Playing with Close-ups: I bought a new Meike macro extension tube set for my Nikon. $300 cheaper than a new macro lens. Here are some initial shots. I know I need some DoF work and...

DrJoeS Loc: Tampa Bay area (FL)

I bought a new Meike macro extension tube set for my Nikon. $300 cheaper than a new macro lens. Here are some initial shots.
I know I need some DoF work and will try some stacking.

(Download)

NMGal Loc: NE NM

You’re on your way.

mundy-F2 Loc: Chicago suburban area

DrJoeS wrote:

I bought a new Meike macro extension tube set for my Nikon. $300 cheaper than a new macro lens. Here are some initial shots.
I know I need some DoF work and will try some stacking.

Nice start. I hope to move into macro next year.
Mundy

toxdoc42

mundy-F2 wrote:

Nice start. I hope to move into macro next year.
Mundy

they are great tubes, i like the fact that they came in a set, that way you really have 3 different choices of extension. I use them on my 50-250 mm lens, so I can really choose the magnification I want/need.

Nikon Z50, 50-250 mm zoom, kit lens, with 18 mm tube, 130mm focal length, 195 mm equivalent, ISO 2500, 1/160 sec at f 6.3 exposure bias =0.7 step center weighted average

(Download)

Dannj

Nice! Why do I find the push-pin so interesting?😳

DrJoeS Loc: Tampa Bay area (FL)

Dannj wrote:

Nice! Why do I find the push-pin so interesting?😳

I like it too. Not a usual view.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Way cool, I'm excited about your new adventure.

mundy-F2 Loc: Chicago suburban area

toxdoc42 wrote:

they are great tubes, i like the fact that they came in a set, that way you really have 3 different choices of extension. I use them on my 50-250 mm lens, so I can really choose the magnification I want/need.

Very nice image.
Mundy

sscnxy

Try taking your non-macro lens macro exploration to the next step by reverse mounting a shorter prime lens or enlarger lens onto the end of your extension tube. The higher mags will open up exciting new views. Wish you lots of fun!

DrJoeS Loc: Tampa Bay area (FL)

sscnxy wrote:

Try taking your non-macro lens macro exploration to the next step by reverse mounting a shorter prime lens or enlarger lens onto the end of your extension tube. The higher mags will open up exciting new views. Wish you lots of fun!

How exactly do I do that? I have a Nikon D5600 and a D7200.

angler Loc: StHelens England

Good set.

sscnxy

DrJoeS wrote:

How exactly do I do that? I have a Nikon D5600 and a D7200.

DrJoeS: Exploring macro on the cheap is tremendous fun because you learn a lot from having to adapt much of your set-up. I recommend using prime lenses from 24mm to 50mm or higher-grade enlarger lenses in the same focal length range. The lens you choose should have a manual aperture control ring. Manual aperture control makes it easy to adjust for flare and diffraction and to choose the "sweet spot." Sippyjug, UHH's resident expert on high mag macro, has mentioned the superb Nikkor EL 50mm f2.8N, which is easy to find for less than $100 on Ebay. Don't get the cheaper and crummier f4 Nikkor EL, which has fewer lens elements. The Schneider Kreuznach Companion-S grade or better enlarger lenses also work well, but are much harder to find at that price. I like the old Nikkor prime lenses also, because they're super sharp, but other vintage manual prime lenses like the Takumars, Canons, Rokkors, etc, will work ok and are cheaper.

Reverse mounting any of these lenses is an effective way to achieve higher mag, especially when the lens is placed at the end of an extension tube (or better yet, the end of a focusing helicoid which would make manual focusing so much easier). The shorter the focal length of the reversed lens and the longer the extension tube, the higher the mag. The shorter focal length lenses can even be reverse mounted sans extension tube for a lesser degree of magnification. But major caveats, among others: Higher mags are associated with very short working distances (2-3 inches or less) and paper-thin DOF. The working distance is further encroached upon by any hood you wrap around the end of the reversed lens to minimize flare. Thin DOF can be addressed through focus stacking. High mag means amplified camera shake, so a tripod or other stable platform will be needed.

Ebay and Amazon have a variety of sizes of "reverse lens adaptors" which have one end that screws onto the filter threads at the front of the lens and the other end that mounts onto the end of the extension tube (or focusing helicoid). Pick the one you need according to filter size and tube mount needed.

Experiment with a lighting setup and hood which will deliver good close quarters lighting without flare. See Sippyjug's many posts on UHH's Macro section re his incredible ideas. I've attached a pic of a 6mm ant, shot with a reversed 35mm Nikon lens at the end of a helicoid tube. Download the file to check out the sharp details. Magnification was approximately 2.5X, I think. DOF was very thin, but I can't really focus stack a live, moving ant.

Wish you good macro shooting.

NY

(Download)

DrJoeS Loc: Tampa Bay area (FL)

sscnxy wrote:

DrJoeS: Exploring macro on the cheap is tremendous fun because you learn a lot from having to adapt much of your set-up. I recommend using prime lenses from 24mm to 50mm or higher-grade enlarger lenses in the same focal length range. The lens you choose should have a manual aperture control ring. Manual aperture control makes it easy to adjust for flare and diffraction and to choose the "sweet spot." Sippyjug, UHH's resident expert on high mag macro, has mentioned the superb Nikkor EL 50mm f2.8N, which is easy to find for less than $100 on Ebay. Don't get the cheaper and crummier f4 Nikkor EL, which has fewer lens elements. The Schneider Kreuznach Companion-S grade or better enlarger lenses also work well, but are much harder to find at that price. I like the old Nikkor prime lenses also, because they're super sharp, but other vintage manual prime lenses like the Takumars, Canons, Rokkors, etc, will work ok and are cheaper.

Reverse mounting any of these lenses is an effective way to achieve higher mag, especially when the lens is placed at the end of an extension tube (or better yet, the end of a focusing helicoid which would make manual focusing so much easier). The shorter the focal length of the reversed lens and the longer the extension tube, the higher the mag. The shorter focal length lenses can even be reverse mounted sans extension tube for a lesser degree of magnification. But major caveats, among others: Higher mags are associated with very short working distances (2-3 inches or less) and paper-thin DOF. The working distance is further encroached upon by any hood you wrap around the end of the reversed lens to minimize flare. Thin DOF can be addressed through focus stacking. High mag means amplified camera shake, so a tripod or other stable platform will be needed.

Ebay and Amazon have a variety of sizes of "reverse lens adaptors" which have one end that screws onto the filter threads at the front of the lens and the other end that mounts onto the end of the extension tube (or focusing helicoid). Pick the one you need according to filter size and tube mount needed.

Experiment with a lighting setup and hood which will deliver good close quarters lighting without flare. See Sippyjug's many posts on UHH's Macro section re his incredible ideas. I've attached a pic of a 6mm ant, shot with a reversed 35mm Nikon lens at the end of a helicoid tube. Download the file to check out the sharp details. Magnification was approximately 2.5X, I think. DOF was very thin, but I can't really focus stack a live, moving ant.

Wish you good macro shooting.

NY

DrJoeS: Exploring macro on the cheap is tremendou... (show quote)

Thank you so much for this information and your support. I will post new shots after I set this up.