Makeshift Macro

[Mike Deep]

I've seen a few threads about kludging macro lenses, the EF 35-80 mod (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=190428) in particular, so I felt like sharing this one. Since a dedicated macro is out of my budget for the time being, I've been improvising. Originally I stacked two 50mm f1.8's face-to-face, but I soon learned that wasn't a very useful option due to the extremely shallow DOF and the extreme vignetting introduced when I tried to stop down.

So I decided to cannibalize a crappy lens I had lying around. I disassembled an Underground OM-mount 80-200mm f4.5 and re-purposed the front element (Which is still in its barrel with filter threads), mounting it face-to-face with a Zuiko 50mm f1.8 which in turn goes on my XT with an adapter. I was surprised by the results.

1/100 @ f16, onboard flash (Uncropped)
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff27/mdeep88/bugs/IMG_09900.jpg

1/125, forgot f-stop, no flash (~65% cropped)
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff27/mdeep88/bugs/IMG_10308.jpg

1/320 @ f8, no flash (~60% cropped)
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff27/mdeep88/bugs/IMG_10316.jpg

The DOF seems a little better than the stacked 50's and I can stop down now. The working distance is several inches with the Zuiko set at infinity and drops to an inch or two at the MFD. Not ideal for chasing dragonflies, but still lots of fun.

Maybe I should call it the FrankenMacro?

[ypx3]

AMAZING

[Q-bert]

Your "FrankenMacro" does a great job.

[xarqi]

Nice work! Any difficulties or tricks with disassembly/assembly? Any chance of an image of the finished article?

[Mike Deep]

The cannibalized element mounts reversed with a Bower 49mm to 52mm male-to-male thread adapter, so it's as easy to setup as a filter. I'll see if I can snap a picture of it tomorrow.

[Mike Deep]

If I may revive my own thread here... I've paired the FrankenMacro with a 430EX with pretty good results. I also continue to be a cheap bastard for not getting a proper macro.

First, here's a shot of the setup:

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff27/mdeep88/closeup/IMG_14908.jpg

And the macro "adapter" by itself:

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff27/mdeep88/closeup/IMG_14916.jpg

I found the magnification with this lens to be around 0.75x using a ruler.

Here's some recent photos. All were taken with the Zuiko set to f16. The first photo is onboard flash, while no flash was used in the last photo, and the 430EX was used in the remaining photos. The last two are vertical crops.

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff27/mdeep88/bugs/IMG_10912.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff27/mdeep88/bugs/IMG_14346.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff27/mdeep88/bugs/IMG_14350.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff27/mdeep88/bugs/IMG_14459.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff27/mdeep88/bugs/IMG_14493.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff27/mdeep88/bugs/IMG_14504.jpg

[nordstern1]

awesome...:eek::shock:

[Flam]

Wow, great work there buddy!

[ajayclicks]

hey thats a pretty neat setup :)

[FlexiPack]

That's totally amazing!!

I had no idea a front element could be hacked that way. I need an old lens to try it on :D

I have to ask, how did you get so close to those insects (particularly the dragonfly) without them flying off??