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Canon PowerShot A610/A620/A630/A640 Macro Lens Samples |
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Using Macro Filters to take close-ups
with your Canon A610/A620
In this test we refer to the A620 because that's what we used for this test. However, the same applies to the A610 which has the same lens. All files are unedited minimum compression large jpegs.
You can view either the whole image (big files, some almost 5mb) or a quarter crop (bottom left corner) which shows the corner, edges, and center of the image in a much smaller (between 1. and 1.5 mb) file. Be sure you're viewing at 100% for best evaluation.
Except for the first sample, all the images were taken at the full telephoto setting. This allows highest magnification, greatest working distance, and lowest distortion. Minimum and maximum working distances are given. Width of the frame is at the minimum distance.
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We've added a new feature that shows depth of field (DOF) for each macro lens. A dime is about .050" thick, or about 1/20" (or about 1.25mm). Generally, the higher the magnification, the shallower the DOF is. This image is a 1200 x 900 center crop to keep the file sizes down (click on thumb to see fullsize crop).
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As you will see, DOF of the more powerful lenses is very shallow. For this reason it's important that the cameras sensor is parallel to the subject plane if you want sharp focus across the image. A copy stand is handy for doing this kind of critical work. Click here to see our setup for this test, as well as a quick tutorial.
Shallow depth of field is often used for artistic effect by placing the emphasis on just part of the image. For instance, in a macro of a small frog only the eyes might be in focus. See some examples of shallow DOF here - http://www.flickr.com/groups/macro123/discuss/73070/
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A610/A620 Macro Mode
with no Macro Lens
Click images to see original Large Superfine file,
or click within red square to see quarter crop.
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Closest working distance
(distance from the lens/filter to subject):
3/8" (1cm)
Field of View: 1" or 25mm
Click to see Depth of Field
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This is the built-in macro mode of the A620 at the wide angle setting. While It allows you to get as close as 1 cm to your subject and is good for spontaneous macro shots, it's not ideal for critical work. Focus is limited to the center of the image and barrel distortion is present. When working at such close distances, it's often difficult not to block light from your subject with the camera/lens.
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Click images to see original Large Superfine file,
or click within red square to see quarter crop.
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Working distance:
9.5" - 24" (24cm - 61cm)
Frame width: 3 " or 76mm
Click to see Depth of Field
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This is the built-in macro mode at the telephoto setting. Image quality is much better than at the wide setting, though the edges are somewhat soft and show some color fringing.
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Hoya Macro Set (+1,+2,+4) +7
with Lensmate A620 52mm Adapter
Click images to see original Large Superfine file,
or click within red square to see quarter crop.
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Working distance:
7.5" - 14 3/4" (19cm - 36cm)
Frame width: 2 3/8" (60mm)
Click to see Depth of Field
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Hoya +1 (part of the 52mm Hoya set, comprised of +1,+2, and +4 filters which can be used singly or in any combination). Very good image quality, slight edge softness.
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Working distance:
6.5" - 10 3/4" (16cm - 27cm)
Frame width: 2 1/8" or 54mm
Click to see Depth of Field
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Hoya +2 (part of the 52mm Hoya set, comprised of +1,+2, and +4 filters which can be used singly or in any combination). Also very good.
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Working distance:
4 3/4" - 6 3/4" (12cm - 17cm)
Frame width: 1.5 " or 54mm
Click to see Depth of Field
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Hoya +4 (part of the 52mm Hoya set, comprised of +1,+2, and +4 filters which can be used singly or in any combination) Excellent. Compare the lower left corner to the Canon 250D which is also about +4 and is the macro lens Canon recommends for the A620. The Hoya looks slightly better than the Canon here and otherwise matches the Canon in image quality. Remarkable considering that the entire Hoya set costs about half of what the Canon does.
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Working distance:
3 3/8" - 4 1/2" (9cm - 11cm)
Frame width: 1 1/8" (29mm)
Click to see Depth of Field
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Hoya +7 (part of the 52mm Hoya set, comprised of +1,+2, and +4 filters which can be used singly or in any combination) This is the entire set combined. Not quite as good as any of the single lenses used alone. Partially the effect of looking through all those elements.
