Macro Reversing ring results. Holy Smokes!

Dewman · 08-07-2014, 11:40 AM

My 49mm Pentax reversing ring came in the mail today. I was very impressed with the quality metal construction. Of course, I had to immediately install it on my camera and screw in my Pentax f:1.4, 50mm lens and give it a whirl. I was quite amazed at the sharpness and magnification. I can see where it would not be something I'd be inclined to use out in the field for fear of debris and such getting in the inner workings of the lens.... but for studio work, it would be the cat's pajamas.

And this new facet of photography at my fingertips for .99 cents.

Last edited by Dewman; 12-16-2014 at 12:55 AM.

stevebrot · 08-07-2014, 12:08 PM

Try reversing a 28mm.

Steve

Dewman · 08-07-2014, 12:25 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

Try reversing a 28mm.

Steve

Will do. I have three of them, one being a Sears f:2.8 macro. Very interesting.

Dewman
SW Idaho

MarkJerling · 08-07-2014, 01:31 PM

I need to rush out and get one of those!

Dewman · 08-07-2014, 05:58 PM

I went out into a field of flowers today and tried it out with the 1.4, 50mm again. I really, REALLY like the results this combination gives!

mikeSF · 08-07-2014, 06:05 PM

nice results!
I have one too and though i dont shoot much macro, i had the same experience when i first tried it...posted a thread in here some years atgo i recall too, lol.
May you discover many ways to use that ring!

**rayallen** · 08-08-2014, 02:16 AM

Hmmm, I'm sure I have one of these...somewhere. Based on what you have produced I am going to send out a search party and give it a try.

Found it. I am ready to see what I can produce. If I can come near to what you have shown us I will be happy.

Last edited by rayallen; 08-08-2014 at 02:36 AM. Reason: Successful search!

calculator01 · 08-08-2014, 05:50 AM

Wow. You're results are so much better than anything I have created with my reverse ring!

narual · 08-22-2014, 04:29 PM

Try reversing a sigma 10-20mm set to 10. Of course, you have to jam a piece of paper or something into the aperture lever to do that and have any depth of field at all. I really need to get a focusing rail. Nice shots -- I really dig the flower one.

Wild Mark · 08-22-2014, 11:54 PM

Originally posted by narual

Try reversing a sigma 10-20mm set to 10. Of course, you have to jam a piece of paper or something into the aperture lever to do that and have any depth of field at all. I really need to get a focusing rail. Nice shots -- I really dig the flower one.

I just received my lens to lens reversing adapters today

I think this might be a first

Photo 1 and 2 - the setup

Photo 3 - the target (photo taken with 40mm XS)

Photo 4 - result @ max aperture on both lenses

Photo 5 - result @ max aperture (300mm) and f8 on the K 28/2.0

MarkJerling · 08-23-2014, 02:21 AM

Ooooh! I like it!

**baro-nite** · 08-23-2014, 04:19 AM

Too scary to mount a K28/2 distagon with the rear element exposed!

10x macro is fun, but challenging. There's not really any point to going this far with ordinary stacked lenses; beyond around 3-4x all you are getting is "empty magnification". That's because diffraction becomes a severely limiting factor at high magnifications. To get usable resolution at 10x on an APS-C sensor you need to stay around f/2.8 or faster, and ordinary camera lenses don't perform well enough at this aperture. Hence the dedicated high-magnification focus stackers use microscope objectives (and the odd industrial optic) to get to this extreme.

Wild Mark · 08-23-2014, 04:32 AM

Originally posted by baro-nite

Too scary to mount a K28/2 distagon with the rear element exposed!

10x macro is fun, but challenging. There's not really any point to going this far with ordinary stacked lenses; beyond around 3-4x all you are getting is "empty magnification". That's because diffraction becomes a severely limiting factor at high magnifications. To get usable resolution at 10x on an APS-C sensor you need to stay around f/2.8 or faster, and ordinary camera lenses don't perform well enough at this aperture. Hence the dedicated high-magnification focus stackers use microscope objectives (and the odd industrial optic) to get to this extreme.

So this setup is 10X is it? Wow - that is microscope scale. How do you calculate that?

I'm not that scared with the rear element of the distagon being exposed. Plenty of care being taken

Thinking about putting the distagon on the 200mm f4 macro now

**baro-nite** · 08-23-2014, 04:56 AM

Originally posted by Wild Mark

So this setup is 10X is it? Wow - that is microscope scale. How do you calculate that?

Simply divide the focal length of the primary lens by the focal length of the secondary lens, so in this case closer to 11x.

I've found with stacked lenses the main determinant of resolution is the secondary lens. Try the 28 reversed onto something in the 85 to 105 range for around 3-4x, with the primary lens wide open and the 28 in the f/4 to f/5.6 range. DOF will be ridiculously thin but this is where I would expect you to find the best combination of magnification and usable resolution.

Wild Mark · 08-23-2014, 04:59 AM

Originally posted by baro-nite

Simply divide the focal length of the primary lens by the focal length of the secondary lens, so in this case closer to 11x.

I've found with stacked lenses the main determinant of resolution is the secondary lens. Try the 28 reversed onto something in the 85 to 105 range for around 3-4x, with the primary lens wide open and the 28 in the f/4 to f/5.6 range. DOF will be ridiculously thin but this is where I would expect you to find the best combination of magnification and usable resolution.

