Reverse-Mounting Lenses for Macro
Jan 27, 2012 00:49:09 #
Besides using a purpose-built macro lens, there are several methods to obtain high magnification images. One easy method is to reverse-mount a lens, so that the front element is now facing the camera. Reverse-mounting rings are commercially available to reverse-mount standard SLR lenses to digital camera bodies. But other lenses work just as well, with higher magnification, such as cheap, manual Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) lenses used for security surveillance. I purchased a 12-mm CCTV lens and a 16-mm CCTV lens for US$15 each. Current technology uses auto-iris, auto-focus, and zoom CCTV lenses. Manual lenses are cheap.
I drilled-out a body cap to act as reverse-mounts for each lens (image #1). I prefer the 16-mm because it has deeper depth-of-field and not quite as high magnification (approximately 4:1, or 4x). The 12-mm lens yields approximately 4.7:1, or 4.7x magnification (image #2).
Below are a few examples using these lenses.
Aphid Nymphs - Hand-held Nikon D5000 at ISO 200 with reverse-mounted Kowa 12-mm CCTV lens, 1/200-sec at 2/3-closed aperture, illuminated with a tilted, built-in camera flash. Cropped to 10:1 mag (10x life-size).
Anther - Anther is about 4-mm long. Cropped to approx. 16:1 mag (16x life-size). Hand-held Nikon D5000 with reversed 16-mm CCTV lens. 1/200-sec at minimum aperture, full sun (background) plus (down-tilted) built-in camera flash.
Pistil - Hand-held Nikon D5000 with reversed 16-mm Closed Circuit TV lens. 1/200-sec at smallest aperture, full sun plus (tilted) built-in camera flash. 4:1 magnification (4x life-size).
I drilled-out a body cap to act as reverse-mounts for each lens (image #1). I prefer the 16-mm because it has deeper depth-of-field and not quite as high magnification (approximately 4:1, or 4x). The 12-mm lens yields approximately 4.7:1, or 4.7x magnification (image #2).
Below are a few examples using these lenses.
Aphid Nymphs - Hand-held Nikon D5000 at ISO 200 with reverse-mounted Kowa 12-mm CCTV lens, 1/200-sec at 2/3-closed aperture, illuminated with a tilted, built-in camera flash. Cropped to 10:1 mag (10x life-size).
Anther - Anther is about 4-mm long. Cropped to approx. 16:1 mag (16x life-size). Hand-held Nikon D5000 with reversed 16-mm CCTV lens. 1/200-sec at minimum aperture, full sun (background) plus (down-tilted) built-in camera flash.
Pistil - Hand-held Nikon D5000 with reversed 16-mm Closed Circuit TV lens. 1/200-sec at smallest aperture, full sun plus (tilted) built-in camera flash. 4:1 magnification (4x life-size).
12-mm CCTV lens and Nikon body cap
Two reverse-mounted CCTV lenses
Aphid Nymphs
via Reverse-mounted 16-mm CCTV lens
Pollen-Laden Anther (male part of flower)
Tri-Pronged Pistil (female part of flower)
Jan 27, 2012 01:47:51 #
Awesome post! Very informative. Can you reverse mount any regular lens or only certain mounts?
I'd love to try out your project you displayed here. I'm going to copy it for reference. Now I need to find out what places around me sell these cheap lenses.
I'd love to try out your project you displayed here. I'm going to copy it for reference. Now I need to find out what places around me sell these cheap lenses.
Jan 27, 2012 01:58:00 #
Jenni8 wrote:
Can you reverse mount any regular lens or only certain mounts?
Here is a passel full of them, on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p3984.m570.l1313&_nkw=reverse-mount&_sacat=625
Jan 27, 2012 02:23:40 #
Thanks!
So easy to find, just need to know what you're looking for. :)
By far the BEST new thing I've learned all day! Creative projects like this are things I love to do.
So did you use a hole saw to drill out the cap? And if you did what size?
So easy to find, just need to know what you're looking for. :)
By far the BEST new thing I've learned all day! Creative projects like this are things I love to do.
So did you use a hole saw to drill out the cap? And if you did what size?
Jan 27, 2012 02:36:24 #
Jenni8 wrote:
So did you use a hole saw to drill out the cap? And if you did what size?
I used a friend's press-drill with a stepped bit. I made the hole slightly small, then sanded to fit the lens barrel. It was so tight that I did not need to glue lens into place.
Read more here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikonian72/sets/72157623809060439/with/4553769022
Jan 27, 2012 16:24:12 #
Jan 28, 2012 22:18:32 #
Nikonian72 wrote:
Here is a passel full of them, on eBay:
Here is a passel full of them, on eBay:
Nice. I'm ordering one of them reverse adapters. I have 3 lenses that will fit the one I ordered, 50mm/1.8, 28mm/2.8 and a 28-70mm/3.5-4.5.
