If you have a lens with a 62mm filter thread or smaller you might look at the Nikon 6T two element lens used around $40-60. I use mine with a Canon 55-250 efs zoom and it's excellent.
Also a huge fan of this. The mc20 brings you very close to the 1:1 ratio for true macro too. Only limiting factor is getting the dof. With the 60mm Oly macro lens and a flash I shoot at f11, primarily because I'm bad at stacking.
Good to see a telephoto wildlife guy get excited about adding macro/closeup wildlife. I have the NISI macro filter and use it on both my 12-100mm and 40-150mm lenses. To make the attaching/detaching of the filter easier and quicker, I use magnetic 72mm lens & filter adapters. The magnetic attachment system is also very useful for quick attachment of ND filters for switching from stills to video. (BTW, I would avoid using f/11 for stills due to diffraction issues.) Better to increase the number of stacked images or spacing between images.
Thanks for the tip Jon! Do you find that it works to use a higher focus differential with NISI at 150mm? I struggled to get focus throughout and wondered if it was that the distance between each focus was too far apart.
To me this is a no brainer if you want to start macro photography - instead of spending a fortune on a dedicated lens, just adapt what you have and the quality looks great!
It is a good idea. I found that if you want more information and pricing just go to Amazon and look up "NISI close up". It is a Chinese company and the website is challenging to navigate. It is a beautiful website to be honest. Amazon is just more user friendly. I was able to ask if it was a true 1:1 and I should have an answer shortly. As for the price: I can just get some decent expansion tubes (I have a set) to do macro in the field and they are just as easy to use at less than a third of the price. I would also like to point out that a true macro lens will normally be exceptionally clear and this will only be as clear as your lens just like an expansion tube. In fact to me it is just like taking a much more expensive expansion tube and putting it on the front rather than a cheaper expansion tube on the back. That said I have not tried these. I have tried expansion tubes and I have one macro lens. If I am wrong about these being no better than expansion tubes let me know. I photograph spiders mostly and I just got into birds. So the clarity of the lens is my bread and butter. Excellent video. I did not even know these existed until then.
Thanks James! I haven't tried extension tubes so I honestly wouldn't know the difference using each one. What I've seen from NISI website is that using a 200mm lens should give close to 1:1.
@@EspenHelland I use extension tubes on a 200mm lens and it is close but not true 1:1. I do like the fact that these go on the front so you don't risk getting you mirror contaminated out in the woods.
You don't necessarily need a macro lens to do macro photography. Far more often just using a telephoto by itself is enough to take photos. You just have to stand away a bit. Also having an APSC sensor is advantageous cuz of the zoom factor.
Well done! And thank you for bringing this new product to our attention. I recently purchased a 70-200 f/2.8 lens. Having this macro kit will give me more options out in the field. 👍🏽🙏🏽
Whilst it doesn't give you true macro, using the 1.4 teleconverter significantly increases magnification whilst maintaining good distance to the subject, great for butterflies, spiders and dragonflies
Hi Espen! I use the Raynox 250 on with my Tamron 18-200mm telephoto lens with some pretty good results. The only thing I have to take into account is that the more I zoom in, the more vignetting I get in the image, so then I have to crop out the vignetting in post.
Very nice video! I enjoy the fact that you are sharing your experiments and the learning that you're going through. I've only done a little macro with the OM-D EM1 mkiii and the 12-40 pro. I now have the OM-1, and I do have the 40-150 pro, so I may try this filter as I'm saving money for more telephoto for wildlife shots. Thanks! I enjoy your videos a great deal. Still working through your OM System for Wildlife Photography course, which is great. I highly recommend it for Olympus / OM System users!
Lovely! I just shot some dragonfly (semi-macro) which I was blown away without anything attached to my Oly 300mm. I wonder what this would do if you added the 1.4x to that 40-150 pro? I think I'll sell my Oly 60mm and get this instead, looking at your results. That backdrop at 10:00 is beautiful. The way the stone fence top seems to be mimicking the trees on the far hillside. Outstanding video.
Thanks a lot! I like the Nisi close up filter and really handy to take with you, I'm not sure it can replace a true macro lens though. I might try with the 1.4x, thanks!
I have just started using extension tubes for macro. It is very affordable and can achieve good results (better than 1:2, even close to 1:1)on the right lens. It is perhaps the lowest cost way to get started. I am curious to know if these close-up filters work better. It might even be used in combination with tubes? My experience with the tubes is that it is difficult to hold the camera steady. I think IBIS might have something to do with it. Using a flash and stop down the lens helps. Anyway I am no expert, just getting started.