Thanks for that. I will put it on the Vivitar 90mm f2.5 - sharpness won't be an issue.

08-07-2014, 11:40 AM	#1
Dewman Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,492	Reversing ring results. Holy Smokes! My 49mm Pentax reversing ring came in the mail today. I was very impressed with the quality metal construction. Of course, I had to immediately install it on my camera and screw in my Pentax f:1.4, 50mm lens and give it a whirl. I was quite amazed at the sharpness and magnification. I can see where it would not be something I'd be inclined to use out in the field for fear of debris and such getting in the inner workings of the lens.... but for studio work, it would be the cat's pajamas. And this new facet of photography at my fingertips for .99 cents. Last edited by Dewman; 12-16-2014 at 12:55 AM.

08-07-2014, 05:58 PM	#5
Dewman Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,492 Original Poster	I went out into a field of flowers today and tried it out with the 1.4, 50mm again. I really, REALLY like the results this combination gives! Last edited by Dewman; 03-25-2015 at 04:35 PM.

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08-07-2014, 12:08 PM	#2
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Try reversing a 28mm. Steve

08-07-2014, 12:25 PM	#3
Dewman Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,492 Original Poster	Originally posted by stevebrot Try reversing a 28mm. Steve Will do. I have three of them, one being a Sears f:2.8 macro. Very interesting. Dewman SW Idaho

08-07-2014, 01:31 PM	#4
MarkJerling Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 20,406	I need to rush out and get one of those!

08-07-2014, 06:05 PM	#6
mikeSF Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,620	nice results! I have one too and though i dont shoot much macro, i had the same experience when i first tried it...posted a thread in here some years atgo i recall too, lol. May you discover many ways to use that ring!

08-08-2014, 02:16 AM	#7
rayallen Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Forresters Beach, NSW, Australia. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,014	Hmmm, I'm sure I have one of these...somewhere. Based on what you have produced I am going to send out a search party and give it a try. Found it. I am ready to see what I can produce. If I can come near to what you have shown us I will be happy. Last edited by rayallen; 08-08-2014 at 02:36 AM. Reason: Successful search!

08-08-2014, 05:50 AM	#8
calculator01 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Photos: Albums Posts: 817	Wow. You're results are so much better than anything I have created with my reverse ring!

08-22-2014, 04:29 PM	#9
narual Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: South Bend (Notre Dame), Indiana Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,988	Try reversing a sigma 10-20mm set to 10. Of course, you have to jam a piece of paper or something into the aperture lever to do that and have any depth of field at all. I really need to get a focusing rail. Nice shots -- I really dig the flower one.

08-23-2014, 02:21 AM	#11
MarkJerling Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 20,406	Ooooh! I like it!

08-23-2014, 04:19 AM	#12
baro-nite Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,294	Too scary to mount a K28/2 distagon with the rear element exposed! 10x macro is fun, but challenging. There's not really any point to going this far with ordinary stacked lenses; beyond around 3-4x all you are getting is "empty magnification". That's because diffraction becomes a severely limiting factor at high magnifications. To get usable resolution at 10x on an APS-C sensor you need to stay around f/2.8 or faster, and ordinary camera lenses don't perform well enough at this aperture. Hence the dedicated high-magnification focus stackers use microscope objectives (and the odd industrial optic) to get to this extreme.

08-23-2014, 04:32 AM	#13
Wild Mark Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Newcastle Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,954	Originally posted by baro-nite Too scary to mount a K28/2 distagon with the rear element exposed! 10x macro is fun, but challenging. There's not really any point to going this far with ordinary stacked lenses; beyond around 3-4x all you are getting is "empty magnification". That's because diffraction becomes a severely limiting factor at high magnifications. To get usable resolution at 10x on an APS-C sensor you need to stay around f/2.8 or faster, and ordinary camera lenses don't perform well enough at this aperture. Hence the dedicated high-magnification focus stackers use microscope objectives (and the odd industrial optic) to get to this extreme. So this setup is 10X is it? Wow - that is microscope scale. How do you calculate that? I'm not that scared with the rear element of the distagon being exposed. Plenty of care being taken Thinking about putting the distagon on the 200mm f4 macro now

08-23-2014, 04:56 AM	#14
baro-nite Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,294	Originally posted by Wild Mark So this setup is 10X is it? Wow - that is microscope scale. How do you calculate that? Simply divide the focal length of the primary lens by the focal length of the secondary lens, so in this case closer to 11x. I've found with stacked lenses the main determinant of resolution is the secondary lens. Try the 28 reversed onto something in the 85 to 105 range for around 3-4x, with the primary lens wide open and the 28 in the f/4 to f/5.6 range. DOF will be ridiculously thin but this is where I would expect you to find the best combination of magnification and usable resolution.

08-23-2014, 04:59 AM	#15
Wild Mark Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Newcastle Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,954	Originally posted by baro-nite Simply divide the focal length of the primary lens by the focal length of the secondary lens, so in this case closer to 11x. I've found with stacked lenses the main determinant of resolution is the secondary lens. Try the 28 reversed onto something in the 85 to 105 range for around 3-4x, with the primary lens wide open and the 28 in the f/4 to f/5.6 range. DOF will be ridiculously thin but this is where I would expect you to find the best combination of magnification and usable resolution. Thanks for that. I will put it on the Vivitar 90mm f2.5 - sharpness won't be an issue.