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**UncleVanya** · 01-20-2015, 01:28 PM

I'd like to be able to reverse my DA 15mm Limited and do some lens stacking with it - but the built in hood prevents me from using a standard ring. I need something with a deeper ring - in order to clear the hood before changing the size. Thoughts?

I assume I could narrow it down and then come back up but I worry about vignetting.

goubejp · 01-20-2015, 02:04 PM

The issue is that there is no aperture ring on the DA15, so no way to control aperture...
Try with an FA 20...

EarlVonTapia · 01-20-2015, 02:34 PM

Originally posted by UncleVanya

I'd like to be able to reverse my DA 15mm Limited and do some lens stacking with it - but the built in hood prevents me from using a standard ring. I need something with a deeper ring - in order to clear the hood before changing the size. Thoughts?

I assume I could narrow it down and then come back up but I worry about vignetting.

For my DA 15 I just took an old UV filter and popped out the glass. The filter ring is high enough that it clears the hood when retracted, and I'm then able to use it with all kinds of regular 49mm filters (like polarizers) and other accessories.

**UncleVanya** · 01-20-2015, 03:34 PM

Originally posted by goubejp

The issue is that there is no aperture ring on the DA15, so no way to control aperture...
Try with an FA 20...

When lens stacking I thought the idea was to leave the stacked lens wide open... was I wrong? Honestly I have seen both methods mentioned.

Good point however...

reeftool · 01-20-2015, 06:12 PM

Originally posted by UncleVanya

When lens stacking I thought the idea was to leave the stacked lens wide open... was I wrong? Honestly I have seen both methods mentioned.

Good point however...

It won't be wide open, it will be stopped down to f/22.

**UncleVanya** · 01-20-2015, 07:36 PM

Originally posted by reeftool

It won't be wide open, it will be stopped down to f/22.

DOH!!!! Whoops

alamo5000 · 01-20-2015, 08:29 PM - **1 Like**

If you want to reverse any DA Limited non aperture ring lens.... put the lens on your camera like normal. Set your desired aperture. While the camera is ON remove the lens from the body.

It will be at whatever aperture you set it at.

I don't know how good this is for the lenses or camera but it works. I have used several of the DA limiteds for macro work while reversed.

**UncleVanya** · 01-20-2015, 09:10 PM

Originally posted by alamo5000

If you want to reverse any DA Limited non aperture ring lens.... put the lens on your camera like normal. Set your desired aperture. While the camera is ON remove the lens from the body.

It will be at whatever aperture you set it at.

I don't know how good this is for the lenses or camera but it works. I have used several of the DA limiteds for macro work while reversed.

This may be why I hadn't noticed as I often change lenses with the camera on. Thanks for the tip.

elektrolitr · 01-23-2015, 01:53 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by alamo5000

If you want to reverse any DA Limited non aperture ring lens.... put the lens on your camera like normal. Set your desired aperture. While the camera is ON remove the lens from the body.

It will be at whatever aperture you set it at.

I don't know how good this is for the lenses or camera but it works. I have used several of the DA limiteds for macro work while reversed.

It works with Canon (which has aperture motor in-lens), but all K-mount lenses have just "stupid" (ie no electronics at all) spring-loaded aperture lever. Once the lens is removed from camera, aperture closes to the value defined by aperture ring.

If lens has no aperture ring, then aperture goes full close.

To keep aperture open, you have to pull aperture lever towards full-open and just fix it in that position. Everything that keeps aperture in place and does not damage the lens is OK. Unfortunately, a toothpick is little too thin, but safety match is OK, so does small piece of cardboard or so. Just make sure that object is not going to fall into the lens!

Unfortunately, setting precise aperture is hardly possible this way, as it requires very precise aperture lever positioning with no feedback.

**UncleVanya** · 01-23-2015, 02:33 PM

Originally posted by elektrolitr

It works with Canon (which has aperture motor in-lens), but all K-mount lenses have just "stupid" (ie no electronics at all) spring-loaded aperture lever. Once the lens is removed from camera, aperture closes to the value defined by aperture ring.

If lens has no aperture ring, then aperture goes full close.

To keep aperture open, you have to pull aperture lever towards full-open and just fix it in that position. Everything that keeps aperture in place and does not damage the lens is OK. Unfortunately, a toothpick is little too thin, but safety match is OK, so does small piece of cardboard or so. Just make sure that object is not going to fall into the lens!

Unfortunately, setting precise aperture is hardly possible this way, as it requires very precise aperture lever positioning with no feedback.

I was about to post that I had tried this today and realized exactly that.

ChristianRock · 01-23-2015, 03:34 PM

I reversed a 28mm lens and was able to take pictures of salt and sugar and they looked like stones. I can't imagine what a reversed 15mm will look like

**UncleVanya** · 01-23-2015, 04:24 PM

Originally posted by ChristianRock

I reversed a 28mm lens and was able to take pictures of salt and sugar and they looked like stones. I can't imagine what a reversed 15mm will look like

This method looks promising... I assume I would have to use a stopper device to put the 15mm into wide open mode but that seems simple enough.

