How to do macro without macro lens?!?

acarpov · 08-13-2009, 08:32 AM

Besides close up filters which i already read about!
what else can you use in order to achieve decent close ups without macro lens?

MRRiley · 08-13-2009, 09:10 AM

the cheapest way is a reversing adapter. This screws onto the front of a normal lens and then allows you to mount the lens backwards. Presto, chango... instant macro lens. They ain't pretty but they work.

reversing ring available Adorama Camera

Sizing is by the filter size of your lens. If your lens uses a 49mm filter buy a 49mm reversing ring in the appropriate lens mount (M42, Pentax-K, etc).

Mike

p.s. you focus by moving the camera/lens closer or farther from the subject since the focusing ring has no effect in this configuration...

bymy141 · 08-13-2009, 11:01 AM

The other way is to move your lens away from your camera by adding one or more extention rings. You can find them cheap on the internet.
Also Raynox makes setup lenses that you can put in front of your lens.
Combing both on a long (zoom?) lens will give you much more macro capability than a normal 1:1 macro lens, at much less cost.

- Bert

ivoire · 08-13-2009, 11:01 AM

Reversing ring and the raynox 125 and 250 will give you good results if u r on a budget

SOldBear · 08-13-2009, 11:22 AM

Many times you can get a cheap teleconverter for almost nothing.

Remove the optical parts and use it as an extension tube.

Marc Sabatella · 08-13-2009, 11:33 AM

The downside of reversing rings is that they require a lens with an aperture ring in order to control aperture and you have open and close the aperture manually if you want to focus wide open but stop down to shoot. Note there are reversing rings where you attach it to the camera and then attach one lens; there also also reverse adapters where you mount one lens to the camera normally but mount a second lens backwards to the first, which makes it function as a closeup lens.

Results from reverse rings, extension tubes, and *good* (achromatic multiple-element) close up lenses are all about the same, which is to say, more magnification and generally better results than any quasi-macro zoom, and often practically as good as most macro primes. The single element close up lenses are not even close; I'd compare the difference between them and these other methods to the difference between my K200D and my el cheapo cellphone cam.

**Rense** · 08-13-2009, 01:18 PM

When on a budged, I would advise a fast M42 lens, combined with a set of tubes and a Pentax M42 to K-mount adapter. I have the Takumar 55/1.8, the Pentax tubes and the adapter for about $40,00.

**Kerrowdown** · 08-13-2009, 01:58 PM

I guess get closer, is not the answer then.

acarpov · 08-13-2009, 02:01 PM

not really)))

GerryL · 08-13-2009, 02:16 PM

Since most of the sound advises have already been given, I would say, find a really humongous bug or humongous flower and shoot normally.
They would all think it's just a photo of a small bug or flower magnified.

acarpov · 08-13-2009, 02:32 PM

where do you want me to take a pictures in Chernobyl?)))))))

GerryL · 08-13-2009, 02:38 PM

Originally posted by acarpov

where do you want me to take a pictures in Chernobyl?)))))))

Haha..that's a good one!

I have the reversing ring, the extension tubes and also the Raynox DCR-250 and also some macro lenses but not dedicated macro lenses.
They all work but the most I use is the Raynox DCR-250 as they work like the close-up lens but without the hassle as you just have to put it on and off the front of the lens without even as the action of screwing.
It is much like a lens cap with the middle part of it as a magnification lens.
It just snaps on and off..very convenient..and AFAIC it works better than the close-up lens.

ytterbium · 08-13-2009, 03:03 PM

I do it like this:

Take my 50-200, $20 SMC Tak 55/1.8 , $5 Reversing ring and get very close:

But if i did not had the 55/1.8 laying around, i'd probably get something like those Raynox snap on things, because the filter threads are very inconvenient. That piece of heavy Tak glass and metal hanging from the noose of plastic 50-200 feels unsafe as well (and causes zoom creep when pointed lower than ~45 degrees down). I use 50-200 aperture for DOF control (Stopping 55/1.8 just causes vignetting without much effect), and focus with all three 50-200 focus and zoom (yes it can move the area in focus at those distances and is easier to grip) rings as well as 55/1.8 zoom ring.
Macro rings again require additional mounting and unmounting without that much quality gain over snap on, than a special purpose macro lens.

acarpov · 08-13-2009, 03:55 PM

Rense
i sent you PM!!!

acarpov · 08-13-2009, 03:58 PM

ytterbium
wow that is a nice piece of work, i will definetely try it !!!!!!!!! I have 50-200 it was in my kit!

08-13-2009, 08:32 AM	#1
acarpov Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: brooklyn Posts: 74	How to do macro without macro lens?!? Besides close up filters which i already read about! what else can you use in order to achieve decent close ups without macro lens?

