I need a cheap macro lens?

I don't mind if its manual or not. I shoot with a nikon d80. I'll be taking pictures of watches. I need to get real close up. I'm confused by the options out there (mainly looking on Ebay) there are several older long focal length lenses that are advertised as macros (such as this: http://cgi.ebay.com/...082wt_1139 ) and then there are add ons ( http://cgi.ebay.com/...318wt_1139 ) what will work? My budget is low, around 50 bucks. Thanks

Added (1). Http://cgi.ebay.com/3-Lens-Kit-for-Nikon-D3100-D3500-D3000-D5000-D300s-NEW_W0QQitemZ220709417860QQcategoryZ3323QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4340.m263QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%252BC%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS%252BUFI%26otn%3D10%26pmod%3D220708185066%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D5658162897598207501#ht_4318wt_1139

use this for the 2nd link

So, the question is this:

Do you want an inexpensive, real macro lens (1:1, 1:2, 1:3 and 1:4 image to subject ratio capacity)?

Or do you want a cheap (poor quality) lens that claims to be a macro, but is really only a close up adapter or at best a generic lens that claims to be a macro lens, but has none of the features that makes a macro a macro. A prime lens with full flat field coverage and the ability to make 1:1 ratio images.

You may want to read this: http://www.robertstech.com/vivitar.htm

Rather than go cheap for a macro option, you may want to look for a good used Nikkor 55 mm f/2.8 macro lens.

$50 is NOT going to give you quality images. You may find buying an extension tube for about $40 and use it with your existing lens.

You can get a closeup filter on Ebay for that much. Don't get the really cheap ones. They will be blurry.

You can't get a macro lens for $50, as Fhotoace said.

You can, however, get a set of extension tubes for less than $10 shipped on eBay. They will be cheap, but the nice thing about tubes is that they contain no optics. What this means is as long as they are light-tight, they don't have a detrimental effect on your image quality, even if you get cheap ones. The tubes I use were $4.

The tradeoff is that they're a pain in the but to use if you get cheap ones. They do not preserve any of the electrical functions between your camera and your lens. This means you lose autofocus and aperture control. Manual focus is usually preferable for macro work anyway, and there's a workaround for the aperture control:

1. Attach lens to camera without tubes.
2. Set desired aperture in manual mode.
3. Press and hold Depth-of-field preview button on camera.
4. Without letting go of the DoF preview button, disengage the lens from the camera. The iris should stay closed.
5. Attach lens to tubes and tubes to camera.
6.Re-compose, focus, and expose your image.

I recommend staying away from close-up filters because unless you spend the money to get nice ones, they will really hurt your image quality.

$50 barely gets yhou a decent closeup filter like the raynox dcr250

I bought my manual micro nikkor for about what you want to spend, cheap used micro nikkors are out there, Look for a good user rather than a rare beauty queen. Avoid the so-called macro zooms most will not get you as close as you need. Another option: mount a reversed 50mm to the front of a "macro" zoom, the 50 will function as a very well corrected close up filter.