I bought a new bit of kit!

[Nathan deGargoyle]

I've wanted to try Macro for a while but can't justify the expense of a macro lens. I had tried, inspired by JiminyClickits advice, a linen loupe



But I couldn't work out how to use it in my lenses without having four hands so I'd kind of given up. Then I was browsing Maplin's today and saw this. I thought"Hmmm, 50mm diameter lens, that should be close to fitting!" so I bought it. A great investment for a whole £3.99!


And indeed it's a great fit. I tried first with a brooch my wife had left under the table lamp



And tried to get the centre

[Nathan deGargoyle]

Then I tried my keyring and chain



And got



and





Wow! for £3.99! I know the focus is a little off but it will get better with practice.

I just wanted to thank Jiminy for the inspiration. I would never have tried this without your inspiration. A heartfelt thanks!

[xxpinballxx]

seems to work pretty darn well and not a terribly shallow DOF either....
Great find Nathan.....is it actually staying on the lens or are you holding it up to the lens?

[KodiakStar]

Good find That key looks like you hit the mark on the focus!

[Nathan deGargoyle]

Thanks guys.

@PB: at the moment I'm holding it on the lens but it doesn't look too dificult to convert it to stay on by itself. A bit of Blu-Tac maybe?

[Nathan deGargoyle]

To answer the question Wulf asked on Flickr, how close am I getting to 1:1? I've just had a play with a ruler.

With the Nifty Fifty and the loupe I was getting about 210mm across the width of the frame which is a little better than 1:1!

So, of course, I had to stick the 50-200 on. This was giving me about 55mm across the width but the depth of field could be measured in nanometers so no chance of focusing hand held. I'll give it a try with a tripod when I have time.

[jiminyClickit]

Nathan deGargoyle,

Thamks for the mention, and of course as so often is the case, I tried again because of a thread wulf started! Twentysome years ago I put a loupe similar to yours on a Polaroid and got my first Macro!

Anything you can adapt to fit your lens barrel will work: here's a Motts applesauce single-serve cup, bottom cut out, with two spraypaint can lids, one holding the top third of the folding loupe. Slips on and off, very convenient:

[Saralonde]

Very clever, JC!

[jiminyClickit]

Saralonde,

Thanks. Necessity, Mother, Invention, you know . . .

[hugy789]

Is this it?

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=32332

Or is this it

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=35397