macro - reversing lenses and getting in close

D

daven1986

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Hi all,

I am thinking about getting a cheap 50mm prime to reverse on my 70-300mm lens. Apparently with this combination and the zoom at 70mm the working distance is around 1-2 inches.

Is this a "normal" macro working distance?

How do you guys manage to get so close to the bugs etc. at this working distance?

Also any tips regarding reversing lenses?

As I'm new here I'll say a bit about myself: bought a sony a200 with kit lens and 70-300 2 weeks ago and have been enjoying macro photography and generally learning how to use the camera so don't be afraid to say obvious things - I probably won't know them!

Here is an example of the shots I have been getting so far:
ImageShack - Macro Outing 2 and here ImageShack - Macro Outing 2 - others

My reasons for wanting to try reversing lenses is that I'd like to be able to get the eyes of flies nice and sharp - can't get this at the moment. Is it likely to be down to the lens or could I be doing something fundamentally wrong?

In the future I do intend to get a macro lens.

Thanks

Daven
 
i tried a reversing mount on my 350d using the 17-55mm kit lens. you get quite a decent result, but the dof is so shallow that you'll end up hankering after a proper macro lens, and you lose aperture control when you reverse mount the lens.
 
ok ive never tried that out! i simply put the reverse mount on the camera and then attached a lens to it. i think you need a reverse mount with 2 identical threads on either side. but there is nothing that says you cannot adjust the aperture on the lens attached to your camera.
 
hmm wondering if that would be better than getting extension tubes for my kit lens (18-70mm)...
 
Have you had a look at the Raynox clip on lens ? - there a number of people on this forum that use this lens to good effect
 
not too keen on those kind of filters, I have seen some pictures and they don't look bad, but they are fairly expensive.
 
Hi and welcome to TP,

I'm a big fan of reverse lens macro, although I rely on suing a single 24mm MF lens in reverse as opposed to strapping it onto any other lenses.

I did a brief write up here, it maybe of some use.

T.
 
Tomas Whitehouse said:
Hi and welcome to TP,

I'm a big fan of reverse lens macro, although I rely on suing a single 24mm MF lens in reverse as opposed to strapping it onto any other lenses.

I did a brief write up here, it maybe of some use.

T.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that excellent write up, off to ebay to get a reversing adaptor for my old 50
 
Thanks :) I found my dad's old lenses and am now about to get a reversing ring :)

I also got some extension tubes for the new lenses (a 50mm and a 75-205mm), I know reverse stacking the 50mm ontop of my current lenses (18-70 and 70-300) will give high magnification but will it really provide any benefit over a 50 or 75-205 with extension tubes?

Thanks
 
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