Why Every Macro Photographer Should Own a Raynox DCR-250

The Rokinon 135 F2.0 is probably the greatest lens ever made.

The Raynox MSN-202 provides greater magnification than the DCR-250. I attached an MSN-202 to an OM System 90mm F3.5 Macro IS Pro lens on an OM-1 body. Many separate shoots of 99 bracket images at the minimum OM-1 focus alteration step between images produce a magnified maximum final image size. Unfortunately, they also consistently produced washed-out and poorly focused results. Removing the MSN-202 reduced maximum image size but resolved those two issues. I can overcome the darkening associated with extension tubes, but cannot achieve complete success with the MSN-202 deficiencies. Shooting in RAW increases workload and storage demands, but might (only might) resolve the washed-out appearance. The focusing issue is impossible to resolve and IMHO sharp focus is by far the highest priority in macro photography. Any explanations or advice welcomed, please.
PS - One thing is for sure: the prices of these Raynox products vary considerably. Shop with care if you wish to avoid paying up to almost double the cheapest price brand new.

Sorry if I missed it, but does the Raynox reduce the minimum focus distance?

Just now getting into some more serious MACRO photography, I'm normally a bird and wildlife photographer so seems like a natural transition. Just purchased this Raynox DCR-250 lens to complement my Canon RF 100mm f/2.8 with the 67 mm filter thread. I also looked into a diffuser and contacted AK Diffuser about purchasing theirs. I already own a Canon 600EX-RT flash, we will see if this is a good setup or not. This video confirmed my suspicion that I needed the Raynox DCR-250 for the type of photo's I want to achieve.

The lack of depth of field control makes BOTH images just not sharp enough to do anything with.

Micael, hello! How about Canon R7 + RF 100-400 (really light with good image quality at 400mm) with Raynox DCR 150 or 250?

Would this work with the Panasonic 30mm macro ? For m43

Will using the Raynor increase or decrease working distance? I enjoy your videos…great resource. Thanks.

What do you think about combining the Raynox with Extensiontubes/a macroring? I am currently dabbeling with macro on my Fuji X-T30ii with the 18-55mm kit-lens and a Fuji macroring but I would like to get a little closer.

When you say any telephoto lens? Could you put this on a 300mm f4?? Or a 150-400?
Can you use it in conjunction with a Tele converter say a 1.4 Tele converter 60mm macro & the DCR? Sorry if this is a stupid question I’m still learning

How did you connect this to the Laowa 85mm ?

Hi Micael! One question could I use it on 200-600 mm of Sony? How would you explain to me about stepping down with these filters? How many I would need? And finally, is it worth to use it, in that case?

Another great video.

If i understood right, the raynox works best if i set the lens to infinite focus? So if i use the laowa 2:1 100mm it wouldnt work if i set the lens to 2:1 the reach a magnification of 3:1?

I used raynox 250 with my 35-100mm lens in 4/3 which is like 70-200mm. Do you know the magnification at 200mm plus raynox 250? I wonder if it's 2:1 magnification. I see people get image of insect that close to the eyes. But when I use 200 with raynox. I didn't get that magnification like bigger bug. I wonder if I should buy a laowa macro lens or not

Can you use this with a 100mm macro lens ? And what about a 100-400 zoom….

Hi, where did you get that lens ? The Amazon product page you link to shows a bunch but not the one you have in hand at the begining of the video. Do you have an exact product link wihich would take us to that exact 49mm you hold at 0.05. Thank you.

Hi sir, im having an alpha 200 song dslr, Now A mount lens arent available on market... Will Raymox 250 help me for macro photography??

This lens is mad!!! I bought it, your test had a final word in the purchase. :) Even, taking shots with autofocus is easier. Love it.

On my Sony 90mm macro I see the ring but I purchased step down rings to see if having more space between the lenses will help.

