The 50 will give sharper results..

Shot at f/16-22 for DOF. It won't be much. I'd use the close lens over the Extension tube to preserve the bright image in the VF...you will lose a few f/stops with the tube. But on the flip, you may lose IQ with lousy close up lens's..

Use a high ISO (400) to allow a higher Shutter speed if you hand hold the camera..

'Well, Good Luck With That' (SpongeBob SquarePants).

Peter .

Image control:Zoom outZoom 100%Zoom inExpand AllOpen in new window.

Enjoy your photography images, even if your wife doesn't ! ;-(http://laurence-photography.com/http://www.pbase.com/peterarbib/Cameras in profile...

Alinutts wrote:.

I noticed the 50mm is a f/1.8, is that going to let more light in?.

Not for macro work. At typical macro distances, the depth of field of that lens with the aperture wide open is 0.01 inches or about the thickness of the raised surface of a coin. Most of the time you'll be stopping the lens down to about f/16 or f/22 to get a reasonable depth of field...

What do you want to do with the pictures?.

The smart and thrifty thing is to get a closeup lens set for the 18-55mm lens (62mm?) from a store that will allow you to return them in a couple of days..

GEt a sturdy tripod, and take some pictures with each of the (typically) three lenses in the set, at several focal lengths (nothing wider than 28mm) and process the pictures and get prints made..

If they are good enough for you, problem solved..

If not, buy the 50mm f1.8 lens, and the Canon closeup..

But, in reality, you won't see any difference on screen at viewing sizes, or on 8x10 prints..

BAK..

At least in my opinion. I don't know anything about this 250d closeup lens but I've never heard of anyone being to overly impress with add-ons. Extension tubes are another thing. Again, I've never used one but have read several items saying people have had good results but not with the 18-55 kit, just primes. Another thing regarding the DOF issue someone else mentioned about the 50mm MkII. It can be shallow but this was taken at ISO 200, f2.8, 1/400 with a 30d..

Alinutts wrote:.

Hello all.

I am thinking of buying the Canon 50 mm f/1.8 along with Kenkoextension tube set and Canon 250D close up lens for my new CanonXTi/400D.

I am wondering if that combination will give me better macro picturesthan if I just buy the ext. tubes and close up lens and mount them tothe Canon kit lens (18-55mm f/3.5-5.6..

I noticed the 50mm is a f/1.8, is that going to let more light in?.

Thanks a bunch in advance.

Doug.

Http://douginoviedo.smugmug.com/..

I would just get a dedicated macro. The sigma 50mm is only $230:.

Http://www.sigma4less.com/sess/utnjsessionid=15469f2236472f6/shopdata/0010_Lenses/0020_Fixed+Focal+Length/0010_Macro/product_details.shopscript?article=0010_Sigma%2BNormal%2B50mm%2Bf2%3D252E8%2BEX%2BDG%2BMacro%2BAutofocus%2BLens%2Bfor%2BCanon%2BEOS%2B%3D28SG50F28DCA%3D29.

Sharper lens for macro applications, better macro AF (focusses slower), more precise macro manual focus, no need to manually readjust aperture every time, no need to bring along a bunch of tubes or disassemble/reassemble your 50 or kit every time you want to revert from macro mode to normal mode, etc etc...