Pixljockey Loc: Southeast Pa.

I have the light covered, I can use the NIkon SB 700 off camera, I’ve used it for close in work and it’s provided plenty of power. Are we talking about using extension tubes with a reversed lens, or instead of?

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Instead of. And there also used to be a bellows option to avoid having to deal with multiple different extension tubes. The cost, though, is light loss. Lenses, whether macro or reversed, minimize that problem.

Pixljockey Loc: Southeast Pa.

I see, well I'll start with the reversing ring and see where that goes, and if I'm into it, maybe continue with the extension tubes. Thanks to everyone for the advice, at least its something I can pursue in the coming cold months, instead of slacking off and letting the Nikon collect dust!

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

Reading your posts and the great answers brings back memories of my years of experimenting and sucsess in macro with reversed lens.
yes the lever for apature is in front now -a wedge of wood or plastic will hold it in place. - there are many videos of this reversed lens macro on Youtube check them out you will be happy you did.
the revesed lens has tight DOF so a 4 way focusing rail is - $30 on Amazon-best for focusing and stacking - bellows cut too much light.
Yes "tubes" help a lot.The more tubes you have the more results you get - I have 2 sets.
I have been doing this off and on as an inexpensive challenge for several years it has been a fun and inexpensive hobby -I have several "old" film lens and have had good luck with all - when I did get a 50mm macro lens at 1/2 price I was disapointed with it -

My venture into DSLR started with a fellow giving me a large kit of canon film SLR equipment - I bought a used Canon XT rebel and used the FD lens in manual mode worked just great . That was when I became aware of the reversing the lens for Macro -Dang i LOVE THE CHALLENGES IN PHOTOGRAPHY.

Harvey in the Sierra Mnt.

Pixljockey Loc: Southeast Pa.

Thanks for the info Harvey, I like sharing the enthusiasm of fellow photographers, reminds us of why we got into it in the first place! Hope I can spark anyone else with an idea.

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

I had always wanted to have a SLR and take photos of the interesting things I saw in my life - at age 54 I bought a SLR with a couple lens from a friend who was upgrading - he had 2 stipulations #1 I used the camera to be sure I liked it's results #2 I join a camera club with him so we both could learn to use our cameras better. I did both and for 8 yrs we both advanced a great deal in our photography hobby- 30 yrs has past from that time and I have found sharing photo experience so very rewarding.
The members here on UHH are great at helping us advance - the Macro forum is supper helpful.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Get a reversing ring and give it a try. If, as someone already noted, both lenses have a 49mm filter thread, you only need one reversing adapter to try both.

It's super easy to check if you'll be able to stop the lenses down. (I can't tell you because I don't recall and the few Olympus OM lenses I have are tucked away in storage right now.)

To see if you'll be able to control the aperture, remove the lens from the camera and turn the aperture ring while watching the aperture inside the lens. If it stops down, you're good. If not, you'll only be able to use the lens wide open and that will not be a good thing at high magnifications.

You don't need macro extension tubes with these OM lenses. Try reversing them first. If that doesn't give you high enough magnification, then you might look for some "plain" macro extension tubes in Nikon F-mount to increase the magnification.

But I assume you have some other lenses for use on your Nikon camera. Any of those might be good candidates to use with macro extension tubes. If they are "G" type lenses, where the aperture is controlled from a dial on the camera, DO NOT get the cheap (under $25) plain extension tubes. With them you would only be able to use the lens wide open, not a good thing. On the other hand, if you have D type Nikon lenses... lenses with an aperture control ring right on the lens itself, the really cheap extension rings would be usable.

There are also macro extension tubes that have electronic contacts to control the aperture of G-type lenses. They cost more, of course. The most expensive and best ones are Kenko, which sell for $130 for a set of three (12mm, 20mm, 36mm) that can be used individually or in any combination you wish to give different amounts of extension. (For comparison, Nikon's own 27.5mm PK13 extension tube sells individually for $99 and DOESN'T even have the electronic connectivity.) If the Kenko cost more than you want to spend, look for Opteka, Movo, Vello, Fotodiox, etc. They tend to cost around $75 for their better ones and some of those manufacturers also offer more plasticky "budget" versions for as little as $45 or $50. In most cases these also a set of three (12m, 20mm, 36mm).

The tubes with the electronic connectivity can be used with both G an D type lenses, equally well. They don't support autofocus in "screw drive" Nikon lenses (lenses that don't have a built in foucsing motor, but rely on one in the camera body instead). But a lot of people prefer to manual focus macro shots anyway. The extension tubes with electronic contacts DO support autofocus in any AF-S or AF-P lenses you might have, as well as any third party F-mount lenses with built in motor.

Winslowe

To use your lenses unreversed, you'll need an Olympus to Nikon F adapter. I don't know what's available, but it would probably have a correction lens, which you could remove and use the adapter as a short extension tube. You should get good results this way up to about 1:1 - closer than that you'll get better results reversing the lenses. Extension tubes or a bellows can be used with the reversing ring to get more magnification. FotodioX makes an excellent helical focusing extension tube (Vizelex), though a rail is probably better for focus stacking.

Pixljockey Loc: Southeast Pa.

A lot of helpful info thanks!

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

I have the electronic E tubes and find it a pain in the A@$ - manual focus is best in macro.

SHLeM52 Loc: Jacksonville, FL

I have both of those lenses, fitted with Canon EF adapter mounts. I was real surprised how well they work together. Used with close up filters or extension tubes or reversing ring, it's something to start playing with before buying a Macro lens. I always liked Zuiko lenses in my OM daze.

Pixljockey Loc: Southeast Pa.

Yeah I liked them too, as you can see, still have both om1 bodies from the early eighties in working order. My lenses were the 50mm f1.4, the 28mm f2.8 and a 300mm Sun lens that had a sleeve you pull back to choose focal length or macro! Fond memories!

SHLeM52 Loc: Jacksonville, FL

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Take a look at my Flickr photosteam linked below, I used to shoot a lot of reversed lens macro, 28mm is a good choice, you will need a good flash solution, the thing about reversed lenses is that the combination of magnification and closed lens diaphragm demands more than just natural light, that and the fact that higher magnifications increase motion blur, flash cures these impediments. Well diffused flash produces softer light for a much more natural look. I will say that I have owned and still own the best macro lenses you can buy, but they sit on the shelf because I favor the reversed lens set up for macro, but it is rare that I shoot macro anymore. I loved it when I was doing it but after a couple of years I lost interest in the tiny world that you will see that you have probably never seen before shooting macro but after a few years of shooting I guess that I felt that I had seen enough and moved on to other things.

I really recommend old Olympus lenses or lenses made for Olympus cameras, ie vivitar, Sigma etc. the reason being is that you can set the aperture and the lens will remain wide open, there is a button on the side of the lens near the rear mount that when pushed the lens will stop down. Olympus lenses and those made to use on Olympus cameras are the only lenses I found that operate in this fashion.

Pixljockey Loc: Southeast Pa.

Wow, Blurreyed, you sure set a high bar! If you have good macro lenses, but choose to shoot reversed, I have high hopes for success. That is some of the sharpest close-up work I’ve ever seen! I have to admit I’m a sucker for any raptor pics as well, but your Osprey- razor sharp in detail and awesome attack pose! Thanks for the encouragement, I can sure use it!