[Single Coated] This lens worked perfectly for close-up photography: just the right distance away for photographing bees on flowers. I put the camera on manual focus; set the lens for its closest focusing distance; then moved my body back and forth to achieve focus.

[Close-Up] The quality of B&W has always been superb. This is perfect if you do not have a macro lens in your bag or want to occasionally take some macro shots. The price is right and an excellent buy.

[0.15 lb] If you want to learn the demands and skills of macro photography and don't want to invest in a $1000 macro lens, this is the lens for you. It is demanding; you can't be in a hurry and should use a tripod or at least a monopod or know how to stop breathing and stop your heart from beating for 10-15 seconds at a time! I end up focusing on my subject by moving closer or farther away. If the subject is moving you will get focused images if you are lucky. I've used the macro lens by Nikon for years. This lens and the +5 (which is a bit easier to use because you don't have to get as close to your subject and the surface it grabs for focus is larger) is sharp, clear, bright...the things you want it to be...and relative to the macro lens, very inexpensive. If you are new to macro photography this is the place to start. But you'll have to be patient. Don't get this lens used as it can be easily scratched; it requires a push up cover to protect it because it's concave, like a fisheye lens. I don't know if an IR filter is made or polarizer that will fit it. I've put it on my Nikon SLR FX 50mm f/1.4 lens, which I use for portraiture, and given me a new lens entirely. I can get within 4-5 inches of my subject. If it's a snake not so good idea; but everything that can't harm me, being able to get that close is advantageous.

[0.15 lb] I'm using this on a Fuji x100s with a Heliopan step up ring and it works great

[0.15 lb] This filter does what it promises and it does not alter really the quality of the pic as far as I can tell. I do not own a macro lens so I don't know how different it is to use them, but I can tell you that I don't feel the need to own a macro lens with this filter at hand :) On the downside it is really hard to use AF...

[Glass] I have been wanting a Macro Lens for a long time, but I haven't purchased one due to the fact that its hard to find one under $500. I bought this filter instead of an actual macro lens, and after playing with it for a while I feel that I don't need an actual macro lens. This filter just screws one the front of your lens and allows you to focus very, very close to the subject. This filter is very powerful, when I put it on my telephoto lens I can get something the size of an ant to take up nearly the whole frame. I haven't noticed any significant loss if image quality, but when using it on a telephoto lens you need to make sure to shoot in aperture priority mode, and have the camera set to f-11 or higher, or the images come out blurry (at least on my camera). The only drawback on this filter is that the autofoucs on your camera (or at least my camera) wont work with the filter attached. to focus this a picture what I have found works best is if you set the camera to manual focus, It doesn't seem to matter where the cameras focus ring is set, then slowly move the camera closer and closer to the subject until it comes into focus, after a little practice you get a feel for how close you need to be. The only other drawback is that this filter is not great in low light without a tripod, or stand alone flash, but if I use a flash, or tripod low light pictures have no real loss in quality. I have gotten some very good pictures with this lens, and if you don't want to spend the money on a real macro lens, then I highly suggest purchasing this filter.