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After some deliberation, I decided to go the reversed 50mm route for macro.
Thanks for the input from various people.

I've ordered the reversing ring from Vanbar - let's hope Maxwell have stock, because the Vanbar guy reckoned it could take up to two months if they don't. Maxwell strikes again.

Ordering the 50mm 1.8 through the magnificant Birddog, and I have no doubt it'll be a much much quicker and more pleasant experience than getting a product distributed through Maxwell.

Let me know how you go. I'm interested with going this route through Vanbar.

Good luck with the process Pippin - I hope the service and product meet your expectations.

Like Kipper, I'm keen to see how it all goes and, especially, looking forward to seeing some images!

Pippin,

Cann you explain to me what reversed macro is?
I've heard a great deal about it and am keen to try it out.

Cheers
Matt

rokkstar wrote:Pippin,

Cann you explain to me what reversed macro is?
I've heard a great deal about it and am keen to try it out.

Cheers
Matt

Basically you put a lens on the wrong way round. As I understand it, the shorter the lens focal length, the greater the magnification.

Nikon have a reversing ring (BR-2A) that is an F mount on one end and a 52mm thread on the other, so that you can screw a 50mm prime on or use stepping rings for larger thread sizes.

You lose metering and auto focus - everything must be done manually.
But for the price (BR-2A $60, 50mm $180) you get two lens, a sharp prime and a 1:1 macro. Not half bad if you ask me.

Sorry to go off-thread here Pippin but that avatar of Rokkstar's is really disturbing!!! I may need professional help.....

Manta wrote:Sorry to go off-thread here Pippin but that avatar of Rokkstar's is really disturbing!!! I may need professional help.....

he he
You know who that is. It's the living legend ...............

HASSELHOFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Entrancing fella isnt he

Oh I knew who it was...

I KNEW WHO IT WAS!!!!!!

rokkstar wrote:

Manta wrote:Sorry to go off-thread here Pippin but that avatar of Rokkstar's is really disturbing!!! I may need professional help.....

he he
You know who that is. It's the living legend ...............

HASSELHOFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Entrancing fella isnt he

Shocked me too. One minute you're a black man with a shaved head, next minute there's a white man with more hair than you can poke a stick at (and that's just on the head!) - interesting change.

Additionally it's good to see you a bit closer to your forum name as at least DH released music (can't force myself to call it singing!)

Also sorry for going OT.

Nick. I look forward to your macro shots.

Pippin did you also order the BR-3?

It's a ring that you mount onto the F-Mount and then allows you to screw in filters. I'd suggest you get something to protect the rear element as it sticks out a fairbit and if it gets knocked over you'll definately break the glass.

kipper wrote:Pippin did you also order the BR-3?

It's a ring that you mount onto the F-Mount and then allows you to screw in filters. I'd suggest you get something to protect the rear element as it sticks out a fairbit and if it gets knocked over you'll definately break the glass.

Kipper, it's a bit hard to come at when it costs $80, 20 more than the necessary adaptor. I think I'll put the money into a CF card.

Unless someone is ordering something from B&H or Adorama where it's just below US $30 before shipping, and I could tag along on the order.

If you do go the reversed 50mm route Kipper, I think the US is the way - I just price getting the BR-2A and the BR-3 from B&H and Adorama, and with shipping it came to around $100 AUD and $110 respectively. Whereas both bits in Aus will cost $150 after shipping?

Won't the reversed lens mean that you end up taking a photo of the sensor?

Maxwell bloody does it again.

No stock - 4 to 6 weeks.

The guy from Vanbar was nice enough to offer me a refund, so I've got to decide what to do.

I'll see if Birdy can get the part, otherwise is anyone ordering anything from B&H or Adorama soon? I'd really appreciate it if I could tack the BR-2A and maybe BR-3 onto your order.

pippin88,
You'll waste your time on what you're after! save up your hard earned cash and get the real micro/ macro lens.

