In continuing my cheapskate "Best cheap lens ever" series that started here
>Best $20 lens ever:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=33141630

I give you the Raynox macro lens. This comes in a 250 and 150 versions, with the 250 having more maginification, but also less minimum focus distance and DOF.
For a newbie to the macro world, this is a great way to break in as it works kit lenses and primes. In fact it really work well on our DA50-200 kit zoom. For the new macro shooter I would recommend the Raynox 150 as it is just a bit to use.
For the veteran it is a great option to bring along in a bag already full of lenses with no room for the large macro lens.

I actually prefer the Raynox to extension tubes and macro Tc's for two reasons... There is no real light fall off, and with the little clip on attachment they are quick to take off the camera... If you are outside shooting a bee and a hummingbird comes and starts buzzing the flower next to you, you just clip off the Raynox and get a shot.

I will add that this lens will help you learn your macro shooting skills and is a great way to break into the world of macro/close up photography... but Macro is harder than it looks, you get few keepers and the bugs wont stay still and when they do... the wind blows. 8^(
These shots are taken with the Raynox 250 on cheap primes like the Helios 44M - Jupiter 9 - Vivitar 135 2.8 and the really close up shots are with the raynox on the vivitar 105 macro. It is not only a fun 'Bug' shooter, it also does the artsy abstact stuff too.

MightyMike and others are doing incredible work with this lens, so please do search to see some amazing examples...

And please feel free to post 'your' Favorite Raynox shots as examples...

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e125/igilligan/First%20Jupiter%209%20shots/CopyofIMGP7007_edited-1.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e125/igilligan/First%20Jupiter%209%20shots/CopyofIMGP7036_edited.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e125/igilligan/K20d%20July%2009/IMGP9051_edited-3.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e125/igilligan/CopyofDSCF4805_edited.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e125/igilligan/K20d%20July%2009/IMGP8457_edited-4.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e125/igilligan/First%20Helios%20shots/CopyofIMGP8129_edited.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e125/igilligan/First%20Helios%20shots/CopyofIMGP8140_edited.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e125/igilligan/Bucket%20test/CopyofmacroabstractolgIMGP6645_edit.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e125/igilligan/Bucket%20test/macroabstactolgIMGP6660.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e125/igilligan/Bucket%20test/EMADSC00929_edited.jpg

http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/attachments/post-your-photos/10839d1208229479-macro-abstracto-what-do-you-think-macro-abstracto-imgp6678.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e125/igilligan/K100d%20oct%2008/CopyofIMGP7673_edited.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e125/igilligan/K100d%20oct%2008/CopyofIMGP7722_edited.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e125/igilligan/CopyofIMGP3498-4.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e125/igilligan/Helios%20Macros/IMGP3462-1.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e125/igilligan/K20d%20July%2009/IMGP9039_edited-3.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e125/igilligan/K20%20feb%2009/vivi%20industar%20pentagon/IMGP3082.jpg




--
Gus --- There are none so blind as those who had no chance to see... stop censoring photos!