.aspx">this thing</a>. It'll allow you to use the kit lens as a macro lens.</p>