Ok so yesterday I posted some 1:4 macro shots which were...ok?...but not the macro i'd been dreaming of so today I looked into options of getting a cheaper macro lens. During this search I came accross a technique reffered to as poor mans macro. What this consists of is reversing a lens around. Not uncommon to many of you more experienced photographers i'm sure, I just wanted to explain in case you were interested. The best way is to use a reverse adapter which is basically a threaded mount. I'm very impatient so I wanted to try this today by just holding the lens up to the body. quite likely some dust got in there but hey, nothing you can't clean out.

Anyway, here is the image I found most captivating. I Just wish the aphids were facing the other way!



what do you think?

[maxwell1295]

All I see is a red x...

[jmbradd]

All I see is a red x...

in stunning 1:1 macro!

thanks for pointing that out, let me try to edit the original post...

[mwcfire]

Interesting. The reverse ring does better than I thought it would!

[artrutledge]

Another old school method is to use a Body Cap and old 8 or 16 mm film camera lens reversed. The idea here, and in the photo that started the thread is that the lens is designed to have the smaller distance at the rear of the lens. When shooting Macro shots (by definition 1:1 or greater) that distance is at the side of the lens nearest the subject.

I used this method long ago and it worked great. you move the camera back and forth for focus. That is something I still do even with my macro lenses...

A set of extension tubes or bellows also makes this more flexible.

Art