Everything is cheaper in the UK!

[Willy]

I have already seen that everything is cheaper in the UK. I mean projectors, cameras, SD-cards, etc...
Now I would like to buy a set of lenses for my camera, a sony NX5. I have found them on internet : "Achromatic Diopters available in +2.0 and 3.5 magnifications. Achromatic Diopters supply greater close up range and magnifications while maintaining zoom capabilities without compromising image quality. Ideal when you need to focus tightly on a small object - in tabletop, miniature and flat field videography". 72mm.

I really need at least one of these two lenses for my next film. I wonder how much they cost in the UK. I intend to cross the Channel a few times this year. Maybe I can buy them in Canterbury or in any other place in the South East.
Does anyone know the price for such lenses? In Belgium they cost:
0AD-7220-00 445 euro (about £400) +2.0
0AD-7235-00 445 euro (about £400) +3.5

About 8-9 years ago I bought such lenses (a +1, +2 and +4) for my sony 2000 camera. They cost about 50 euros for the whole set. Can you imagine that it was a surpise to hear that they now cost £400 each?

Filmmaking is an expensive hobby, isn't it?

[Roy1]

WILLY. Funny you should say that. Most of us here in the UK think we are in the most expensive Country in Europe. Cerrtainly everything in the USA is half the price we pay in England.

[tom hardwick]

The close-up lenses you bought for your VX2k were most probably uncoated spherical elements Willi. They tend to give sharp results in the centre of the frame but the more powerful elements can give unacceptable softness into the corners. Results are very focal length and aperture dependent but they're cheap and cheerful - and cost £4.69 at 7dayshop.

Achromatic lenses are generally cemented doublets, coated and corrected, and therefore cost far more. Good to have if you're going to do a lot of close-up work but as you've found out, they cost serious money.

tom.

[Willy]

Many thanks for telling me, Tom. Now I think I will buy a cheap lense. £400 is too much knowing that it would be used for only one or for two films in the future. Hopefully the result will be acceptable with the cheap one. You are right, Tom. The centre of the frame was always a bit sharper when I used my +1, +2 or +4 lenses with my old camera, but I was very happy with the result.

Filming moving insects in close up was extremely difficult, but the lenses seemed to be very useful to film 'still' pictures like photographs and reproductions from books. I had enough time to look for the right sharpness when filming.

So this evening I have tried to find other lenses on internet. For instance I found the following one : DHG Macro Achro +5/Macro Voorzetlens. http://www.camerafilterstore.nl/DHG-Macro-Achro-5html Marumi. What do you think about it? Can you find it?

Hopefully it has a diametre of 72mm. I typed "72mm" in google. So I gues it is a 72mm lense and it can be screwed on my sony NX5. I have never heard of Marumi. It must be Japanese. Maybe I can buy the one of 89.95 euro (about £80). That's much cheaper than £400. It says 5,62mm. I don't know what it means. Actually I prefer to buy things in a shop, not on internet, but I think I will take the risk this time. I could also print this internet advertisement and go to a shop.

[ned c]

There are coated close-up lenses on the B&H site by Heliopan; 72 mm mount +2 is about USD75. B&H are in New York but they do export and their site is a source of much information with users reports.
ned c

[tom hardwick]

Raynox is another firm you should look at:
http://raynox.co.jp/english/digital/d_slr/index.html
as I've always been very pleased with their lenses. The DHG Macro Achro +5/Macro you point too also suggest that there's three levels of quality, and that the multi-element versions are the best, heaviest and most expensive.

[Willy]

Many thanks for your suggestions, Ned and Tom. I have found Heliopan lenses on a website, Ned. It shows a flower in close up. Brilliant! I don't think I can buy them here in Europe. The picture was taken with an ordinary macro lens. Some websites give us information about B&W-lenses.

The Raynox-firm also seems to be very interesting, Tom. Can you buy their lenses in the UK? On 6th, 7th and 8th July I will be back in the South-East. Yes, I didn't know that macro-lenses also have a multi-element version. One dealer sent a drawing to me. It shows the real difference between a macro lens and a macro achro lens.


I have not taken a decision yet. I still have plenty of time. The options at this moment are : a set of three macro-lenses +1, +2 and +4 for only 40 euros (buying on internet); a set of three macro-lenses in a shop for 107 euros (not specified, I don't know what kind of lenses they are at this moment) or a DHG Macro Achro +5 for about 120 euros (buying on internet, costs of sending included).