Control aperture of a reversed lens with an empty lens

01-20-2015, 01:28 PM	#1
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,026	DA 15mm Reversing... I'd like to be able to reverse my DA 15mm Limited and do some lens stacking with it - but the built in hood prevents me from using a standard ring. I need something with a deeper ring - in order to clear the hood before changing the size. Thoughts? I assume I could narrow it down and then come back up but I worry about vignetting.

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01-20-2015, 02:04 PM	#2
goubejp Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: France Photos: Albums Posts: 804	The issue is that there is no aperture ring on the DA15, so no way to control aperture... Try with an FA 20...

01-20-2015, 02:34 PM	#3
EarlVonTapia Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,207	Originally posted by UncleVanya I'd like to be able to reverse my DA 15mm Limited and do some lens stacking with it - but the built in hood prevents me from using a standard ring. I need something with a deeper ring - in order to clear the hood before changing the size. Thoughts? I assume I could narrow it down and then come back up but I worry about vignetting. For my DA 15 I just took an old UV filter and popped out the glass. The filter ring is high enough that it clears the hood when retracted, and I'm then able to use it with all kinds of regular 49mm filters (like polarizers) and other accessories.

01-20-2015, 03:34 PM	#4
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,026 Original Poster	Originally posted by goubejp The issue is that there is no aperture ring on the DA15, so no way to control aperture... Try with an FA 20... When lens stacking I thought the idea was to leave the stacked lens wide open... was I wrong? Honestly I have seen both methods mentioned. Good point however...

01-20-2015, 06:12 PM	#5
reeftool Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Upstate New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,922	Originally posted by UncleVanya When lens stacking I thought the idea was to leave the stacked lens wide open... was I wrong? Honestly I have seen both methods mentioned. Good point however... It won't be wide open, it will be stopped down to f/22.

01-20-2015, 07:36 PM	#6
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,026 Original Poster	Originally posted by reeftool It won't be wide open, it will be stopped down to f/22. DOH!!!! Whoops

01-20-2015, 08:29 PM - 1 Like	#7
alamo5000 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 2,917	If you want to reverse any DA Limited non aperture ring lens.... put the lens on your camera like normal. Set your desired aperture. While the camera is ON remove the lens from the body. It will be at whatever aperture you set it at. I don't know how good this is for the lenses or camera but it works. I have used several of the DA limiteds for macro work while reversed.

01-20-2015, 09:10 PM	#8
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,026 Original Poster	Originally posted by alamo5000 If you want to reverse any DA Limited non aperture ring lens.... put the lens on your camera like normal. Set your desired aperture. While the camera is ON remove the lens from the body. It will be at whatever aperture you set it at. I don't know how good this is for the lenses or camera but it works. I have used several of the DA limiteds for macro work while reversed. This may be why I hadn't noticed as I often change lenses with the camera on. Thanks for the tip.

01-23-2015, 01:53 PM - 1 Like	#9
elektrolitr Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Riga Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 47	Originally posted by alamo5000 If you want to reverse any DA Limited non aperture ring lens.... put the lens on your camera like normal. Set your desired aperture. While the camera is ON remove the lens from the body. It will be at whatever aperture you set it at. I don't know how good this is for the lenses or camera but it works. I have used several of the DA limiteds for macro work while reversed. It works with Canon (which has aperture motor in-lens), but all K-mount lenses have just "stupid" (ie no electronics at all) spring-loaded aperture lever. Once the lens is removed from camera, aperture closes to the value defined by aperture ring. If lens has no aperture ring, then aperture goes full close. To keep aperture open, you have to pull aperture lever towards full-open and just fix it in that position. Everything that keeps aperture in place and does not damage the lens is OK. Unfortunately, a toothpick is little too thin, but safety match is OK, so does small piece of cardboard or so. Just make sure that object is not going to fall into the lens! Unfortunately, setting precise aperture is hardly possible this way, as it requires very precise aperture lever positioning with no feedback.

01-23-2015, 02:33 PM	#10
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,026 Original Poster	Originally posted by elektrolitr It works with Canon (which has aperture motor in-lens), but all K-mount lenses have just "stupid" (ie no electronics at all) spring-loaded aperture lever. Once the lens is removed from camera, aperture closes to the value defined by aperture ring. If lens has no aperture ring, then aperture goes full close. To keep aperture open, you have to pull aperture lever towards full-open and just fix it in that position. Everything that keeps aperture in place and does not damage the lens is OK. Unfortunately, a toothpick is little too thin, but safety match is OK, so does small piece of cardboard or so. Just make sure that object is not going to fall into the lens! Unfortunately, setting precise aperture is hardly possible this way, as it requires very precise aperture lever positioning with no feedback. I was about to post that I had tried this today and realized exactly that.

01-23-2015, 03:34 PM	#11
ChristianRock Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Woodstock, GA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,560	I reversed a 28mm lens and was able to take pictures of salt and sugar and they looked like stones. I can't imagine what a reversed 15mm will look like

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01-23-2015, 04:24 PM	#12
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,026 Original Poster	Originally posted by ChristianRock I reversed a 28mm lens and was able to take pictures of salt and sugar and they looked like stones. I can't imagine what a reversed 15mm will look like This method looks promising... I assume I would have to use a stopper device to put the 15mm into wide open mode but that seems simple enough. Control aperture of a reversed lens with an empty lens

DA 15mm Reversing...

PF Holiday Loyal Site Supporter Special | December Pentax Lens Tournament