MAcro with inverted lens

[mdclaros]

Hi guys,
I like Macro photography a lot, recently I have seen pictures on line and heard people talking about inverting lenses to get better macro results.
I wonder if anyone in this forum have experience with such technique, some advice would be appreciatted.

[Deckyon]

It works, as you say you have seen the results. However, you will get an extremly narrow DOF and FOV. Also, your focal depth is decreased - read get very close. I have not done reverse macro with my new equipment, but I have done it with my old Olympus OM-1 and 2 50mm lenses. I think it would be better to get a macro lens (save up for it) and get a couple close-up lenses for it. I have used my 24-70mm f/2.8L with close-up lenses to get some nice shots that are far crisper than any reversed lens could achieve.

[steven]

I do the reverse lens for macros but only for extream magnification:shock:, e.g. greater than 1:1. If you just want 1:1 stay with a macro lens.

I use either my 100mm macro or my 180mm macro with my 50mm reversed. This gives me 2:1 and 3:1 mag respectivly.
To do this you either go a by a adapter that lets you screw the filter to filter or you can buy two normal filters that fit the lenses and then glue them together. I have done both and can say I notice a difference with either.

Like Deckyon said when you get that much magnification you are talking very close, very little DOF and the biggest issue I have found is lighting. With you lens so close you have to have light coming in from extream angles (read not a flash mounted to the camer).
I don't have a macro ring flash but have read this does make lighting simpler.

Focusing with limited DOF is a real issue. Almost a must to have a focus railing. I'm still getting by without one but can see the purchase in my near future;)

What else did you want to know??

[ron chappel]

It's one of the many ways you can do quite good quality macro on the cheap.
Of the many macro options,this one tends to give the strongest magnification (allthough most are variable of course)

The options i can think of off the top of my head are:
Extension tubes/bellows -you can use any lens.Old lenses (any brand that you can find an adapter for) are cheapest but proper EOS lens and tubes are easiest to work with.

Close up adapter -simply a type a magnifying lens you put on the front of your normal lens.They lose less light than extension/reverse methods .If you get a high quality one they are a good option.

Reversed lens - any lens will do .Old manual focus lenses are actually easier to use than EOS because you can control the aperture *unless* you buy the novoflex reverse adapter for eos but it costs ALOT*
Interestingly wider lenses give stronger magnification

Using an old lens mounted on the front of you EOS lens.-i've had little experience with this method.

You can easily try these methods youself without any adapters-just to see how they work.
Hold a lens (any lens) in front of your camera,focus on something close then start to move the lens away from the camera.You'll have to constantly adjust the camera lens subject distance to keep in focus but you'll get it.
Now try a lens backwards.50mm or wider are best.You can combine reverse and extension too!


* If you have the 300D kit lens try that reversed.At the 18mm end it gives SERIOUS magnification !!! Very close in fact to that of the the specialized MP-e 65mm 1-5x macro lens.
It is possible to use the kit lens (or any other wide lens) this way with a cheap reverse adapter but the expensive novoflex reverser would make it all super easy (it still works the aperture)

[kalfalfa]

I just discovered this method today - and attached a revered 18-55 at 18 to the front of my 75-300 at 300 (with tape hehe) - and am amazed at the results. I'd still like to get a normal macro lens, but my method gives me an amazing 16:1 magnification. I use my regular flash and just hold up some white paper to reflect it and I manually set the aperture on the 18-55 so that the depth of field would not be stupid small (set it on the camera, push the dof-preview button and detach the lens at the same time).Some examples (at ISO 800 so kinda grainy):

20ga silver wire:
http://static.flickr.com/83/264215507_4f66c425da.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrickmcneil/264215507/)

A dime:
http://static.flickr.com/86/264219937_563d1d9ecd.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrickmcneil/264219937/)

Now.. to go out and find some interesting things to take photos of!

-Patrick

[nisha081]

Hi,

I am using Canon 350D along with 100mm macro. I got a inverse thread to attach my macro lens. When I attach the ring to my lens and put that on my camera, its not focusing..
I tried in TV, AV and M mode and nothing works :(
Can someone guide me in using the inverse macro..

Thanks
nisha

[Owl_79]

I have been using inverted EF 28mm 1.8 usm with quite nice results. Im very satisfied about IQ it gives. It is fully manual lens when inverted without data connection between lens and body. But thats not a problem, aperture can be set before inverting. AF is not required either. For macro like this, manual focus is the way.

Maybe you wanna see some results:
http://tonskulus.kuvat.fi/kuvat/Insects/koppis2.jpg/_small.jpg

http://tonskulus.kuvat.fi/kuvat/Insects/pesulla1.jpg/_small.jpg

http://tonskulus.kuvat.fi/kuvat/Insects/khamis3.jpg/_small.jpg

Bigger images can be found here:
http://tonskulus.kuvat.fi/kuvat/sekalaiset/pikseli/koppis_isompi.jpg/full

http://tonskulus.kuvat.fi/kuvat/sekalaiset/pikseli/hamiskroppi.jpg/full

[*Jayrou]

I have been using inverted EF 28mm 1.8 usm with quite nice results. Im very satisfied about IQ it gives.
Maybe you wanna see some results:


http://tonskulus.kuvat.fi/kuvat/Insects/pesulla1.jpg/_small.jpg



Bigger images can be found here:
http://tonskulus.kuvat.fi/kuvat/sekalaiset/pikseli/koppis_isompi.jpg/full

http://tonskulus.kuvat.fi/kuvat/sekalaiset/pikseli/hamiskroppi.jpg/full


WOW!

brilliant results....^ that one is my fave

[nisha081]

What do you mean by setting the aperture before inverting hte lens?
My lens is also behaving fully manual on inverting. Am not aware of what settings to make. please be a little more elabore. Which mode are you using, what is the f stop you normally use, is there any additional lighting you use for the same?

btw, the pics posted above are brilliant!
I had seen such pics before which made me go get the inverter, but I've been a failure to caputre any pics with an inverted lens :(

[Owl_79]

What do you mean by setting the aperture before inverting hte lens?
My lens is also behaving fully manual on inverting. Am not aware of what settings to make. please be a little more elabore. Which mode are you using, what is the f stop you normally use, is there any additional lighting you use for the same?

btw, the pics posted above are brilliant!
I had seen such pics before which made me go get the inverter, but I've been a failure to caputre any pics with an inverted lens :(

First, setting aperture. Put the lens to the camera as it should be mounted. Use M (manual mode) Set aperture to somewhere between 5.6...16 what ever you need. Press DOF preview button. Keep pressing and take lens off. Aperture blades will now stay in position after lens is removed.

Im using external flash with diffusors for lightning.

[nisha081]

i tried, but am not able to get closer to the object. I feel that as a normal macro its able to take a more "MACRO" picture than as inverted. Is it necessary to use a wide angle for this or should my 100mm work?
Sorry for the flood of questions, am an amateur!

[Owl_79]

i tried, but am not able to get closer to the object. I feel that as a normal macro its able to take a more "MACRO" picture than as inverted. Is it necessary to use a wide angle for this or should my 100mm work?
Sorry for the flood of questions, am an amateur!

Wideangle gives more magnification. If you have 18-55 kit lens or similar, try reversing it. you'll see the difference while zooming in and out.