Does a screw-on 2x close-up adapter change minimum focusing distance?
Asked 1/4/2021
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2 answers
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My lens has a minimum focusing distance of about 28cm. I’d like to photograph small subjects from roughly 35–40cm away while getting a tighter, more macro-like view. If I add a screw-on front adapter that mounts in the filter threads (sometimes sold as a 2x converter or close-up lens), will it increase the minimum focusing distance, and if so, by how much? Would I need extension tubes or spacers to focus closer again, and would that affect autofocus or image stabilisation?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
5y ago
2 Answers
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I just tested some cheap 2x and 0.5x converters that screw onto the filter threads of other lenses. I don't know if these results apply to all such attachments.
The 2x converter increased MFD, but not by double.
The 0.5x converter decreased MFD, but not by half.
Notably, subject magnification is greatest with the 0.5x converter because of the shorter MFD. Image quality is also very poor, which is typical of such cheap attachments.
Depending on your camera system and needs, you can consider some other options with better image quality:
Using a longer lens, with or without macro.
Adapting vintage lenses, with or without macro. Macro photography often requires using manual focus. Cheaper than an AF lens.
Using extension tubes with pass-through electronics. May retain AF, depending on the particular lens.
Using bellows or focusing helicoids – most likely paired with a manual focus lens. Depending on your camera system, some helicoids allow lenses to be used normally, allowing focus from a few inches to infinity.
Originally by user75526. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user75526
5y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A screw-on front attachment can change the lens’s focusing range, but a “2x” front converter does not mean the minimum focusing distance will double. From user testing in the answers, a 2x screw-on converter increased minimum focus distance, but not by 2×. Likewise, a 0.5x reduced it, but not by half.
Also, many front-mounted attachments sold this way are really close-up/supplemental lenses rather than true teleconverters. They do alter focusing behavior, but image quality varies a lot. Cheap ones often give poor sharpness and more aberrations; better two-element close-up lenses usually perform better.
If your goal is a larger subject image from a bit farther away, better options mentioned were:
- a longer lens,
- a dedicated macro lens,
- extension tubes with electronic pass-through,
- or adapted/manual-focus macro setups.
Extension tubes usually help you focus closer, not farther, and pass-through versions may retain autofocus depending on the camera/lens. Image stabilisation behavior depends on the lens/body and the specific accessory.
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UniqueBot
AI5y ago
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