wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

Years ago I saw the trick of using a enlarger lens on bellows to do macro. With 6 children I didn't have extra money for a bellows. So this is what I came up a with - I took t mount that fit my camera, a two and 1/2 " toilet paper core, same length paper towel core, and a enlarger lens. The t mount fit into the toilet paper core and just a little glue held it. The toilet paper core fit perfect in to the paper towel core and the enlarger lens mount fit into the paper towel core. I tapped the lens mount to hold it in place. I had/have several enlarger lenses from 35mm to 150mm. I liked the 75mm and 90mm the best. to use rough focus moving the tubes back and forth and then move your head back and forth to fine focus. A focusing rail on a tripod works very well. Now a little challenge - if you have DIY project that works for you please share. - Dave

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Ingenious!

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Looks pretty good however I would be really concerned about dust or flecks of cardboard getting on my sensor. You can buy manual tubes for a song these days.

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

How would you focus? - Dave

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

By moving the camera, I do a lot of reversed lenses on tubes and that is how I do it, never used an enlarging lens but I would imagine it is similar.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Looks like one tube slides over the other?

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

Correct - The paper towel core is jut enough bigger to let the toilet paper core to fit inside. I was asking how you can focus with extension tubes. - Dave

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Ah, I surmised the wrong item.
Extension tubes- yes moving the camera. Some people use a focusing rail on a tripod.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Ingenius, but a lot of tolerance error opportunities.
--Bob

TreborLow

A couple of years ago I purchased two extension tube sets which used the same size tubes. One fit my Pentax and the other fit Nikon (very old film lens). The tubes were manual and cost about $10 each on Ebay. Simply put the 'other' brand on the front and your own on the back. You now have six intermediate tubes for various combinations. Obviously limited focusing, but very clean and workable.
Using a 135mm lens and all six tubes, my crop sensor camera had a field of view about 20mm wide.
Hope this helps.

therwol Loc: USA

Clever. I once did the opposite. I managed to mount a macro lens on an enlarger, having the advantage of being able to focus the lens rather than the lens board.