Macro coupler (reversing ring): where can I get one?

[Bootros]

I have searched high and low in Oz (well, Melbourne anyway and the rest via the web) and can't locate a macro coupler ring (male-to-male filter threads to attach two lenses face to face) anywhere.

Does anyone know where I can try and source one locally (so I don't have to pay USD$5 for the ring and USD$24 for shipping)?

I am expecting a BR-2A and BR-3 to arive from Japan (via father) next week, but playing aounrd with my 50mm f/1.8 and 70-300mm G using a rubber lens hood on the 50mm to attach it to the 70-300 I have got some serious enlargements. My rough estimates put it at 5x life size. I'm keen to try it with a more robust & stable connection between the lenses.

Thanks,

Bootros

[yeocsa]

Hi,

You can try Vanbar. (http://www.vanbar.com.au/catalogue/inde ... PING-RINGS)

It is very frustrating to use your combo (70 - 300 and reverse 50mm). Very hard to get tact sharp images expected in macro as 70 - 300G is not sharp enough. You would need a good tripod as you will get camera movement when you take the picture.

I have stopped using this combination as it is not productive.


With BR2A + 50mm, you can about life size magnification. You can get good results using this combo. The picture below is taken with BR2A + 50mmf1.8.



Manual Focus + Manual Exposure, Flash with SB800 at 1/500 f16. ISO 200. Handheld.

regards,

Arthur

[Bootros]

Arthur,

Thanks for the help. Already tried Vanbar as they have a great online catalog, but no luck. Found a place in tasmania that has a 49mm-55mm one in its bargain bin, but they don't stock them anymore. They seem to be something that was once popular, but have died off recently.

I would agree with the sharpness of the 70-300G. Not too flash. Will have to do unitl I get my 70-210 f/2.8.

Live the shot with the BR-2A, can't wait to get it. very nice DOF. One question on shooting with it: what is the distance from front of lens to subject? I'm concerned I may end up sitting on top of a butterfly when shooting.

I'm also keen to find someone who's used the BR-3, possibly with a close up lens on the front of it to see what that achieves. From what I can see, most people just get the BR-2A, but on advice from another forum (and given their aprox $15 in Japan) I got one to help protect the rear of my 50mm f/1.8 while shooting reversed.

Bootros

[Paul]

Hi Bootros,
I too am looking for these items to attach to my 50mm f/1.4 M/F lens for macro work,
I tried my luck with birddog but unfortunatly he can't source them from HKS.
Which leaves my other prefered route through Vanbar, There costs are BR-2A @ $57.92 & the BR-3 @ $77.22
I would be surprised if the Sydney branch had them in stock so I'll just have to order mine and wait a few weeks.
Where did you get the $15 quote from?

[yeocsa]

Hi

i have the BR-2A, BR-3 and BR5.

BR-2A is for 52mm thread.
BR-3 is for filter attached on the mount.
BR5 is for 62mm thread.

These items are hard to find as the demand for them is low. I bought them through a seller who bought these items in Japan.

BR2A + Reverse 50mm - close to life size magnification
BR5 + Reverse 20mm - 3.4X life size magnification.

The above combo is not easy to use. First, turn the aperture ring to the largest opening for the purpose of focusing. No AF here. Focus is by moving a bit forward and backward. You need sharp eyes to determine when focus is achieved. Then you turn the aperture ring to stop down. F22 is max for 50mm - sometimes not enough. At F22 the viewfinder is very dark, if you have moved the lens' position by a mm, your focus and DOF will be affected adversely. Exposure is also manual. Flash exposure too is manual. You have to figure all them out by yourself.

*** working distance - less than 4 cm away from subject. Most shy insects would have long gone before you are ready to shot.

Having use reverse macro, I would encourage macro lovers to buy dedicated marco lens. You get better results. Or better still buy the bellows system.

Alternatively, you can buy closeup filter which works very well on the cheap. See pic below:-

*** working distance - 40cm away from subject. AFS 300F4 + Canon 500D close up filter. You can all the functions that D70 + SB800 offers. If I want more magnifciation, I just add a TC and,or, extension tubes.



regards,

Arthur

[yeocsa]

The one above, i was using f4. This one below, i was using f29.

here's another.

[redline]

does bh have any stock?

[Bootros]

While googling I found the BR-2A & BR-3 at http://www.yodobashi.com and my parents live in Japan, so when asked if there was anything I wanted when they arrive next week, I prompltly headed my dad downtown to one of their stores. Y1,395 each (/88 = approx $15). Problem is: I can't find a reversing ring on their site at all, and dad had enough trouble matching the printout from the web with the sign for the store so I would't send him down there to try and explain a macro coupler (hell...most of the guys here that I speak to don't even understand what I'm on about).

B&H have them @ $6.95, so I thought I'd bight the bullet, throw in an ND filter (roughly half the price) and whatever else I could get away with and get it sent. Hell I may even pop for the PK-13 extension tube (or a full Kenko set). I think that's my best option to date.

Bootros.

[pippin88]

Bootros, there are probably a few guys still looking to get those parts from B&H, so it would be great if you could pop in one or two for them with your order?

Maybe post a thread in General to see if there are still interested people?

[Bootros]

Nice idea pippin, will do. help to sperad out the USD$26.95 postage as well.

[Oneputt]

Can someone please explain to me how this reversing of lens works?

[paull]

Try searching macro coupling ring on ebay ... can find a few offers from the US.

[Bootros]

Oneputt, here's what I know:

Macro shot's can be done in a number of ways:
- dedicated macro lenses which are designed to focus to a very short distance.
- diopters (aka close-up filters) which act like a magnifying lens on your cameras lens.
- extension tubes extend the focal length of a lens, but also effect their focal distance (ie bring it in closer) A bellows system is effectively a flexible extension tube.
- Reversed lenses (and I can't explain why they work).

I have tried a 4x close-up lens which works a treat for geeting up close & personal with most things.

The BR-2A allows you to reverse mount your 50mm f/1.8 (which has a 52mm filter thread) onto your D70. The BR-3 then mimics the mount of the camera to cover & protect the normally camera side of the lens (and also allows you to add 52mm filters to it). From all accounts it should then do 1x magnification (aka life size). Problem is, you loose AF and AE and you end up a bees dick away from your subject.

A macro coupler goes one further. It reverse mounts the 50mm f/1.8 onto the front of your 70-300 (for example). This means that your magnifying the image yet again, and so you end up with some serious enlargement. Downside: you end up losign the edges of your shot, the DOF is bugger all and focussing is a nightmare. But I have seen some sensational shots.

Only 3 more sleeps till i get my BR-2A...will post examples.

Bootros

[Bootros]

Promised I would post some samples, so here they are:

First is closest you can focus with a 50mm f/1.8 mounted normally on the camera.



Next is 50mm reverse mounted onto D70 using BR-2A.



Interestingly enough, this one is the BR-2A mounted on the camera, the BR-2A connected to the BR3 and then with the D70 mounted to the BR3. A poor mans extension tube of about 15mm.



Makes me want to look into extension tubes a lot more. Imagine what 50mm of tubes could achieve.

[digitor]

Makes me want to look into extension tubes a lot more. Imagine what 50mm of tubes could achieve.

This takes me back a bit.. (When I were a lad, we couldn't afford macro lenses, etc. etc.) I have a set or two of screw mount tubes around, and used to get excellent results with my old Mamiya DSX1000 and its 55mm standard lens. 50mm of extension with the Takumar 135mm lens worked really well too, giving a bit more subject distance to work with. The same problems then as now though, dim viewfinder, small DOF, no metering (although stop-down metering worked - I have a set of AUTO tubes!

Cheers