The Picnic Crasher

The Picnic Crasher, English Gardens, Munich

Nikon D300s + Nikon 85mm 1.8G + Canon 500D Close up lens
f/5.6, 1/250 secs, ISO 640

This small little gate crasher was captured with the 85 1.8G and the close up lens combination. This post is more about the detail that can be had with this combination, than any purer photographic objective.

To give a sense of how small this fellow was, and how much cropping has gone in to get to the image above, check the original capture below,

And to put the size of the bag into perspective, see the image below where the same bag sits besides a Nikon 1 10-30 VR lens and a Parker roller ball pen.

85mm 1.8G Macro?

English Gardens, Munich

Nikon D300s + Nikon 85mm 1.8G + Canon 500D Close up lens
f/1.8, 1/500 secs, ISO 200

A tripod, or a steadier hand, would have made a significant difference to the picture above. Nothing extra has been done to the background, the Canon 500D close up and the wide open 85mm ensure you get a smooth OOF background.

The shot below is taken after stopping down. These flowers are very small and scattered all throughout the grass.

English Gardens, Munich

Nikon D300s + Nikon 85mm 1.8G + Canon 500D Close up lens
f/5.6, 1/60 secs, ISO 200

Another Daisy Close Up

Daisy close up, English Gardens, Munich

Nikon D300s + Nikon 85mm 1.8G + Canon 500D Close up lens
f/4, 1/250 secs, ISO 200

Here is another daisy, up close and personal. The combination of the 85 1.8G and the close up lens appears to be a great alternative for times when you don't want to carry a dedicated macro lens.

Below is the center portion of the flower, cropped heavily, and this shows that this combination can deliver the goods.

Daisy, close up with the 85mm

Daisy close up, English Gardens, Munich

Nikon D300s + Nikon 85mm 1.8G + Canon 500D Close up lens
f/4, 1/1000 secs, ISO 200

This is a close up of a small daisy, using the recently released Nikon 85mm 1.8G combined with a Canon 500D close up lens, on a Nikon D300s. While I do use a 105 VR, the purpose here was to test if this combination could help me get close and sharp if I were to just carry the close up lens along with a 35 and 85 when traveling light. My conclusion is a resounding 'yes, I can'.

The un-cropped version of the image is below.

Daisy close up, English Gardens, Munich

Nikon D300s + Nikon 85mm 1.8G + Canon 500D Close up lens
f/4, 1/1000 secs, ISO 200

V1, and the new 85 1.8G via FT1 (2)

Nokia handset (yes, the type with keys!)

Nikon 1 V1 + FT1 + Nikon 85mm 1.8G + Canon 500D close up lens
f/1.8, 1/250 secs, ISO 400

This image has not been cropped, it is as-is, just re-sized for web. What you see is the key pad from a Nokia handset (yup ... with keys ... no touch screen, a Nokia 6330 to be precise). These images (this is the second in a series) show that when the 85mm is combined with the Canon 500D close up lens, it becomes a nice macro lens with more than ample control on the depth of field. And when you stick it on a V1, then it becomes even more interesting!

High Speed Chase

High Speed Chase

Nikon D300s + 70-300 VR + Canon 500D Close Up Lens
f/10, 1/250 secs, ISO 1600

A Blue Bell Bud

A Blue Bell Bud

Nikon D300s + 70-300 VR + Canon 500D Close Up Lens
f/10, 1/100 secs, ISO 1600

V1, and the new 85 1.8G via FT1 (1)

the table cloth

Nikon 1 V1 + FT1 + Nikon 85mm 1.8G + Canon 500D close up lens
f/1.8, 1/50 secs, ISO 400


While playing around with the new 85mm 1.8 G, I realised that I could combine it with the 500D close up lens, and the Nikon V1 via the FT1 adapter ... and took this shot of the table cloth ... I am very happy with the sharpness and control over the depth of field that this combination is capable of ... not an all-weather macro ... but it does seem to have tremendous potential!