Customer Reviews

Zeikos 58mm 4 Piece high definition Close-Up Filter Set (+1, +2, +4 and +10 Diopters) Magnification Kit - Metal Rim, includes deluxe case

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have extensive experience with the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens for Canon SLR Cameras for Macro photography, and highly recommend it to anyone who has over $500 to spare. Since most macro lenses are out of the reach of most people on budgets, however, this filter set is a great alternative.

BEFORE I BEGIN...
Amazon also sells Digital Concepts +1 +2 +4 +10 Close-Up Macro Filter Set with Pouch (58mm), which I closely looked at as well before pulling the trigger on this. I only got the Zeikos ones because of the shipping arrangement (this was eligible for Prime, the other wasn't). I don't know how different these two sets are, and I can't recommend one over the other since I only used this set. They're both in the same relative price range, however, so some of my review could theoretically apply to both.

PURPOSE
To start off with, it's really important you understand just what these filters are for. These will NOT magnify the image and turn an ordinary lens into a telephoto one. Instead, these will change the minimum distance from which you can focus with your current lens. In other words, you will be able to physically put your lens closer to the object in question, and achieve a macro-like effect. Which means this is great for stationary objects, but if you want to photograph bugs, you have to get very close in order to fill the frame, so a 100mm macro lens might be a safer bet since it'd allow you to achieve close focus from a safe distance.

BUILD QUALITY
When I purchased this filter set, I also purchased the Zeikos ZE-FLK58 58mm Multi-Coated 3 Piece Filter Kit (UV-CPL-FLD). Prior to this, I had never heard of Zeikos, let alone purchased their products. I am enjoying that set as well, and while I wouldn't say Zeikos necessarily makes top-quality products - these are cheap, flimsy, and probably wouldn't hold up well when thoroughly scrutinized by image experts - I do think that for most people's purposes, this filter set will be just fine. That being said, I think these are probably more of a starter set than a durable long-term investment. If one is very serious about image quality, they would probably benefit by getting an alternative solution.

ALTERNATIVES
There are two strong alternatives to close up filters Macro alternatives, but both are more expensive:
(a) Extension Tubes. These are basically tubes that you put in between your lens and the camera's body. There is no glass involved, it's just a tube that increases the distance from the sensor to the lens. The benefit of this is that with no glass involved, there won't be noticeable image degradation; the downside is that less light will be available, so you will either need an external light source or have adequate natural light. Plus, extension tubes are generally more expensive than this filter set!
(b) A dedicated Macro Lens. This is the optimal piece of equipment for macro photography, but these are generally very expensive. If you want to dabble in macro photography before making a major investment, get this filter set to experiment. For most people, this set should be fine, but I wouldn't be surprised if someone gets better quality shots with a thousand-dollar macro lens than with a ten-dollar filter set!

IMPRESSIONS
So far, I'm very pleased with my purchase. For around ten dollars, I can now focus much closer to small objects than before. This is especially great for small product shots (i.e. eBay sales), as you can highlight smaller areas much better than without the filter set. Photography is a very expensive hobby, and much in the same way a $150 telephoto lens won't provide the same image quality as one that costs ten times as much, this filter set is probably not for those who are very serious about macro photography. But for most people who don't want to yet take the plunge and fork over hundreds of dollars for a macro lens they might never use, this is a great way to start taking close-up photos.

PORTABILITY
This set has four different filters, all for the same effect, but in varying degrees. If one wanted, they could stack all four filters together, but there will be a noticeable decline in quality as you put more and more filters between your lens and the sensor. They come in a pouch which is very portable, and has a fold-out system (much like a wallet) that makes it convenient to keep all four in your pocket.

FINAL THOUGHTS
I don't regret this purchase. Like I said at the start of the review, I have played extensively with the Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro lens (which I've rented, and don't own)...this doesn't exactly compare to that, but then again, this is about one-fiftieth of the cost! This filter set is a great way for someone to get a feel for macro photography, especially beginners. Just by getting physically closer to the object you're trying to photograph, you can now compose your shot much differently than before, and that alone I believe is worth the cost of this set. A WARNING, however...getting close is great, but be mindful of just how close you're getting to your object! The first day I got this set, I was experimenting and actually slammed my lens into my girlfriend's eye. Injuries aside, this is a very worthwhile product. I hope to upload some photos soon to highlight this.