Birddog114 wrote:pippin88,
You'll waste your time on what you're after! save up your hard earned cash and get the real micro/ macro lens.

Hmmm.

I might just do that. But this route would get me macro and a 50mm prime with enough left over for a CF card for the price of a real macro lens.

I'd be looking at the Sigma 105, unless there is something better around the price range.

EDIT: Birddog has a hypnotic effect, everytime he suggests more glass or more expensive glass it just starts sounding reasonable.

EDIT2: Stuff it, Birddog's words of honey have convinced me to hand over more money. I've ordered the Sigma 105.

Hi

If you are starting in macro, it is best to start with extension tubes or,and, closeup filter. When you decide that you want more, then buying a micro or macro lens is the way to do. When you find that you want to go deeper, you can go the reverse lens way. By the way, the extension tubes and closeup filters can be used in conjunction with all the above combinations.

A friend of mine wrote the following article which you will find useful.
http://www.naturephotosociety.org.sg/ASP/Article.asp?Date=1/10/2005

regards,

Arthur

I went the macro lens way myself and got a 105mm macro. Just added a male to male filter adapter and now I can reverse my 50mm lens onto the 105 macro to increase magnification by a factor of 2.1x. This means instead of getting 1:1, I am getting 2:1.

The magnification is spectacular! Will post comparison pictures when I get a chance.

Got the filter adapter (non-genuine Nikon - but not much can go wrong here) for less than $20AUD via Ebay (delivered in less and 5 working days). Just checked the vendor again but he seems to have runout of this adapter. If you are keen, keep an eye out for this vendor
http://stores.ebay.com/QualityFoto_W0QQ ... idZ2QQtZkm

Here's a picture to establish size






Here's the maximum from the 105mm Macro






Here the same again with the reversed 50mm on the 105mm Macro



Pictures per original - no cropping, just downsized. BTW Kipper makes a strong point - make sure the rear lens element is protected. I've run into all sorts of things - been lucky so far.

Thanks for the comparison shots.

From that seller: Could get a reverse Macro ring 58mm-58mm and a step down ring.

My 105 is expected to be shipped tomorrow, so it'll arrive in Syd sometime next week, I expect. (I'm in Newcastle during the week)

Paull,

WOW and WOW.....
Few questions

with the 105mm macro and reverse ring and 50mm combo does this mean all matrix, exposure and such can be done by the camera?

Also is the photos cropped?

IE any problems with vignetting?

Hi ipv6ready,

The meter still seems to work(have not used flash - the built in cannot clear the lens setup - typically the subject is about 1 cm from the 50mm rear lens element (hence the importance of using a protector for the rear lens element). Simple something that works here is to cut out the back from a normal rear lens element cap (I'm a bit cheap! )

Vignetting can be an issue (seen it once in my setup - obviously not with the picture I posted, and been told it can happen regularly) - but I haven't been able to replicate it with regularity to date... when I figure out what/how -will post.

No cropping.

paull wrote:Hi ipv6ready,

(hence the importance of using a protector for the rear lens element). Simple something that works here is to cut out the back from a normal rear lens element cap (I'm a bit cheap! )

No cropping.

Thanks - Can I ask which of the 105mm you have Nikkor, Tamron or Sigma?

That is not cheap that is ingenius - I am sure Nikon would of charged $30 for it!

I use a nikon PN-11 52.5 Close up tube that I have had for years. The lenses I use on this are the kit lens and 24-120 nikkor, every thing is then manual and a bit of a guess but I keep doing exposures till I am close then a bracket, also you have the zoom. If my memory is correct I picked this up second hand, so keep an eye out as most second hand shops do not know what they are

good hunting

big pix PS no I have not worked out how close you can get but it is much better than one to one, will do a pix and post tomorrow

Well my Sigma has arrived at home in Sydney, but I'm stuck up here in Newcastle till Friday arvo. Can't wait.

Will be at the Mini Meet at Birddog's, and that'll probably be my first real play with the lens.