Macgyvered Macro's 3 explained

[jude01]

(Iggy I blame u for this...its 11pm and I have to be up at 5:30 :(...but now my brain wont stop)

k so I decided to post a few examples for anyone who is curious about reverse lens macros

"In my experience the f stop is F00, and the only thing you can really control is the shutter speed. I use my kit lens 18-55mm, and when I'm at the 18mm end I have to be extremely close, like within an inch but I can focus on something extremely small like a spider eye, but when I'm at the 55mm range i can be about 3 inches away and id almost get the whole spider in the frame"

when you change between say 18-55mm you do have to make adjustments to your shutter speed or the pic is over exposed

these are at the 18mm range and u can see there is a very small depth of field



hosta flower pollen/seed



scotch/Irish moss flower


and these where taken in the 35-55mm range

( no wonder they can cling to a web so well...look at those hairy feet!)



seed pod, never saw those hairs with my own eye


hope this helps anyone wanting to try this...its alot of work to hold still enough to focus, but with some fun results.

[Mad Aussie]

I knew about this technique, but had never really seen it done. Very cool.

[Iguanasan]

(Iggy I blame u for this...its 11pm and I have to be up at 5:30 :(...but now my brain wont stop)

...

You're welcome

[Wicked Dark]

wonderful. Now you've both made me want to try to find my reversing ring.

[Marko]

me too - where is that thing?
Another creative and well done set Jude01!
Has a bit of a lensbaby feel - Shots 2 and 3 are my faves here.

[Marko]

Just wanted to add something if memory doesn't fail.

"In my experience the f stop is F00, and the only thing you can really control is the shutter speed. I use my kit lens 18-55mm, and when I'm at the 18mm end I have to be extremely close, like within an inch but I can focus on something extremely small like a spider eye, but when I'm at the 55mm range i can be about 3 inches away and id almost get the whole spider in the frame"

I haven't done this in a while I'll admit, but the F00 is likely displaying as such due to the 'improper' connection between reversed lens to camera.
(I just reread that u are using the kit lens Jude01...I've only used this on a 50mm which is a fab cheap investment on so many levels if you don't already own one)
But in terms of the 50mm, not all new 50mms may not be able to do this but AFAIK, by changing the aperture while the lens is normally placed on the camera, then reversing it - that's the Fstop of the shot. Though I can see that for some lens camera combinations this might not work. Since you have one handy - maybe see if this works for your camera?

[Iguanasan]

Just wanted to add something if memory doesn't fail.


I haven't done this in a while I'll admit, but the F00 is likely displaying as such due to the 'improper' connection between reversed lens to camera.
(I just reread that u are using the kit lens Jude01...I've only used this on a 50mm which is a fab cheap investment on so many levels if you don't already own one)
But in terms of the 50mm, not all new 50mms may not be able to do this but AFAIK, by changing the aperture while the lens is normally placed on the camera, then reversing it - that's the Fstop of the shot. Though I can see that for some lens camera combinations this might not work. Since you have one handy - maybe see if this works for your camera?

Yeah, I had read somewhere and mentioned in my post on this subject that you set the f-stop and hold in the aperture preview switch as you disconnect the lens and the lens stays at the right f-stop. Haven't tried it myself yet.

[asnow]

Beautiful set Jude. Iggy if you are to blame then I guess we have to thank you for inspiring Jude to take these lovely macros.

I forget that there is no f-stop ring on these modern lenses, so I guess you do have to set the f-stop before taking it off the camera. However it sems to me that if you can just hold the lens to the front of the camera, that you could actually use any manufacture's lens or vintage of lens. I still have my old lenses from my old manual Canon Ftb film camera. Thinking I could try using them (perhaps the standard 50mm one). They have the f-stop ring so I should be able to adjust the aperture when off the camera. I'm I right with my logic before trying this.

[Iguanasan]

Beautiful set Jude. Iggy if you are to blame then I guess we have to thank you for inspiring Jude to take these lovely macros.

I forget that there is no f-stop ring on these modern lenses, so I guess you do have to set the f-stop before taking it off the camera. However it sems to me that if you can just hold the lens to the front of the camera, that you could actually use any manufacture's lens or vintage of lens. I still have my old lenses from my old manual Canon Ftb film camera. Thinking I could try using them (perhaps the standard 50mm one). They have the f-stop ring so I should be able to adjust the aperture when off the camera. I'm I right with my logic before trying this.

No, I'm just to blame for keeping Jude up late after posting my version of the "MacGyvered Macro". The original idea (at least on this board) is all Jude's! (Gotta make sure credit is given where credit is due)

[thoughton]

I was going to suggest an non-auto lens to avoid the problem of lack of aperture rings on most modern kit lenses, but I see Iguanasan has beaten me to it

Another option is to reverse one lens onto another normally-mounted lens. e.g. a 50mm lens reversed onto a 135mm lens gives you an approx 2.7:1 macro lens (135/50 = 2.7). This also enables you to use the aperture on the 135mm lens to maximise the DOF.