Macro On A Budget Or Back To Back Couplers

Cliff Plumlee — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:54:06 +0000

Another way to get into macro photography on the cheap. This method allows for more control over the magnification, but is a bit riskier. Not sure how I feel about having a lens being held by nothing but glue. It will also put more strain on your main lens mount, so you probably shouldn’t do this with a lens with a plastic mount like some kit lenses have. And you also should make sure and set it to manual focus as the extra weight could be hard on your auto focus motor.

Clipped from www.diyphotography.net

One method of delving into macro photography is to use adapter rings.

These rings have threads on both sides, one end is screwed onto your present camera lens like any filter and a second lens is attached in reverse onto the other end of the ring

You can buy these adapters or you can make them yourself

You may find filters in the clearance bins at some of the larger photography stores

for as little as one dollar

The Tools

1) plastic bag, 2) safety glasses, 3) gloves, 4) pliers, 5) file, 6) hammer, 7) epoxy and mixing materials, 2 filters

Removing The Glass

Assembling The Rings

The Final Product

The magnification attained will be relative to the ratio of the focal length of the two lenses being used

0.5X=50mm (forward lens) / 100mm (reversed lens)

1X=50mm (forward lens) / 50mm (reversed lens)

2X=100mm (forward lens) / 50mm (reversed lens)

4X=200mm (forward lens) / 50mm (reversed lens) and so on.
Read more at www.diyphotography.net

Reverse Mounting Your Prime Lenses for Affordable Macro Photography

Cliff Plumlee — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:31:10 +0000

A good article on one of the cheapest and easiest ways to get into macro photography. Probably works best with older lenses with manual aperture control (can pick them up pretty cheap on e-bay).

Clipped from digital-photography-school.com

At a little over $9, I found an off-brand 52mm reverse adapter perfect for my 50mm 1.8 and 1.4 lenses. I took it out for a spin at the National Botanical Gardens. Here are my thoughts and experiences with this fun lens accessory.

if you want to get serious about macro (close-up) photography this isn’t the best solution

At only $9 I highly recommend this as a starting point or way of experimenting with macro photography

Protecting the Lens

You Lose the Camera’s Brain so Use Your Own

Depth and Field and Lighting

The three pictures below show the dramatic changes that come with changing the aperture on close up images

A few side notes

You aren’t limited to reverse mounting prime lenses

you can build your own reverse mount extention tube that will work with any lens. Here are some detailed instructions.

Reverse mounting a lens is not the only way to get cheap magnifications

If you already own a nice zoom lens, look into close-up diopter lenses that screw onto the filter threadsRead more at digital-photography-school.com

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