For some of you, this won’t be new information, so please enjoy the photos. For others, it could rejuvenate your whole approach to your photography, and for much less money than buying a new lens! And this time (or any time!) of year, we’d all like to be spending a little less money, no?
During a conversation with a friend recently, she remarked that, shocker! She really didn’t love her Hasselblad. What?! I’d never met anyone who said they were anything less than thrilled with their investment. When I probed her as to why, one of the issues that she revealed turned out to have a very simple solution. But as I thought back to my first few weeks with the Hasselblad, I remember being so frustrated with the same exact thing: Why can’t I get up close with this darn thing?! The focusing distance on the 80mm lens is 3 feet, so you have to be at least 3 feet away for your subject to be in focus. If I’m at a coffee shop, I’d rather not have to get up out of my seat and back up 2 feet to get the pretty latte art in focus. If I’m at lunch and want to snap a portrait of my date, I don’t want to have to get up out of my seat to do it. And though I have mostly gotten over it, you might still be embarrassed to make a scene photographing that pint of beer on Friday night, which you are bound to do if you have to stand across the room to get the shot (ok, I’m exaggerating, but you would have to back up a few feet). Plus, you’ll get more shallow depth of field, and most of us still love the bokeh!
Some quick flickr research revealed that folks were using close up filters! And they were under $50!? Wow, I was thinking I’d need to buy another lens for a couple hundred dollars. Nope! Search for them used on KEH.com, B&H or Adorama’s Used sections, or even Amazon or ebay. The one I use for my Hasselblad is the Proxar 1.0 filter. [sidenote: I’m aware that some would argue these filters may not be as sharp as a lens meant to get in closer, but not all of us can afford another lens, nor do we want to have to carry multiple lenses. These filters do the trick!]
I recently got a set of these for my Pentax 6×7 (AGFA from Amazon) and now I’m able to get shots like the ones below. I have only used the +1 so far. The only thing I didn’t anticipate during my excitement for how cute Rosie might look up close while sleeping, is that the Pentax shutter that close to her is sure to wake her up! I’m so thankful for this little tip about close up filters, and I hope it might help you, too! I don’t have experience with this with my digital camera, but if you do, feel free to let us know about your experience in the comments.
Happy Snapping!
Cara of tumbleweedineden
This looks like it’s worth trying – thanks, Cara! And that anecdote about Rosie waking up from the shutter made me smile – I can totally imagine it đŸ™‚
kthunk! *rosie’s eyes jump open*…miraculously i got the photo before she opened them!
I was introduced to close up filters this summer in a Flickr group. I have always been frustrated with my 50mm 1.4 on my dslr and how far away from my subject that I must stand. I did purchase a 250D close up lens (it’s called a lens, not a filter but it looks like a filter) which can be found online for less than $100. I gave it go and I was happy with the results. You can see the images here if you’d like http://www.flickr.com/photos/rslaflam/tags/closeup/ I definitely need to play more. Your pup is adorable!
wow i love the effect it has on the bokeh!
I don’t know, looking at the tea cup on the wooden table it’s hard to imagine getting much sharper an image with a lens vs. a filter. The surface of the tea looks like glass!
yeah, its good enough for me!
wow!!! well this is just what i needed to know about and i am so thankful that you wrote about this subject!!! i can’t wait to go onto keh and find me some filters!!!! (i probably should have picked your brilliant brains a while ago) xxxooo
i knew SOMEONE could use this. so glad its you!
p.s. your photos are fantastic!!!!
These are absolutely stunning, Cara! And yes, I often forget about my Contax 645 filters. I shall try and remember to get them out. Soon!
Thank you for the tip. I have been looking at buying a new lens as I felt a bit stuck with my 50mm but have to wait due to the price of the lens I am drooling over. I am definitely going to try the close up filters before making the jump into new lenses territory.
Thank you for sharing!
glad to help! hope they work out for you.
love these images cara!
My sister had a set of closeup filters (and mom too) back in high school and I inherited all of them I’ll have to break them out and have some fun one of these days. Thanks for the reminder Cara!
Thanks for the tip. Your photos are so beautiful.
Cara, Which filter do you use with your Hasselblad? Can you maybe post a link to an example? I’m having a hard time finding one. Thanks! There’s hope đŸ™‚