Reverse 50mm f1.8 Macro

[yeocsa]

Finally, I found my favourite macro subject.





regards,

Arthur

[christiand]

Holy tomato,

another XXX rated photo !
Well done, I'm amazed about the clarity and definition.

Cheers
CD

[Sean]

Top shot! I didnt know they came in red, great sharpness and complementing background light

Regards

Sean

[MATT]

yeocsa,

How does the reverse 50mm trick work?

MATT

[christiand]

yeocsa,

how much cropping did you do ?

Cheers
CD

[yeocsa]

No cropping done to both pictures. Due to 50mm focal lenght I was not able to capture the entire damsefly. Can only achieve focus at a single point - about 4 cm away from subject.

regards,

Arthur

[pippin88]

Where did you get the bits to reverse the lens?

Beautiful shots.

[sirhc55]

Fabulous shots Arthur - the lower pic dragonfly(?) looks like it has a human face (smacks of The Fly )

[kipper]

Ok that's it. Time to get some reversing rings from vanbar

http://www.vanbar.com.au/catalogue/inde ... 7279&user=

Hmmm, so that provides a male 52mm thread with an F-Mount. Is there a female version or can you get male-female thread conversion so that you can put a UV filter on the end of the lens. Just fancy having something at the very front of my 52MM F/1.4 before I start using it as a macro as the rear of the end is very convex and protuding past the F-Mount. Quite easy to scratch!

[yeocsa]

yeocsa,

How does the reverse 50mm trick work?

MATT

You can do 2 things.

1. Use the plastic camera body cap, cut a hole (about 45mm in diameter), super glue a male-to-male 52 filter thread. Put the cap into the camera body and then mount the 50mm lens via the filter thread.

2. Buy Nikon BR2A which is metal and much better. Mount it on the camera body and attach the 50mm lens via the filter thread.

You don't have AF, no auto exposure - can only do manual, builtin flash does not work. You can control shutter speed and turn the aperture ring to get the exposure. Mount Nikon Flash which will work when flash is set to manua. Focusing is by looking the viewfinder, moving yourself and the camera back and forth to get sharp focus and then take the picture.

It's the cheapest way to do macro at 1:1 magnification.



regards,

Arthur



BR3A is the one right at the bottom.

[yeocsa]

Ok that's it. Time to get some reversing rings from vanbar

http://www.vanbar.com.au/catalogue/inde ... 7279&user=

Hmmm, so that provides a male 52mm thread with an F-Mount. Is there a female version or can you get male-female thread conversion so that you can put a UV filter on the end of the lens. Just fancy having something at the very front of my 52MM F/1.4 before I start using it as a macro as the rear of the end is very convex and protuding past the F-Mount. Quite easy to scratch!

Hi Kipper,

You can attach the BR5 (the one on the right) to rear of the 50mm lens. This way, you can also add a filter or another 50mm lens!

regards,

Arthur

[kipper]

Arthur, can you list all the makes and part numbers of those items in the picture. I'm guessing the item on the left is a step up or down ring.

[yeocsa]

Arthur, can you list all the makes and part numbers of those items in the picture. I'm guessing the item on the left is a step up or down ring.

BR2A (top bottom) - give you 1X life size magnification.

BR5 (top right)

BR3 (left) - similar for BR2A but for 62mm thread mount. When use with 20mm - you get 4X life size magnification.

You can also put a 35 - 70 zoom the normal way, add a "male-to-male" filter thread, mount a prime lens (20mm - 80mm) and get a macro zoom.


regards,

Arthur

[jdear]

i posted a little bit on how lens reversal actually works - http://forum.d70users.com/viewtopic.php?t=955.

I have a 20mm f2.8 lens i must buy a reversal ring and give it a go!

Alternatively look at extension bellows, the nikon PB-5 seems to be the best one made (not made anymore, replaced by the less superior PB-6)

great shots Arthur!

JD

[yeocsa]

Thanks for all your kind comments and feedback.

[Manta]

Thanks all for a very informative thread. I haven't experimented in this area before, mainly due to the lack of information I could find on the matter but you've covered the topic very well.

[pippin88]

So if I get the 50mm from Birddog, and the BR-2A from Vanbar (Unless someone can suggest a cheaper place) then I can get 1:1 pictures?

Can you focus with the lens focus, or is it all physical movement?

[wile_E]

BR2A (top bottom) - give you 1X life size magnification.

"top bottom"

does that mean middle??

[yeocsa]

BR2A (top bottom) - give you 1X life size magnification.

"top bottom"

does that mean middle??

Sorry, it is the one at the bottom.

[yeocsa]

So if I get the 50mm from Birddog, and the BR-2A from Vanbar (Unless someone can suggest a cheaper place) then I can get 1:1 pictures?

Can you focus with the lens focus, or is it all physical movement?

Turning the focusing ring helps a little. The primary way to get focus is to move the lens towards the subject while looking thru the viewfinder. Move forward till the image is sharp. Move forward and backward to fine tune.

Reverse macro can be frustrating. To get the image tact sharp, you'd need a tripod. On the other hand, it is difficult to set up the tripod as you are 3 - 4 cm away from the subject.

If you like macro, it is best to get a delicated macro lens.

regards,

Arthur

[MATT]

thanks for info yeocsa may just give that a try.

MATT

[kipper]

Arthur you can get 28inch sliding rails/booms for a tripod