I’ve been shooting macro for about five years now, and one thing I hear constantly is “I can’t afford a macro lens.” Here’s the truth: you absolutely don’t need a $1,500 macro lens to get started with close-up photography.

Extension Tubes Are Your Best Friend

Before you spend serious money, grab a set of extension tubes. These are literally just hollow tubes that sit between your camera body and your existing lens, increasing the minimum focus distance. You can pick up a decent set for under $100, and they work with pretty much any lens you already own.

I started with a $60 set of Kenko extension tubes on my 50mm f/1.8, and the results were genuinely impressive. You lose some light and autofocus can get a bit wonky, but for the price, it’s an absolute steal.

The catch? You need to get really close to your subject. Like, uncomfortably close. I’ve had more than one bee buzz off when I got too near with my 50mm and extension tube combo.

Reverse Ring Macro

This sounds weird, but bear with me. You can mount your lens backwards on your camera using a reverse ring adapter. These cost about $15, and they turn a regular lens into a makeshift macro lens.

Best results come from wide-angle lenses in the 18-35mm range. The wider the lens, the more magnification you get when reversed. I’ve gotten some seriously detailed shots of insects using a reversed 24mm lens.

The downsides are real though. No autofocus, no aperture control unless you’re fiddling with the lens manually, and you’ll need to focus by physically moving closer or further from your subject. It’s also a bit of a faff to set up.

Budget Macro Lenses Worth Considering

If you do want to invest in an actual macro lens without emptying your bank account, there are options. The Tamron 90mm f/2.8 macro comes in around $600-700 second-hand and it’s genuinely excellent. Sharp, good build quality, and proper 1:1 magnification.

For Nikon shooters, the old AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D is a gem if you can find one used. Around $300-400 and optically fantastic, though the autofocus is a bit slow by modern standards.

Canon users should look at the EF-S 60mm f/2.8 macro if you’re on crop sensor. About $400 second-hand, and it’s a lovely little lens.

What I Actually Use

My everyday macro setup these days is a second-hand Tamron 90mm on my Nikon D750. But honestly? Some of my favourite macro shots are still from that original 50mm + extension tube combo. There’s something satisfying about getting great results from simple, affordable gear.

Lighting on the Cheap

Natural light is free and often gorgeous for macro work, but Australian sun can be harsh. I’ve had good luck with a cheap $30 LED panel from eBay for fill light, and sometimes I’ll just hold a piece of white paper to bounce light into shadows.

DIY diffusers work great too. A white shower curtain or baking paper over a small frame gives you soft, even light for outdoor macro shots. Costs basically nothing.

Focus Stacking Without Fancy Software

If you want tack-sharp macro shots with more depth of field, focus stacking is the way to go. You take multiple shots at different focus points and blend them together.

The good news? You don’t need Helicon Focus or Photoshop. There’s free software called CombineZP that works surprisingly well. The interface looks like it’s from 2003, but it does the job.

Actually Good Budget Subjects

You don’t need an exotic garden to practice macro photography. I’ve gotten great shots of:

• Wildflowers in local parks
• Insects on my own balcony plants
• Food (strawberries, coffee foam, herbs)
• Old rusty things (nuts, bolts, tools)
• Water droplets on pretty much anything

Start at home. There’s way more interesting stuff around than you think when you start looking at it really close.

The Learning Curve Is Real

Fair warning: macro photography is technically challenging. Your depth of field at 1:1 magnification might be literally 2mm. The slightest movement ruins shots. Wind is your enemy. Breathing is your enemy. Your own heartbeat can show up as blur.

But that’s also what makes it satisfying. When you nail a sharp macro shot of a bee on a flower, with beautiful bokeh and perfect lighting, it feels earned.

What I’d Skip

Don’t bother with cheap clip-on macro lenses for your phone. They’re mostly rubbish and you’ll get better results cropping in post from your actual camera.

Also skip those “macro filters” that are basically just magnifying glasses for your lens. Extension tubes and reverse rings give you much better optical quality.

Start Simple

If you’re just curious about macro, start with a set of extension tubes on whatever lens you already own. Shoot in your backyard. See if you actually enjoy the process before dropping serious cash on dedicated macro gear.

I spent about $60 on tubes and had six months of fun before I bought my Tamron. That’s a pretty low barrier to entry for a whole new style of photography.

The best macro lens is the one you’ll actually use, and sometimes that’s just the gear you already own plus a $60 adapter.