Macro with CHEAP lenses

[spazoid1965]

This might seem odd to some. But I can't afford a true macro lens. Or even HIGH quality lenses. Nor a large Megapixel camera. So here an experament with a camera and lenses that no normal person would attemp macro photography with. The camera is a Nikon D1 (2.7 megapixel). It's a $78 as-is ebay special which won't autoffocus accurately. (perfect for me). The lenses are as follows:

1. 50mm f2 Nikkor AI lens with minimal focal lenth of 13.5 inches
2. 100mm f28 Vivitar non-AI with minimal focal lenth of 47.5 inches
3. 200mm f3.5 Vivtar non-AI with minimal focal lenth of 64 inches
4. 28mm f2.6 Vivitar AI lens with minimal focal lenth of 10 inches
5. 500mm Siratone T-mount mirror reflex lens with minimal focal lenth of 68 inches

Note: Don't try the non-AI lenses on your camera. These lenses HAVE been altered to clear the apeture index tab.

This expierment is to show the effect of extending these lenses away the camera by using extension tubes and a bellow system. The shots are not cropped. They have only been reduced to a smaller size. The picture is what covered the sensor. The color,const, brightness, and saturation have been changed on some shots due to my poor choice of flouresent lighting. The subject is a LEGO setup. The green base is 10x10 inches. There is several lego people spread out over a 6x6 inch area. The distracting wall is to show the brokah effect as the lenses are extended. The wall is 5" behind the legoman with the green hat. Focal distance is figured by placing a measuring tape from that legoman to filter ring on the lens. I'll start with the 50mm lens since it is standard lenth.

Fist 2 shots are unextended 50mm lens shot @f2. then again @ f11. Focal lenth 13.5".
http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/4761/0350oextf2135.jpg
http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/7...0extf11135.jpg

13mm extersion w/ 50mm lens shot @f2. then again @ f11. Focal lenth 6"
http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/9958/045013mmf26.jpg
http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/7...5013mmf116.jpg

20mm extersion w/ 50mm lens shot @f2. then again @ f11. Focal lenth 4.5". (approx 1:2 macro)
http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/3713/065020mmf245.jpg
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/3006/075020mmf1145.jpg

38mm extersion w/ 50mm lens shot @f2. then again @ f11. Focal lenth 3".
At this point the photos are about 1:1 (true macro) on the (23.7 x 15.5) D1 sensor.
http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/4990/085038mmf23.jpg
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/443/095038mmf113.jpg

70mm extersion w/ 50mm lens shot @f2. then again @ f11. Focal lenth 1.75".
This is a standard full set of extension rings. (approx 1.6:1 macro)
http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/3927/105070f2175.jpg
http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/5...70mmf11175.jpg

70mm extersion w/ 28mm lens shot @f2.8 Focal lenth 1/4". I didn't have enough light for a f11. shot. (approx 2.7:1 macro) I had to remove Legoman's wrench bcuase it stuck out and hit the lens. In the rest of the shots the wrench is missing.
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/404...70mmf28025.jpg

unextended 100mm lens shot @f2.8. No f11. shot. I forgot to take one. Focal lenth 47.5". I was so far away you can see the magazines under the Lego setup.
http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/3...0extf28475.jpg

13mm extersion w/100mm lens shot @f2.8 then again @ f11. Focal lenth 19"
http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/5...013mmf2819.jpg
http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/3...013mmf1119.jpg

70mm extersion w/ 100mm lens shot @f2.8 then again @ f11. Focal lenth 9".
http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/8...0070mmf289.jpg
http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/2...0070mmf119.jpg

150mm extersion w/ 100mm lens shot @f2.8 then again @ f11. Focal lenth 5.25".
This is a 6" bellows almost fully extended.
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/6772/...50mmf28525.jpg
http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/8...50mmf11525.jpg

230mm extersion w/ 100mm lens shot @f2.8 then again @ f11. Focal lenth 4.5".
This is a 6" bellows fully extended plus a full set of extension tubes.
http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/3...30mmf28475.jpg
http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/867...30mmf11475.jpg

unextended 200mm lens shot @f3.5 no f11. shot. Focal lenth 64.".
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/840...00extf3564.jpg

70mm extersion w/ 200mm lens shot @f3.5 then again @ f11. Focal lenth 29".
http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/3...070mmf3529.jpg
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/8905/1620070mmf1129.jpg

150mm extersion w/ 200mm lens shot @f3.5 then again @ f11. Focal lenth 21.5".
http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/624...50mmf35215.jpg
http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/3...50mmf11215.jpg

230mm extersion w/ 200mm lens shot @f3.5 then again @ f11. Focal lenth 19".
http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/8...230mmf3519.jpg
http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/8684/20200230f1119.jpg

Here's the ones most of ya'll are going to laugh about. They are with the 500mm mirror lens. They are very soft. Some of the softness may be due to camera and lens shake due to the bizzare setup. But I'm sure alot of it is the fact that it's a crappy reflex lens. A regular 500mm lens may give better results. But my only other 500mm is a Cambron f8.-32 with a minimum focal lent of 120 inches. This lens is 16 inches long. I was affraid to mount it on unsupported my bellows. Afraid it might damage the bellow. I my try at another time to make some sort of support for it.

unextended 500mm lens shot @8. (only apeture this lens has). Focal lenth 64".
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/6647/275000extf868.jpg

150mm extersion w/ 500mm lens shot @8. Focal lenth 57".
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/970...0150mmf857.jpg

230mm extersion w/ 500mm lens shot @8. Focal lenth 54".
http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/5...0230mmf854.jpg

I hope this was informative to someone out there? Maybe it could be useful in showing the difference in depth of field, magnification, and focal lenth of extending the lens out from the camera.

[kirbinster]

You have some very nice shots with your home made rig -- good job.

[PWhite214]

Very well done, just shows what you can do with a little ingenuity.

Phil