Quick Answer

Attach the NiSi Close Up Lens Kit to your telephoto lens to shoot macro-style close-ups without buying a dedicated macro lens. Choose the kit that matches your lens thread and focal length.

Why a Close-Up Lens Beats a Macro Lens for Many Shooters

A dedicated macro lens is expensive and often limits you to one focal length. The NiSi Close Up Lens Kit screws onto the front of your existing telephoto or prime lens, reducing the minimum focus distance so you can fill the frame with small subjects. It's a lightweight, budget-friendly way to explore macro photography before committing to a macro lens.

The trade-off is working distance. You need to be close to your subject—between 9 and 30 cm depending on the kit—which can be tricky with skittish insects or in tight spaces. But for flowers, jewellery, product details, and textures, it's a practical and affordable solution.

Choosing the Right Kit for Your Lens

Each NiSi Close Up Lens Kit is designed for a specific filter thread size and focal length range. The NC 49mm kit suits lenses with a 49mm thread and includes adaptors for 62mm and 67mm lenses. The NC 58mm kit fits 58mm threads and includes 49mm and 52mm adaptors. The NC 77mm II kit is for 77mm threads and includes 67mm and 72mm adaptors, with a longer working distance of 22–30cm.

Check your lens barrel for the filter thread size (often marked with a Ø symbol). The focal length range also matters: the NC 49mm and NC 58mm kits work with 35–250mm lenses, while the NC 77mm II is optimised for 70–300mm lenses. Using a kit outside its range may cause vignetting or soft corners.

How to Set Up and Shoot with the NiSi Close Up Lens Kit

  1. Match the kit to your lens: Check your lens's filter thread size and focal length. Choose the NiSi kit that matches: NC 49mm for 49mm threads (35–250mm), NC 58mm for 58mm threads (35–250mm), or NC 77mm II for 77mm threads (70–300mm). Using the wrong adaptor can cause vignetting—always double-check the thread size.
  2. Screw on the close-up lens: Remove your lens cap and screw the close-up lens onto the front thread. If your lens has a different thread size, attach the included adaptor ring first, then the close-up lens. Make sure the threads are clean and the lens is snug but not over-tightened.
  3. Set your camera to manual focus: Autofocus may struggle at such close distances. Switch to manual focus and move the camera back and forth until your subject is sharp. Use focus peaking or magnified live view to confirm sharpness.
  4. Adjust your working distance: Position the lens so the subject is within the kit's best working distance: 9–22cm for the NC 49mm and NC 58mm, or 22–30cm for the NC 77mm II. If you're too close, the subject will be out of focus—back off slightly and refocus.
  5. Use a small aperture for depth of field: Close down to f/8 or f/11 to get more of your subject in focus. This reduces light, so increase ISO or use a tripod to avoid blur. A tripod is essential for sharp handheld shots at close range.
  6. Stabilise your camera: Use a tripod or rest the camera on a stable surface to prevent camera shake, especially at slow shutter speeds. Consider a remote shutter release or the camera's self-timer to minimise vibration.

NiSi Close Up Lens Kits at a Glance

  • NiSi Close Up Lens Kit NC 58mm (with 49 and 52mm adaptors): Allows a telephoto lens to function as a macro lens; compatible with 35–250mm lenses; best working distance 9–22cm; includes 49mm and 52mm adaptors. This kit is ideal for photographers with a 58mm filter thread who want a close-up solution without buying a macro lens.

    NiSi Close Up Lens Kit NC 58mm (with 49 and 52mm adaptors)

    NiSi Close Up Lens Kit NC 58mm (with 49 and 52mm adaptors)

  • NiSi Close Up Lens Kit NC 49mm (with 62 and 67mm adaptors): Reduces the minimum focus distance of the lens it’s combined with; includes adaptors for 62mm and 67mm lenses. If you have a 49mm prime or zoom, this kit gives you flexible compatibility with larger filter threads as well.

    NiSi Close Up Lens Kit NC 49mm (with 62 and 67mm adaptors)

    NiSi Close Up Lens Kit NC 49mm (with 62 and 67mm adaptors)

  • NiSi Close Up Lens Kit NC 77mm II (with 67 and 72mm adaptors): Designed for 70–300mm lenses; best working distance 22–30cm; includes 67mm and 72mm adaptors. The longer working distance of the NC 77mm II is better for subjects that are harder to approach, like butterflies.