DIY tilting close up lens (Page 2): Or Nikon users can use a Bellows PB-4. Ability to tilt and shift, with enlarging, microscope objectives, salvaged copier lenses, etc. Along with...

olsonsview

Or Nikon users can use a Bellows PB-4. Ability to tilt and shift, with enlarging, microscope objectives, salvaged copier lenses, etc. Along with conventional macro lenses. All fun ways to experiment.

Mtn.Skipper Loc: Jerome, Idaho

Even though I do not understand all of what you wrote here I do find it quite interesting. Thank you for sharing!

gregoryd45 Loc: Fakahatchee Strand

imagemeister wrote:

A couple years ago I began seeing tilting lens adapters on ebay and thought it was an excellent idea for close up work and thought, someday I should make one using an enlarging lens. This would of course be a manual focus manual diaphram system. The tilting function can give extended DOF in certain planes using the Scheimflug principal as used by 4X5 view cameras.

Then, about a year ago Canon came out with 3 different "tilt/shift macro lenses" for about $2K each ! The 90mm is f2.8, tilts 10 degrees and goes to 1:2 mag. So this served as additional inspiration to do a DIY version.

I use a Sony A77II which is basically a mirrorless camera with a prism box. The EVF works good with manual diaphram lenses so that would be my base body. My goal would be to do small tabletop product and floral type subjects - no bugs or 1:1 !

I started with a helicoid focusing extension tube in the 12-17mm range in M42 mount $20 - and used a m42 to Sony A mount adapter on ebay - $10.

I then got a M42 to M4/3 tilting adapter (this would go on the front of the focusing adapter) - you cannot get a M42-M42 tilting adapter - that is what I wanted - so I planned on modifying the M4/3 to make it M42 screw- $24 on ebay. I would be using a dremel tool and a 39-42mm screw adapter so I could make it screw into the front of the helicoid. This tilting adapter can rotate 360 degrees so the tilt can be adjusted in any direction.

For lenses, I started out with an expensive ( $80) 60mm f4 enlarging Rodagon ( 6 element) and found out that with using the tilt adapter I could only get 1:1.3 to 1:1.7 - which was too much magnification ( for me). So I decided to try an in-expensive ($20) 90mm lens ( a 90mm f4.5 enlarging Raptar 4 element) - which gives me 1:9 to 1:4.2 which is more like what I was looking for. I can use a normal extension tube for greater magnification than this if needed. A 75mm enlarging lens would give mags somewhere in between the above ranges and would probably work for most people. I converted both enlarging lenses to M42 screw so I can interchange them on the front of the tilt adapter OR the focus tube. I may go ahead and get a 75mm lens also. You may notice the small profile of the 90mm enlarging lens - this helps to allow more light to the subject in really close work as opposed to using a large purpose designed full fledged "macro" lens.

So, below is what it looks like .... with some example images.

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A couple years ago I began seeing tilting lens ada... (show quote)

Fantastic results, imagemeister

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

imagemeister wrote:

I looked also and cannot find a M42- to Minolta AF TILT adapter - but there are of course straight m-42-to Minolta AF adapters CHEAP - and plenty of M42-Sony E-mount tilts !..

Yes, as tho any sony that existed before e mount did not exist ! And yes, I have M42 from my first 1972 film SLR ... oh well good topic and will sleep on it and come up with a simple solution, perhaps cutting a short extension tube at a slight angle and as it is turned the angle changes... light proof cover... saw one with bicycle inner tube. Thanks for the topic...

Dennis833 Loc: Australia

I have four of the same tilt adapters mounted on some older manual lenses. Used properly you can get some amazing depth of field similar to using a view camera. One tip is to line the inside of the mount with black flocking material to prevent internal reflections. Similar to what Canon uses inside there lens hoods. One thing that Canon knows is that matt paint is just not good enough.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Mtn.Skipper wrote:

Even though I do not understand all of what you wrote here I do find it quite interesting. Thank you for sharing!

Thanks for your visit and interest.....as I mentioned earlier it would be much simpler to use a Nikon 55mm micro lens with tilt adapter on a Sony E-mount to accomplish the same functionality.

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imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Dennis833 wrote:

I have four of the same tilt adapters mounted on some older manual lenses. Used properly you can get some amazing depth of field similar to using a view camera. One tip is to line the inside of the mount with black flocking material to prevent internal reflections. Similar to what Canon uses inside there lens hoods. One thing that Canon knows is that matt paint is just not good enough.

Yes, I agree - i have already painted mine matt black on the interior - but flocking IS better !

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jcboy3

SteveR wrote:

I understand to some degree, tilt-shift for buildings. I am totally lost as to it's advantage for macro purposes. Perhaps you can explain it to me. I don't even know what I'm seeing in the photos. My stupid question would be....why not just tilt the camera? I hope you don't mind educating a dummy!!

Tilting the camera changes perspective. Tilting the lens changes the plane of focus.

Al K

Why not use Lightroom Transform? It is much a similar solution.

Bill_de Loc: US

You come up with some cool stuff Larry, and they all work. Very impressive!

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