Sakar 52mm Close-Up Filter Set (+1, +2, +4 and +10 Diopters) Magnification Kit - Metal Rim
by Sakar
Our Price: $10.40
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: Digital Camera
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for British Pounds
Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: SakarProduct features:
- Enables macro photography using a standard lens
- Includes +1, +2, +4 and +10 diopter filters
- Includes nylon filter wallet
- Ideal for photographing small items
- Protected by 15-year warranty
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Sakar 52mm Close-Up Filter Set (+1, +2, +4 and +10 Diopters) Magnification Kit - Metal Rim
Customer Review: Let's look beyond the obvious shortcomings ...
Summary: 4 Stars
The first things I noticed about this set of macro lens is that they were cheaply made. I ordered this set of diopters along with a bottom-of-the-line uncoated Hoya polarizer and got them both today from Amazon.
The close-up filters grind against my lens tube and paint has already been scratched off the filters. So I would recommend a very light coating of light mineral oil before fitting the filters on your camera - e.g. valve oil for instruments would work. On the other hand, my bargain basement Hoya filter fits the lens tube like a glove - no grinding of parts during installation.
Speaking of the build, the lens are metal, which exudes a certain degree of quality. They are labeled with white paint - no they aren't etched with information on magnification, and the paint is already wearing off (or was it already worn when I received it)? The paint was also smeared a little on one of filters. So quality control isn't the best, however it's no biggie. The filters are also made of glass, not plastic. I dropped one of the filters once from my chest, however it survived. I was changing the filters in a nature trail.
On usage - the filters really allow you to get closer to your subjects. With the +10 diopter, your lens can be almost touching the subject and you can still lock focus and take a sharp picture. Stacking the filters only allows you to get even closer and make the subject appear even bigger in the final photo. Make sure your camera's macro mode is enabled!
While I dwell on stacking the filters, there is a little bit of asymmetrical vignetting when I stack all 4 filters on my camera - the right hand corners are dark while all the other corners are just fine. Not a biggie, a little bit of cropping will have this problem easily rectified.
And the filters do absorb a good amount of light so don't say you weren't warned about lower shutter speeds! Especially when stacking 4!
The pouch the filters came in is a nice touch, although I could see the coarse pockets scratching the lens if the case is compressed - e.g. you put it in your pocket and sit down.
As for image quality, stacking all four filters also introduces a nice bit of distortion into the image and depth of field is decreased significantly along with that little bit of vignetting covered earlier.
The small depth of field that any one of the filters will give any camera makes focusing mishaps very apparent. A +10 diopter even on a compact camera with a minuscule sensor can decrease the depth of field to 1 centimeter, depending on how close your subject is! The eyes of the fly may be in focus, but the legs won't necessarily be in focus!
Blue lateral CA is apparent. Looks easy enough to remove and even if you don't remove it, it's not major.
Pictures using the macro filters also come out a little too soft for my taste, however that, again, is easily rectified using the Unsharp Mask in many photo editing programs. I personally use GIMP, and a little tweaking using the USM filter boosts contrast tremendously.
So past the shortcomings, I am very excited to have this set of filters and look forward to acquainting myself with with them further. I do appreciate this item's "shortcoming" in the price department though ;).
ONE MORE THING!!! You really need a good way of cleaning these lens! With these lens, every speck of dust will show up on your camera screen when composing and WILL ALSO show up in your photos!!! Mine already have a little bit of dust on them, and many of my photos are starting to look like I took them through a dirty car window!
I recommend a good microfiber cloth because if you using something coarse and scratch the lens, then that scratch is going to be very prominent in every single photo. If dust specks show up, then what about a scratch!
More Sakar 52mm Close-Up Filter Set (+1, +2, +4 and +10 Diopters) Magnification Kit - Metal Rim reviews:
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Description of Sakar 52mm Close-Up Filter Set (+1, +2, +4 and +10 Diopters) Magnification Kit - Metal Rim
52MM Close Up Lens Kit Includes +1 +2 +4 +10Filters
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