The zoom lens has a max magnification of 0.22, the 50mm says 0.15, and the 28mm says 0.13. (According to the canon museum site).
My question is: When the lens is backwards, is the magnification going to inverse as well? Theoretically would the zoom give me somewhere in the area of 4:1? Seemingly nearly 6:1 or 7:1 on the primes? Or is there other math involved here?
Mikey...
Jan 29, 2012 01:13:02 #
RocketScientist wrote:
When the lens is backwards, is the magnification going to inverse as well? Theoretically would the zoom give me somewhere in the area of 4:1? Seemingly nearly 6:1 or 7:1 on the primes? Or is there other math involved here?
When you reverse-mount any lens, you are physically changing the focal length of that lens (distance from sensor or film plane, to optical center of lens). In actuality, the shorter the normal lens length, the higher the mag when reverse-mounted.
A reverse-mounted lens looses all automated functions. Focusing, shutter speed, and aperture are manually selected.
Jan 29, 2012 10:37:26 #
Nikonian72 wrote:
When you reverse-mount any lens, you are physically changing the focal length of that lens (distance from sensor or film plane, to optical center of lens). In actuality, the shorter the normal lens length, the higher the mag when reverse-mounted.
A reverse-mounted lens looses all automated functions. Focusing, shutter speed, and aperture are manually selected.
When you reverse-mount any lens, you are physically changing the focal length of that lens (distance from sensor or film plane, to optical center of lens). In actuality, the shorter the normal lens length, the higher the mag when reverse-mounted.
A reverse-mounted lens looses all automated functions. Focusing, shutter speed, and aperture are manually selected.
Thanks. I wasn't expecting the AF to work. Them electrons are smart, but not smart enough to jump to the lens contacts a couple inches away when reverse mounted.
I assume (at least on my Canon lenses) that the diaphragm is wide open when off the camera, so light coming in should not be a problem. I just realized that my Yashica 50mm/1.4 fully manual lens has an aperture ring, if I need to control light that might be the unit to use.
I plan on taking photos of a circuit board that has chips whose pin spacing is 50 pins to the inch. Knowing that and the dimensions of a Canon APS-C sensor should give me enough variables to figure out exact magnification ratios.
Taken with a Sgima alleged macro lens at 300mm with all 3 extender rings - Still not true macro (F5.6, 300mm, 1.6 sec exposure)
Jan 29, 2012 17:47:55 #
Can I use my kit lens that came with the camera to do this? It is an 18-55 or does it need to be a prime lens.
Jan 29, 2012 18:24:46 #
Country's Mama wrote:
Can I use my kit lens that came with the camera to do this? It is an 18-55 or does it need to be a prime lens.
You can use your kit lens, but the comparatively small aperture makes focusing more difficult than with a prime lens. Small aperture is good for photo, but dark for viewing/focusing.
Older (aka cheap / film) manual prime lenses work nicely for this purpose.
Jan 29, 2012 22:12:29 #
Nikonian72 wrote:
You can use your kit lens, but the comparatively small aperture makes focusing more difficult than with a prime lens. Small aperture is good for photo, but dark for viewing/focusing.
Older (aka cheap / film) manual prime lenses work nicely for this purpose.
Country's Mama wrote:
Can I use my kit lens that came with the camera to do this? It is an 18-55 or does it need to be a prime lens.
You can use your kit lens, but the comparatively small aperture makes focusing more difficult than with a prime lens. Small aperture is good for photo, but dark for viewing/focusing.
Older (aka cheap / film) manual prime lenses work nicely for this purpose.
Thank you. I will have to start searching e-bay.
Jan 29, 2012 23:04:10 #
Nikonian72 wrote:
I used a friend's press-drill with a stepped bit. I made the hole slightly small, then sanded to fit the lens barrel. It was so tight that I did not need to glue lens into place.
Read more here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikonian72/sets/72157623809060439/with/4553769022
Jenni8 wrote:
So did you use a hole saw to drill out the cap? And if you did what size?
I used a friend's press-drill with a stepped bit. I made the hole slightly small, then sanded to fit the lens barrel. It was so tight that I did not need to glue lens into place.
Read more here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikonian72/sets/72157623809060439/with/4553769022
...just reading reports from Nikon and Canon on a mysterious run on body caps. Watch your mailbox, Douglass, for a commission check!
Jan 29, 2012 23:10:20 #
Danilo wrote:
...just reading reports from Nikon and Canon on a mysterious run on body caps. Watch your mailbox, Douglass, for a commission check!
Direct deposit already received! (Payment was in Yen)
Jan 29, 2012 23:14:01 #
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.