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Canon 250D 52mm (+4) Macro Lens
with Lensmate A620 52mm Adapter
Click images to see original Large Superfine file,
or click within red square to see quarter crop.
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Working distance:
4 3/4" - 7" (12cm - 18cm)
Frame width: 1.5" (29mm)
Click to see Depth of Field
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This is the macro lens Canon recommends for the A620. Very good image quality, but we think the Hoya +4 (see above) is as good if not better.
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Canon 500D 58mm (+2) Macro Lens
with Lensmate A620 58mm Adapter
Click images to see original Large Superfine file,
or click within red square to see quarter crop.
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Working distance:
6 1/4" - 10 1/2" (16cm - 27cm)
Frame width: 2" (51cm)
Click to see Depth of Field
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Another popular Canon macro lens. Soft corners and edges on the A620.
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Raynox DCR250 (about +8)
Click images to see original Large Superfine file,
or click within red square to see quarter crop.
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Working distance:
3" - 3 3/4" (76mm - 95mm)
Frame width: 1 1/8 " or 29mm
Click to see Depth of Field
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Overall very good image quality. 43mm mounted in a spring loaded holder which clips into 52mm to 67mm threads. Can also be used with our 52-43mm slim step ring for more accurate mounting in a 52mm lens adapter.
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Hoya +10 52mm
with Lensmate A620 52mm Adapter
Click images to see original Large Superfine file,
or click within red square to see quarter crop.
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Working distance:
2 1/4" - 3 1/4" (56cm - 83cm)
Frame width: 7/8" (22cm)
Click to see Depth of Field
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Soft edges/corners as well as some CA type color fringing on the edges.
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Raynox MSN-202 29mm Super Macro 9.3x
with Lensmate A620 52mm Adapter
Click images to see original Large Superfine file,
or click within red square to see quarter crop.
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Closest working distance:
1 1/8" (2.9 cm)
Frame width: 7/16" (11mm)
Click to see Depth of Field
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High powered macro lens with very good image quality. 37mm thread centering in a spring loaded holder which clips into 52mm - 67mm threads. Can also be used with 52-37mm step ring for more accurate centering in a 52mm lens adapter.
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Raynox MSN-505 37mm Super Macro 12x
with Lensmate A620 52mm Adapter
Click images to see original Large Superfine file,
or click within red square to see quarter crop.
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Closest working distance:
5/8" (1.6cm)
Frame width: 5/16" (8mm)
Click to see Depth of Field
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Very good center sharpness, but slightly softer in the corners than the MSN-202. 37mm thread centering in a spring loaded holder which clips into 52mm - 67mm threads. Can also be used with 52-37mm step ring for more accurate centering in a 52mm lens adapter.
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Tiffen Macro Set (+7,+10)
with Lensmate A620 52mm Adapter
We used a 52-43 and 43-37 step rings to mount this on our 52mm adapter. We now offer a 52-37 step ring for this purpose. Half of the +7 and +10 set. Fair image quality in the center, but soft edges/corners with slight CA/fringing. Hoya set (+7) is slightly better.
Click images to see original Large Superfine file,
or click within red square to see quarter crop.
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Closest working distance:
3 1/2" - 4 1/2" (90mm - 110mm)
Frame width: 1 1/4" (32mm)
Click to see Depth of Field
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Tiffen +7 37mm Half of the +7 and +10 set. Fair image quality in the center, but soft edges/corners with slight CA/fringing. Hoya set (+7) is slightly better.
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Closest working distance:
2 7/8" - 3 1/2" (70cm - 90mm)
Frame width: 15/16" (24mm)
Click to see Depth of Field
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Tiffen +10 37mm Similar to the +7, but with stronger CA/fringing.
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Closest working distance:
1 3/4" - 2" (40mm - 50mm)
Frame width: 5/8" (16mm)
Click to see Depth of Field
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Tiffen +17 37mm (+7 and +10 combined). Very soft corner/edges with strong CA/fringing.
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Back to A610/A620/A630/A640
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