let's get close

I love macro photography, and instead of buying a lot of macro lenses, I have a set of macro tubes. I use this 13mm tube the most for flower macro photography, one of my favorite subjects. I like to pair it with either my 24-70mm f/2.8L or my new 50mm f1.4 lens. The 24-70 is a nice macro lens in it's own right, but you can't get real close.

A set of tubes (usually three sizes 13, 21, 31 mm) are mounted between your camera and your lens and can run $50-$100 - which is a good investment for any budding macro photographer. You can even stack them if you want to get really close.