Hi Sam, I haven't tried extension tubes myself so I'm not sure if you would use them together. A beginner at this myself :) It can be very difficult to hold the camera steady when we get really close to the subject. Maybe try with a tripod?
@@EspenHelland @Espen Helland Hi Espen, thanks for the advice. I can use a tripod at home but I do not like to carry one. What I found is that the little flash that comes with the camera works pretty well for macro/close-up. Some experimentation is needed to find the ideal F number for the lens (I think also the IBIS setting if an extension tube is used).The flash only lights up for a few hundredth of a sec and so it kind of stabilizes the shot. My only caution is that the lens should not be too long as it can block off the flash. I typically first use AF then flip the switch to MF, moving the camera back and forth to get the perfect focus. It is a lot of fun for very little extra investment, I encourage everyone to give it a try.
The big question is how a 40-150mm F/2.8 PRO + NISI will compare with the new 90mm PRO when it becomes available, especially as the new lens is said to allow the MC-14 or MC-20 to be mounted.
Very interesting Espen. I have the Olympus MCON-P02 macro converter (more like close-up converter). It is cheap (€65) and tiny and it fits on multiple lenses. I have great fun with it with my 45mm f1.8. Indeed a nice little step into macro photography.
I've used the same combo on the Air01. Given that the original app no longer works with later versions of iOS, the cool thing about the Air and that combo is you can get very close and shoot "blind". It actually works quite well. I have the 60mm macro now, but have still used the P02 from time to time.
Those filters are a good thing to carry around with you. I don't like changing lenses in the field so I purchased both sizes about a year ago. I am still practicing with them and do not get the same results as with the 60 or 30mm macro lenses yet. With the 60mm macro I often use f13 as a little diffraction looks better that out of focus areas. How are you finding handheld in camera stacking? I have not had much luck with my EM1.3 I was wondering if the faster speed of the OM1 may take the stack quicker and give better results
I'm definitely finding it tricky to handhold and focus stack and sometimes takes me a couple of times. Might try a tripod as well. I might get myself a macro lens after this too, really want to know the difference and explore it more.
Interesting and timely. I was out shooting autumn fungi yesterday. Will we have a final 4th part on Costa Rica? And I see you're using the OM-1. Care to share what was the issue with it on your trip?
Good stuff Espen, lately I have been immersed in extreme macro, on Amazon, I bought some prepackaged beetles and microscope slides to learn the craft. See my Flickr for some pics. I also tried super close up , kinda macro with my 300mm f4, and the 40-150 f2.8. Fun stuff! Going to try extension tubes with the same lenses to see what i get. Cheers!
Did you find there were a lot of macro opportunities in Costa Rica when you were there? I recall the leaf cutter ants but were you seeing frogs/snakes but not able to capture them as well as you would have liked? Heading there in May and while, like you, I’m mainly keen on birds and mammals - I’d hate to be missing opportunities for macro - so considering a macro lens and diffuser. Headed there in May and wondering whether you felt like not having a macro setup was a miss!
Thanks for the video Espen! The 40-150mm F/2.8 PRO will also work extremely well with the MC-20 TC even though it stops down the light. Does mounting the NISI filter restrict the furthest distance from the subject you can shoot from please? in other words, do you have to shoot with the NISI within a certain distance?
@@EspenHelland Thanks Espen. That's a very shallow window but the zoom of 40-150mm on the lens may help. I only shoot close-up subjects which are alive such as insects but I even manage it on my 150-400mm TC.
Any chance there is an adapter to 62mm? I used to own the Nikkor 105/2.8, but I gave up -- perhaps prematurely -- I decided I didn't have the talent/interest... Trying to travel lightly, I'm using some 62 mm diameter lenses, and it would be fun to try it.
