Reversed lens on camera

[PWhite214]

I picked up an adapter to mount a lens reversed on my Sony camera body. It fits the body lens mount, and fits the filter thread in the front of the lens. I also picked up a a 50MM f1.9 manual lens at a pawnshop. I have nearly $20 USD in this project.

Here is the equipment:



I was wondering about the actual magnification, using a 50mm lens:


so I photographed a ruler. Good way to check what magnification we are actually getting. I read approx 29mm, the Sony Sensor is 23.6mm wide, so pretty close to 1:1 (0.81:1) I need to get a better scale .

Finally, a photo with the new toys


If the weather is cooperative tomorrow, I will try to get a few more photos. It is pretty cold for the Texas gulf coast.

Phil

[spazoid1965]

Nice. You can get even greater magnification if you use extension tubes between camera and lens. They are extremly cheap if you're buying the non automatic or non CPU kind.

[PWhite214]

Yes, extension tubes work very well, I started a thread on here a few weeks ago. What I am looking at here is the inexpensive ways to get MACRO or Extreme Closeup Photographs to help answer some of the questions I see posted in this section. Many people want to be able to get into macro, but don't know what they need to get started.

So far, I have shown extension tubes (manual w/ manual lens) adapted to my DSLR, Bellows, and the Reverse Lens on Camera. The next one will be one lens reversed on another lens, the adapter is on it's way from Hong Kong.

Using my AF lenses with extension tubes requires rather expensive tubes to have aperture control. I plan to cover that later when I am ready to pay $200 or so for a set, I will probably order two sets. Mean while, I am going the 'poor person's' route to getting started.

Thanks for your input, I probably should have explained what my goal was posting these threads, but it sorta just grew because of the questions I see on this forum.

Phil

[stang0011]

Hey Phil, I've been reading your posts with interest since I'm in search of an inexpensive macro setup. What's your impression of the image quality between the tube, bellows and reverse lens? Any other thoughts as far as ease of use or availability of the different parts?
Thanks, Bob

[Edsport]

Originally Posted by PWhite214

Yes, extension tubes work very well, I started a thread on here a few weeks ago. What I am looking at here is the inexpensive ways to get MACRO or Extreme Closeup Photographs to help answer some of the questions I see posted in this section. Many people want to be able to get into macro, but don't know what they need to get started.

So far, I have shown extension tubes (manual w/ manual lens) adapted to my DSLR, Bellows, and the Reverse Lens on Camera. The next one will be one lens reversed on another lens, the adapter is on it's way from Hong Kong.

Using my AF lenses with extension tubes requires rather expensive tubes to have aperture control. I plan to cover that later when I am ready to pay $200 or so for a set, I will probably order two sets. Mean while, I am going the 'poor person's' route to getting started.

Thanks for your input, I probably should have explained what my goal was posting these threads, but it sorta just grew because of the questions I see on this forum.

Phil

Before i got my extension tube that allowed me to aperture control i used to set the lens to whatever aperture setting i wanted then hold in the DOF view button and while still holding it in i would unscrew the lens from the camera. The aperture was now set. Some ppl don't recommend this but i had no problem. Try this at own risk...

[PWhite214]

Originally Posted by stang0011

Hey Phil, I've been reading your posts with interest since I'm in search of an inexpensive macro setup. What's your impression of the image quality between the tube, bellows and reverse lens? Any other thoughts as far as ease of use or availability of the different parts?
Thanks, Bob

Thanks Bob,

The image quality depends on your lens, and your ability to focus. I am using a tripod and macro focusing rail more because it is hard for these 60 year old eyes to see where the lens is focused on the subject.

As I read in John Shaw's books, extension is extension. As long as you don't have faulty bellows, out of true tubes ect, the method of extension should not affect the image quality. I have read that most lenses are sharper reversed than in normal use, but have not tried to check it out.

Bellows give the photographer a lot of flexibility, but are heavy and bulky. Kind of a pain to use in the field, though I do carry mine along often. Extension tubes are in fixed lengths, so take time to alter the magnification, but very convenient to use. Lens reversal is easy too, but at just one magnification ratio. All are very good ways to approach 1:1 or larger magnification.

I just received a lens to lens reversal adapter. I hope to have time and co-operative weather this weekend to play with this on the digital, and possibly one of the film cameras too. I have a lot of experimentation on my list for this weekend, so we will see how much I can fit in with the usual chores that have to be done.

BTW, I mostly use manual lenses via an adapter for macro. I have accumulated several over the years, they sure come in handy for this.

As far as cost, the least expensive is to reverse a lens onto the camera, or another lens. Especially if you have an manual lens so you can control aperture. I picked up a 50mm f1.9 PK mount lens at a pawn shop for $15, and the two adapters that I have now total around $10. So pretty inexpensive.

Next would be a suitable manual lens with extension tubes. Manual tubes for most cameras from China are around $10 per set. I bought a set for my manual Minolta lenses, and a set for the AF lenses. By putting them together, I don't have to use a lens to camera adapter to fit it all together. I have several 'macro' adapters @ around $20 each.

A little more money will buy a bellows that will work with the manual lens, and an adapter to mount it on your camera.

I can mount my Minolta MD/MC manual bellows and lenses on the Maxxum AF bodies, My Sony Alpha, and my wife's Canon DSLR with adapters. There is no lens in the adapter, so no distortion is introduced, just 4-5mm extra extension. No doubt you can find several ways to mount macro capable gear to your camera.

Sorry if I got a little verbose, but I wanted to fully answer your questions. Please feel free to post more questions, or PM me if you like. I will be glad to try to help.

Phil

[PWhite214]

Edsport,

Thanks for the tip, I will see if any of my lenses support this.

Phil

[BCampbell]

Originally Posted by spazoid1965

Nice. You can get even greater magnification if you use extension tubes between camera and lens. They are extremly cheap if you're buying the non automatic or non CPU kind.

The danger here is that lens reversing already moves the focus zone pretty dramatically, and with tubes it would be possible to move the zone beyond the actual sensor -- meaning you could never focus.

[PWhite214]

Originally Posted by BCampbell

The danger here is that lens reversing already moves the focus zone pretty dramatically, and with tubes it would be possible to move the zone beyond the actual sensor -- meaning you could never focus.

I don't think that Spazoid meant to suggest extension tubes between the lens and camera, but I could see maybe a 5mm might work. Ah, well, another experiment to add to the list . Sounds like fun.

Phil

[Edsport]

Extension tubes is used between the camera and lens but i don't think he meant to use them when reversing the lens although i can't be 100% sure if he meant that...