anyone tried stock lens as macro with a reverse ring adapter?

J

JB_frenchy

Active member
Do you think it's possible?
Does such an adapter exist and what would be the result?

I don't know much about using normal lens as a macro with inverting but it seems you get better results with wide angle or normal primes, will it work with a zoom?

Thanks
 
Do you think it's possible?
Does such an adapter exist and what would be the result?

I don't know much about using normal lens as a macro with inverting but it seems you get better results with wide angle or normal primes, will it work with a zoom?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I bought a 55mm reversing ring for my rokkor 50mm lens. it works.
I also got a set of extension tubes, also off ebay for the MD mount. works as well.

with 50mm and reverse ring, you can fill the entire frame with one key on your
keyboard. with the extension tubes, you can get in closer.

really hard to take shots hand held, tripod would be best in this situation.
 
Yes such adaptors are available (they are very cheap) and most lenses perfom much better in the close focus range when reversed. Macro photography is what I tend to specialise in. It should certainly work and reversed zooms have the advantage in that you have more control over the magnification than with a fixed focal length lens. You will get quite high magnification with this method. Counter-intuitively you get more magnification at the wide-end than at the long end of the zoom. I've never tried it on a short back flange distance mount camera like m4/3 so I'm not sure what the effect would be of the lens being slightly closer to the sensor than usual on a SLR. The other issues to consider are that you will have no control over the aperture and you may need to stop it down for more depth of field at higher magnifications, as the depth of field will be razor thin wide open.

The other thing to look out for is that you are exposing a vulnerable part of the lens not designed to be exposed. So be careful with the exposed rear element and look out for dust entering the rear of the lens. My advice would be to try this method with old manual focus primes of 50mm or shorter (the shorter the more magnification). They can be picked up very cheaply, you don't have to worry so much about any damage, and most importantly you have full control of the aperture as most have an aperture ring. Very cheap old manual focus lenses can produce great results. I normally refer stills photographers to this great thread on the technique when they ask me about it.
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/663112
 
I don't have a m4/3 camera but someone told me it is possible to lock in a given aperture set on the camera by removing the lens with preview button pressed like on the Canon EOS system. Novoflex have an adaptor that allows reversed Canon EOS lenses to be electronically controlled from the camera and I don't see why something similar could not be made for m4/3 cameras. Basically it just connects the camera lens contacts to those on the lens in the reversed position. The Novoflex adaptor is a bit expensive like all Novoflex equipment, but I'm sure one could be made for far less.
http://www.novoflex.com/en/products/macro-accessories/reverse-adapter-eos-retro/
 
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