I was out yesterday photographing mushrooms with my mark3 and a 12-45 lens. Immediately after getting home I looked up the 60mm macro and how to do in camera focus stacking with olympus. That filter is a neat way to test the waters a bit more. Loved the photos and the video. Think ill be purchasing the 60mm though. Its on sale at bh right now also. Thanks for sharing man
I tend to use my 40-150 + 1.4 extender so much for butterflies and dragonflies that I almost forgot to put macro lens plus Marumi and Raynox filters on my list of stuff to take to Exmoor in 8 days time for some macro in between rutting deer, plus water sprayer and mini torch for backlighting.
why f/8? with focus stacking you can get away with the diaphragm more open. You simply have to select a small focus differential, one or two. I routinely use hand-held f/3.2 or f/4 on the M.60mm Macro and f/6.3 on the M.300mm + 1.4x TC (no close up lens). If you use a larger focus differential you might get banding (regions variably in focus) in the final stacked image, which is clearly visible with focus peaking software such as FastRawViewer, but may be even not noticeable with the naked eye. I believe the future of macro will be focus stacking with a fairly open lens, and natural light or a small led bank light, no flash and no need for significant depth of field in the single exposures.
I would definitely go for a low f-stop when just using the my telephotos on their own, but with the close up filter I suspect the depth of field is very narrow and I really struggled to get sharpness throughout. Maybe my inexperience with macro though, will definitely practise more. I'm getting the 60mm macro soon, so will be fun to explore macro more!
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If you have a lens with a 62mm filter thread or smaller you might look at the Nikon 6T two element lens used around $40-60. I use mine with a Canon 55-250 efs zoom and it's excellent.
The Olympus 300mm f4 pro using the focus limiter switch, is a great macro lens & adding the MC14 gives great results
Yes, I really like that combo as well!
Also a huge fan of this. The mc20 brings you very close to the 1:1 ratio for true macro too. Only limiting factor is getting the dof. With the 60mm Oly macro lens and a flash I shoot at f11, primarily because I'm bad at stacking.
Good to see a telephoto wildlife guy get excited about adding macro/closeup wildlife. I have the NISI macro filter and use it on both my 12-100mm and 40-150mm lenses. To make the attaching/detaching of the filter easier and quicker, I use magnetic 72mm lens & filter adapters. The magnetic attachment system is also very useful for quick attachment of ND filters for switching from stills to video. (BTW, I would avoid using f/11 for stills due to diffraction issues.) Better to increase the number of stacked images or spacing between images.
Thanks for the tip Jon! Do you find that it works to use a higher focus differential with NISI at 150mm? I struggled to get focus throughout and wondered if it was that the distance between each focus was too far apart.
To me this is a no brainer if you want to start macro photography - instead of spending a fortune on a dedicated lens, just adapt what you have and the quality looks great!
It is a good idea. I found that if you want more information and pricing just go to Amazon and look up "NISI close up". It is a Chinese company and the website is challenging to navigate. It is a beautiful website to be honest. Amazon is just more user friendly. I was able to ask if it was a true 1:1 and I should have an answer shortly.
As for the price: I can just get some decent expansion tubes (I have a set) to do macro in the field and they are just as easy to use at less than a third of the price. I would also like to point out that a true macro lens will normally be exceptionally clear and this will only be as clear as your lens just like an expansion tube. In fact to me it is just like taking a much more expensive expansion tube and putting it on the front rather than a cheaper expansion tube on the back.
That said I have not tried these. I have tried expansion tubes and I have one macro lens. If I am wrong about these being no better than expansion tubes let me know.
I photograph spiders mostly and I just got into birds. So the clarity of the lens is my bread and butter.
Excellent video. I did not even know these existed until then.
Thanks James! I haven't tried extension tubes so I honestly wouldn't know the difference using each one. What I've seen from NISI website is that using a 200mm lens should give close to 1:1.
@@EspenHelland I use extension tubes on a 200mm lens and it is close but not true 1:1. I do like the fact that these go on the front so you don't risk getting you mirror contaminated out in the woods.
You don't necessarily need a macro lens to do macro photography. Far more often just using a telephoto by itself is enough to take photos. You just have to stand away a bit. Also having an APSC sensor is advantageous cuz of the zoom factor.
Hello guy I just want to ask I got a 45-150r and 75-300 lens which one will be more suitable for close up filter ? Using Olympus em 10 mark 3
This is a nice tool ! Thank you Espen ! 🍀
Great video, I'm always a bit hesitant about screwing a relatively cheap piece of glass onto the front of an expensive piece of glass.
Update- I now have the 40-150mm f2.8 pro, what an amazing lens, thank you Espen :)
Nice! Hope you get good use of it 🙂
@@EspenHelland I certainly will
Well done! And thank you for bringing this new product to our attention. I recently purchased a 70-200 f/2.8 lens. Having this macro kit will give me more options out in the field. 👍🏽🙏🏽
Nice! Thank you Irene :)
Whilst it doesn't give you true macro, using the 1.4 teleconverter significantly increases magnification whilst maintaining good distance to the subject, great for butterflies, spiders and dragonflies
Absolutely, I love using that combo as well!
