Hoya Close-up Lens Kit HMC

Mount Screw-in filter type Autofocus Lens-dependent TT L metering Yes Infinity focus No Ima ge stabilizer Lens-dependent Optical elements 1 Diameter 46-77mm Length 5mm (approx) Website www.hoyafilter.com Price: £70/$70 Often referred to as close-up ‘filters’, because they screw into the front of a lens, these supplemental lenses act as magnifying glasses. This kit comprises three lenses with different magnifying strengths of +1, +2 and +4 dioptres, plus a soft carrying pouch. Unlike cheaper alternatives, these Hoya filters are of good quality with metal frames. They’re available in a range of attachment thread sizes, from 46mm to 77mm, and each has a thread at the front and rear, enabling you to stack the lenses for a greater magnifying effect. An advantage of this kit is that you don’t have to swap the lens you’re using on the camera. Even so, it can be a little fiddly and time-consuming to screw a close-up lens into the filter thread, more so if you’re using two or three to maximize magnification. Size options enable you to use these with any lens that has a filter thread up to 77mm. You’d need to buy the size that corresponds with your largest lens’s filter thread, plus step-up rings for any other lenses. Only short-range focusing is possible. Even with all three +1, +2 and +4 dioptre lenses fitted to a standard lens, you’re unlikely to get full 1.0x magnification. Image quality can be pretty good, but won’t be as impressive as from the Nikon macro lens in terms of sharpness, distortion and colour fringing.