These magnification add-on lenses do what they are supposed to do: shorten the working distance to permit macro-photography very inexpensively. However, my complaint with the product is that it is advertised as multi-coated, and I see no evidence of any anti-reflection coating on these lenses whatsoever. Looking at the reflection of a light source, there is no coloring or apparent attenuation of the reflection, on either surface, that I can detect. This appears to be a false claim; however, the price is totally in-line with non-coated optics. True multi-coated optics will cost substantially more (at least 3 to 5 times more) so you get what you pay for. I am only complaining that the description misrepresents the product, though the product provides good value at the price.

I'm new to SLR cameras and can not currently afford a true macro lens, so I opted to buy this set to hopefully hold me over in the meantime. I posted 4 pictures with the 2x,4x and 10x lenses attached and one with no attachment (all at 55mm). I have to say they work well for flowers or other stationary objects. I cant recommend them for bugs however. All of the pictures I posted were taken within 6" of the subject (except the non attachment was maybe 8" or so). Im not sure how these are supposed to work with focal length, but I also tried them on the 55-250mm lens. I couldn't get any focus lock at full length. At 135mm I could get lock with the 2x or 4x lens. At 70mm I could get a lock with the 10x lens. Unfortunately these were all withing about 8" of the subject as well. For those that didnt look at the pictures, the 10x lens will allow you to fill the fram of a 1.6crop camera with ~1"x1" subject.

I honestly have not used these much out in the field except for a few things around the house to test them. So far they have not affected image quality in any pictures (not substantially that I can tell) except for one picture of a yellow flower showed bad CA. It may have been something else I did, but it was there none the less.

Build quality actually seems pretty good. Glass is substantial, metal rings, no play, no cross threading. As with all of the Zeikos "Multi-Coated" products I have used so far, NONE have been multi-coated and that includes these. They do also come with a very nice case. Much better than the cheap filter sets they sell. You have to be careful how you open it though because they can easily slide out of the pockets if you open it upside down.

I would definately buy these again considering the price, however I also can't wait to get a real macro lens!

As I became the proud owner of a Canon EOS Rebel XSi (about 3 months ago), I began looking for accessories to teach me more about photography and create better pictures. I was looking around for new lenses, and I came across these ones. They are just an attachment, but they provide such a clear picture. The result is just amazing. I highly reccomend anyone looking into other lenses, but is not looking to invest in highly priced macro lenses. These do a great job without the cost.

If you are thinking that you can use them to simulate macro lens, then you are wasting your money. They are just basic magnifier glass, without any regards for optical characters of camera lens. All you will see is a distorted picture where only part of the image would be magnified. You better buy a macro extension tube if you can not afford a dedicated macro lens.

Currently I am using them as magnifiers for my electronics hobby,

These aren't high end but do the job well for the price. I am very happy with them!

This is a very cost effective alternative to a macro lens. As always, 'you get what you pay for' and the results you will get will either be satisfactory or you'll toss these filters and purchase the more expensive macro lens required to provide the results you require.

I am a HUGE fan of close ups and macro photography. I was SUPER happy when I ordered this product because my camera is from stone age and they would fit my current lense, and I couldn't afford an actual lense. When I finally recieved it in the mail, the packaging was okay, and I got a little nervous, but when I opened up the product everything was fine and my worries were quickly squashed. Once I got them out I had to try them right away, and I was VERY pleased with the outcome, the 10x is a little difficult to use at first, but they are great, and I'm VERY happy with this product.

Great value especially given the price of a real macro lens, these are made of real quality glass lenses and are so easy to use.

For $10 these are great. They allow you to experiment with macro photography.

Unfortunately they also suck pretty badly. Within 10 minutes of receiving them my 10x got a chip in the glass.

These are definitely $10 quality diopters.


Super serious about macro: Buy a Macro Lens

Serious but on a budget: Get an Extension Tube

Enthusiast on a budget: Get the better Diopters in the $35-$70 range.

You just have $10 burning a hole in your pocket: These are for you!


If anything these are worth it just so you can have the 58mm threaded rings to experiment with. I glued a lens from a pair of binoculors to one of these and it was a big improvement! (Unfortunately the super-glue vapor bonded to residual moister on the lenses and turned them into a cloudy, worthless mess).


So, as I've stated, These are absolutely spectacular for the price. But look at the price ...