Looks very interesting, thanks for sharing. I'm having a lot of fun and success with my 100-400 tele, capturing bees in the lavender.
Awesome! thanks Phillip :)
Hi Espen! I use the Raynox 250 on with my Tamron 18-200mm telephoto lens with some pretty good results. The only thing I have to take into account is that the more I zoom in, the more vignetting I get in the image, so then I have to crop out the vignetting in post.
Cool! thanks for the tip
Very nice video! I enjoy the fact that you are sharing your experiments and the learning that you're going through. I've only done a little macro with the OM-D EM1 mkiii and the 12-40 pro. I now have the OM-1, and I do have the 40-150 pro, so I may try this filter as I'm saving money for more telephoto for wildlife shots. Thanks! I enjoy your videos a great deal. Still working through your OM System for Wildlife Photography course, which is great. I highly recommend it for Olympus / OM System users!
Thank you so much Peter, very glad to hear you're making use of the course :)
Lovely! I just shot some dragonfly (semi-macro) which I was blown away without anything attached to my Oly 300mm. I wonder what this would do if you added the 1.4x to that 40-150 pro? I think I'll sell my Oly 60mm and get this instead, looking at your results. That backdrop at 10:00 is beautiful. The way the stone fence top seems to be mimicking the trees on the far hillside. Outstanding video.
Thanks a lot! I like the Nisi close up filter and really handy to take with you, I'm not sure it can replace a true macro lens though. I might try with the 1.4x, thanks!
I have just started using extension tubes for macro. It is very affordable and can achieve good results (better than 1:2, even close to 1:1)on the right lens. It is perhaps the lowest cost way to get started. I am curious to know if these close-up filters work better. It might even be used in combination with tubes? My experience with the tubes is that it is difficult to hold the camera steady. I think IBIS might have something to do with it. Using a flash and stop down the lens helps. Anyway I am no expert, just getting started.
Hi Sam, I haven't tried extension tubes myself so I'm not sure if you would use them together. A beginner at this myself :) It can be very difficult to hold the camera steady when we get really close to the subject. Maybe try with a tripod?
@@EspenHelland @Espen Helland Hi Espen, thanks for the advice. I can use a tripod at home but I do not like to carry one. What I found is that the little flash that comes with the camera works pretty well for macro/close-up. Some experimentation is needed to find the ideal F number for the lens (I think also the IBIS setting if an extension tube is used).The flash only lights up for a few hundredth of a sec and so it kind of stabilizes the shot. My only caution is that the lens should not be too long as it can block off the flash. I typically first use AF then flip the switch to MF, moving the camera back and forth to get the perfect focus. It is a lot of fun for very little extra investment, I encourage everyone to give it a try.
Hi Espen, is this suitable for the 300mm f4 as well?
The big question is how a 40-150mm F/2.8 PRO + NISI will compare with the new 90mm PRO when it becomes available, especially as the new lens is said to allow the MC-14 or MC-20 to be mounted.
I’m sure it won’t replace a macro lens, but a nifty little tool if you don’t have a macro lens. The new 90mm looks awesome 😁
Very interesting Espen. I have the Olympus MCON-P02 macro converter (more like close-up converter). It is cheap (€65) and tiny and it fits on multiple lenses. I have great fun with it with my 45mm f1.8. Indeed a nice little step into macro photography.
I've used the same combo on the Air01. Given that the original app no longer works with later versions of iOS, the cool thing about the Air and that combo is you can get very close and shoot "blind". It actually works quite well. I have the 60mm macro now, but have still used the P02 from time to time.
Those filters are a good thing to carry around with you. I don't like changing lenses in the field so I purchased both sizes about a year ago. I am still practicing with them and do not get the same results as with the 60 or 30mm macro lenses yet.
With the 60mm macro I often use f13 as a little diffraction looks better that out of focus areas.
How are you finding handheld in camera stacking? I have not had much luck with my EM1.3
I was wondering if the faster speed of the OM1 may take the stack quicker and give better results
I'm definitely finding it tricky to handhold and focus stack and sometimes takes me a couple of times. Might try a tripod as well. I might get myself a macro lens after this too, really want to know the difference and explore it more.