Inspired me to get one. Thanks! Very funny setup I'm using right now:

An Industar 50-2 with a 35.5mm - 52mm step up ring, a Vivitar 2x teleconverter, a Pomiya 36-90mm helicoid adapter, and the Raynox 250. I'm actually very impressed with this. My main macro lenses are a Vivitar 55mm f2.8 and a Kiron 105mm f2.8, but the Industar with the Helicoid adapter is giving them a run for their money.

The 2x teleconverter and Raynox 250 are just icing on the cake. But very, very impressive. And since the Industar is so light, being this tiny pancake lens, even with the helicoid fully extended, and with the teleconverter and the Raynox, it still feels like it's less than half the weight of my Kiron 105mm macro lens.

I'm using it on a Lumix GH2 body. It looks absolutely ridiculous. And I love it.

Does it produce any vignetting with the Laowa 90mm? (So would the Laowa 85mm be better here?)

This sounds like it is the same as the Canon 250D doublet macro screw on. The Canon unit is quite nice (though I just don't use it enough).

Thank you for the info on the Raynox.
Can you recommend the best way to use it with the Laowa 65mm macro, step down rings or the clip on?

What is the magnificition of DCR 250?

Question. In this video, you are photographing dead insects. With the very short focus distance you are using, how do you photograph them with scaring them away before getting the shot?

I wish you had tested it on a piece of jewellery or a flower instead of an insect.

Does that work with Sony 90mm ?

Hello, I just tried 3 focus staking stacks of a flower's pistil with the raw lens, the lens + a raynox dcr-250 and the lens + a raynox msn 202.

weirldy even tho I get more magnification with the bonette, the stack without any bonette has more detail than the ones with more magnification.

is that normal?

Would be interesting to know how the performance is if you start stacking multiple Raynox's.
Also maybe compare that to a Laowa 2x-5x.

Great video going to buy one today thank you for the great photos. Going to use your link

No you are loosing light , its equivalent to getting your aperture down , but for macro that is not a bad thing , you get a bit deeper focus , but you can also get your lens further from your sensor and get same results without it , or you can remove the front element of your lens and do it that way . Lots of ways to do it .

Him: "This lens costs 70 dollars".
Me: "Oh, that's not cheap".
Him: "So it's not expensive".

Me: *Buys a microscope for 80 dollars.

Great video Micael. Have you managed to get this lens working with the pope shield? Thanks

I just bought this lens. I gave it some test shots on a ruler first. I was so surprised both my 100mm macro lens and 70-300mm lens (at 300mm) gave me the exact same image. I thought one would magnify more than the other, but no.

I've had one for a couple of years but haven't used it so much. I have a number of old classic film lenses that I adapt to my Fuji and plan on trying it out on those.

It costs £90 !

Way to go! This channel needs Promo`SM!!!

Does it work with the pope shield?

can i add that Raynox on a tamron 90 macro lens ? gonna give me more magnification ?

Tack för denna videon 🙏 Har funderat i över ett år på att köpa just denna lins men det har inte blivit av. Men snart så tror jag minsann att jag kommer få tummen ur och slå till ☺👍

I just use the canon 250d and 500d diopter lenses for macro.

is fart sharp

Any lens? Is seems to have a small thread count to me.

Thank you very much for this hint 👍

Have you tried any Medium Format macro photography with a digital back? I've seen some for the Mamiya 645. With the giant sensor size, the diffraction limit doesn't start to kick in till ~f64. It might make stacking much easier. You could use a MF lens as a tube lens and an infinity corrected microscope objective and pretty much get any magnification between 1x and 100x. Just a theory of course, I've never tried it. Don't know if the image circle is large enough.

What kind of magnification do you reach when you use it with the Samyang 135?

I can proudly say that I also have this DCR 250. It worked with my 35mm f/1.8 :-)

Btw, what is the model of the last Sony camera that you used to capture the water droplet?

Excellent video. I have a question. I have Sony 7iii with a 92mm prime lens. I bought a set of ring adapters. Should I buy the clip-like mount as well to be able to use the lens you recommend?