Homebrew pseudo-macro lens
Feb 3, 2014 17:21:34 #
Wanted to do some close-ups but dont own a true macro lens. Dug up a pentax 50/1.8 screw mount lens from the junk box and ripped the rear flange off a Nikon nifty 50. (Dont let the Nikon nuts know I did that) Epoxied a 1cm 42 screw thread extension tube to the flange. Added a 2 to 3cm variable extension tube and stacked them up.
I now have a lens that focuses from 2 to 6, remove the variable section and it focuses from 5 to 10. Translated into real life that means I can fill the frame with anything from 1 to 4 long. Replace the 50mm with a fast 50-150mm zoom and its great for shooting in the garden.
I now have a lens that focuses from 2 to 6, remove the variable section and it focuses from 5 to 10. Translated into real life that means I can fill the frame with anything from 1 to 4 long. Replace the 50mm with a fast 50-150mm zoom and its great for shooting in the garden.
Feb 3, 2014 17:28:03 #
Nice idea. Glad to know that it worked out. I applaud your ingenuity.
Feb 3, 2014 17:42:12 #
ebrunner wrote:
Nice idea. Glad to know that it worked out. I applaud your ingenuity.
the expensive part was the two $3 LED flashlights i got at harbor freight for my fancy lighting setup..
Feb 3, 2014 17:43:58 #
I remember shooting macro by holding a magnifying glass up to the end of the lens. If it works, use it.
Feb 3, 2014 17:46:35 #
Feb 3, 2014 17:48:41 #
oldtigger wrote:
Wanted to do some close-ups but dont own a true m... (show quote)
Clever! You should make a video for YouTube.
Feb 3, 2014 18:00:56 #
jerryc41 wrote:
Clever! You should make a video for YouTube.
I just get ticked off that all these great old lenses are lying around gathering dust just because they won't mate up with our newer cameras.
Feb 3, 2014 18:52:18 #
If you don't have a junk box a t mount can be had that will fit most cameras. On eBay for about five bucks. You can just glue whatever to it. You can also put tinfoil over the extension tube and put a pinhole it it and you can play with that too. Everything will be in focus - well sort of. - Dave
Feb 3, 2014 20:00:09 #
"you can play with that too"
I admit this was a project to kill another-wise boring afternoon but it turned out surprisingly well. It has focusing, f stop adjust, variable magnification, zoom capability, stop down preview, is optically as good as the glass you hang on it, uses inter-changable lenses, etc...,etc... Everything i would have been looking for if i were to buy one except infinity focus; but who shoots close-ups at infinity?
I admit this was a project to kill another-wise boring afternoon but it turned out surprisingly well. It has focusing, f stop adjust, variable magnification, zoom capability, stop down preview, is optically as good as the glass you hang on it, uses inter-changable lenses, etc...,etc... Everything i would have been looking for if i were to buy one except infinity focus; but who shoots close-ups at infinity?
Feb 3, 2014 23:02:51 #
Guess i got it built just in time a stink bug has landed on one of the extension tubes. He must have heard the photo studio was open.
Feb 4, 2014 09:14:33 #
The idea of youtube sounds great. I would love to see! Can you place a still at least? That photo came outgreat!
Feb 4, 2014 11:43:42 #
oldtigger wrote:
Wanted to do some close-ups but dont own a true m... (show quote)
:thumbup: Great job,well done
Feb 4, 2014 14:07:57 #
CResQ wrote:
:thumbup: Great job,well done
i've never had much luck posting an original but here is a 600x400 crop of the original 6000x4000 image.
Judging from the moving highlights, i think this is about all the magnification these shakey old hands can cope with.
Feb 4, 2014 20:36:02 #
The Ugger group hasn't been exposed to my "weird" photographic contraptions YET!
If you want to do simple macro (over 1:1) mount a 50mm lens normally on the camera body then get a male/male threaded ring and reverse mount a 24mm lens on the front, with the mount flange facing out. you will now have a set-up that will give 2:1 macro.
I regularly use a 200mm prime lens on a camera with a 28mm reversed on it that'll give a 7.142857...... macro magnification.
You can calculate the amount of magnification by dividing the focal length of the prime lens by the reversed lens, in this case 200/28=7.14++++++.
Depth of field is NIL so the prime lens is wide open with the reversed lens stopped down once focus has been achieved.
For instance, @ f/16 on the reversed lens, depth of field would only be about 1mm!!!
I have created some "unusual" close focusing rigs over the years. I'll try to locate some of the photos I took of some of my GIZMOS.
If you want to do simple macro (over 1:1) mount a 50mm lens normally on the camera body then get a male/male threaded ring and reverse mount a 24mm lens on the front, with the mount flange facing out. you will now have a set-up that will give 2:1 macro.
I regularly use a 200mm prime lens on a camera with a 28mm reversed on it that'll give a 7.142857...... macro magnification.
You can calculate the amount of magnification by dividing the focal length of the prime lens by the reversed lens, in this case 200/28=7.14++++++.
Depth of field is NIL so the prime lens is wide open with the reversed lens stopped down once focus has been achieved.
For instance, @ f/16 on the reversed lens, depth of field would only be about 1mm!!!
I have created some "unusual" close focusing rigs over the years. I'll try to locate some of the photos I took of some of my GIZMOS.
Feb 4, 2014 21:33:32 #
lets see a few WereWolf1967.
i love winter projects and always learn something from them..
i tried just reversing lenses because it has worked for lots of people but my little 24mpx crop sensor doesn't seem to like being fed by the wide angles that result from a large lens diameter facing the sensor. I get a lot of smearing, light fall off and edge artifacts.
Also, my nikon lenses lack stop down preview and an easy way to stop down for exposure unless you buy that $16 gadget they make. And there is the element of caution; having a $1200 nikon lens hanging on by its filter threads just plain scares me.
Add to that the loss in light gathering surface and exposing the guts to dust just makes right-side-up a better option for me.
i love winter projects and always learn something from them..
i tried just reversing lenses because it has worked for lots of people but my little 24mpx crop sensor doesn't seem to like being fed by the wide angles that result from a large lens diameter facing the sensor. I get a lot of smearing, light fall off and edge artifacts.
Also, my nikon lenses lack stop down preview and an easy way to stop down for exposure unless you buy that $16 gadget they make. And there is the element of caution; having a $1200 nikon lens hanging on by its filter threads just plain scares me.
Add to that the loss in light gathering surface and exposing the guts to dust just makes right-side-up a better option for me.
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