Interesting and timely. I was out shooting autumn fungi yesterday.
Will we have a final 4th part on Costa Rica? And I see you're using the OM-1. Care to share what was the issue with it on your trip?
More Costa Rica coming up in a couple of weeks :) apparently it was something to do with the IS.
Good stuff Espen, lately I have been immersed in extreme macro, on Amazon, I bought some prepackaged beetles and microscope slides to learn the craft. See my Flickr for some pics. I also tried super close up , kinda macro with my 300mm f4, and the 40-150 f2.8. Fun stuff! Going to try extension tubes with the same lenses to see what i get. Cheers!
Good stuff Randy! I'm getting some M. Zuiko macro lenses to explore it a bit further. Looking forward to it :)
Did you find there were a lot of macro opportunities in Costa Rica when you were there? I recall the leaf cutter ants but were you seeing frogs/snakes but not able to capture them as well as you would have liked? Heading there in May and while, like you, I’m mainly keen on birds and mammals - I’d hate to be missing opportunities for macro - so considering a macro lens and diffuser.
Headed there in May and wondering whether you felt like not having a macro setup was a miss!
I'm fine using my telephoto lenses for a bit of close up, but I would bring a macro if you have it. Especially if you're doing any night time shooting
Thanks for the video Espen! The 40-150mm F/2.8 PRO will also work extremely well with the MC-20 TC even though it stops down the light.
Does mounting the NISI filter restrict the furthest distance from the subject you can shoot from please? in other words, do you have to shoot with the NISI within a certain distance?
Yes, it restricts the range to within 22-30cm
@@EspenHelland Thanks Espen. That's a very shallow window but the zoom of 40-150mm on the lens may help. I only shoot close-up subjects which are alive such as insects but I even manage it on my 150-400mm TC.
@@EspenHelland But is the 22-30cm range the shooting distance to the camera body sensor or to the front of the lens?
What if you want to put some distance between you and your subject eg insects. Would it still work with the lens zoomed out?
You’d be best to take off the NISI filter then
Any chance there is an adapter to 62mm? I used to own the Nikkor 105/2.8, but I gave up -- perhaps prematurely -- I decided I didn't have the talent/interest... Trying to travel lightly, I'm using some 62 mm diameter lenses, and it would be fun to try it.
Not sure, best to check the website
Super video
Now that makes me wonder how it would work on 300m f4?
I couldn't get a sharp image using it with the 300mm, I thought maybe because the depth of field is too narrow.
I was out yesterday photographing mushrooms with my mark3 and a 12-45 lens. Immediately after getting home I looked up the 60mm macro and how to do in camera focus stacking with olympus. That filter is a neat way to test the waters a bit more. Loved the photos and the video. Think ill be purchasing the 60mm though. Its on sale at bh right now also. Thanks for sharing man
I tend to use my 40-150 + 1.4 extender so much for butterflies and dragonflies that I almost forgot to put macro lens plus Marumi and Raynox filters on my list of stuff to take to Exmoor in 8 days time for some macro in between rutting deer, plus water sprayer and mini torch for backlighting.
Cool! I'm quite curious and might get a macro lens as well soon :)
why f/8? with focus stacking you can get away with the diaphragm more open. You simply have to select a small focus differential, one or two. I routinely use hand-held f/3.2 or f/4 on the M.60mm Macro and f/6.3 on the M.300mm + 1.4x TC (no close up lens). If you use a larger focus differential you might get banding (regions variably in focus) in the final stacked image, which is clearly visible with focus peaking software such as FastRawViewer, but may be even not noticeable with the naked eye. I believe the future of macro will be focus stacking with a fairly open lens, and natural light or a small led bank light, no flash and no need for significant depth of field in the single exposures.
I would definitely go for a low f-stop when just using the my telephotos on their own, but with the close up filter I suspect the depth of field is very narrow and I really struggled to get sharpness throughout. Maybe my inexperience with macro though, will definitely practise more. I'm getting the 60mm macro soon, so will be fun to explore macro more!
Thank you for the video. Now I know what filter to buy for macro. I also use an Olympus E-M1X.
Did you take all this focus-stacked pictures hand-held??
Yes I did 👍
Great video. What software are you focus stacking with.
Thank you! I add them as layers in Photoshop from Lightroom
I like to shoot mushrooms that’s about it. So this I will look in to
👍📷😎
The image quality with the close up filter is not well as I expected
That is not a filter....