08-13-2009, 11:22 AM	#5
SOldBear Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alameda, CA Posts: 3,206	Many times you can get a cheap teleconverter for almost nothing. Remove the optical parts and use it as an extension tube. Last edited by SOldBear; 08-13-2009 at 01:19 PM.

08-13-2009, 03:03 PM	#13
ytterbium Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,076	I do it like this: Take my 50-200, $20 SMC Tak 55/1.8 , $5 Reversing ring and get very close: But if i did not had the 55/1.8 laying around, i'd probably get something like those Raynox snap on things, because the filter threads are very inconvenient. That piece of heavy Tak glass and metal hanging from the noose of plastic 50-200 feels unsafe as well (and causes zoom creep when pointed lower than ~45 degrees down). I use 50-200 aperture for DOF control (Stopping 55/1.8 just causes vignetting without much effect), and focus with all three 50-200 focus and zoom (yes it can move the area in focus at those distances and is easier to grip) rings as well as 55/1.8 zoom ring. Macro rings again require additional mounting and unmounting without that much quality gain over snap on, than a special purpose macro lens. Last edited by ytterbium; 08-13-2009 at 03:12 PM.

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08-13-2009, 09:10 AM	#2
MRRiley Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sterling, VA, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,275	the cheapest way is a reversing adapter. This screws onto the front of a normal lens and then allows you to mount the lens backwards. Presto, chango... instant macro lens. They ain't pretty but they work. reversing ring available Adorama Camera Sizing is by the filter size of your lens. If your lens uses a 49mm filter buy a 49mm reversing ring in the appropriate lens mount (M42, Pentax-K, etc). Mike p.s. you focus by moving the camera/lens closer or farther from the subject since the focusing ring has no effect in this configuration...

08-13-2009, 11:01 AM	#3
bymy141 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,563	The other way is to move your lens away from your camera by adding one or more extention rings. You can find them cheap on the internet. Also Raynox makes setup lenses that you can put in front of your lens. Combing both on a long (zoom?) lens will give you much more macro capability than a normal 1:1 macro lens, at much less cost. - Bert

08-13-2009, 11:01 AM	#4
ivoire Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,381	Reversing ring and the raynox 125 and 250 will give you good results if u r on a budget

08-13-2009, 11:33 AM	#6
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	The downside of reversing rings is that they require a lens with an aperture ring in order to control aperture and you have open and close the aperture manually if you want to focus wide open but stop down to shoot. Note there are reversing rings where you attach it to the camera and then attach one lens; there also also reverse adapters where you mount one lens to the camera normally but mount a second lens backwards to the first, which makes it function as a closeup lens. Results from reverse rings, extension tubes, and good (achromatic multiple-element) close up lenses are all about the same, which is to say, more magnification and generally better results than any quasi-macro zoom, and often practically as good as most macro primes. The single element close up lenses are not even close; I'd compare the difference between them and these other methods to the difference between my K200D and my el cheapo cellphone cam.

08-13-2009, 01:18 PM	#7
Rense Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zetten - The Netherlands Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,050	When on a budged, I would advise a fast M42 lens, combined with a set of tubes and a Pentax M42 to K-mount adapter. I have the Takumar 55/1.8, the Pentax tubes and the adapter for about $40,00.

08-13-2009, 01:58 PM	#8
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,819	I guess get closer, is not the answer then.

08-13-2009, 02:01 PM	#9
acarpov Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: brooklyn Posts: 74 Original Poster	not really)))

08-13-2009, 02:16 PM	#10
GerryL Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CA Posts: 2,731	Since most of the sound advises have already been given, I would say, find a really humongous bug or humongous flower and shoot normally. They would all think it's just a photo of a small bug or flower magnified.

08-13-2009, 02:32 PM	#11
acarpov Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: brooklyn Posts: 74 Original Poster	where do you want me to take a pictures in Chernobyl?)))))))

08-13-2009, 02:38 PM	#12
GerryL Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CA Posts: 2,731	Originally posted by acarpov where do you want me to take a pictures in Chernobyl?))))))) Haha..that's a good one! I have the reversing ring, the extension tubes and also the Raynox DCR-250 and also some macro lenses but not dedicated macro lenses. They all work but the most I use is the Raynox DCR-250 as they work like the close-up lens but without the hassle as you just have to put it on and off the front of the lens without even as the action of screwing. It is much like a lens cap with the middle part of it as a magnification lens. It just snaps on and off..very convenient..and AFAIC it works better than the close-up lens.

08-13-2009, 03:55 PM	#14
acarpov Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: brooklyn Posts: 74 Original Poster	Rense i sent you PM!!!

08-13-2009, 03:58 PM	#15
acarpov Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: brooklyn Posts: 74 Original Poster	ytterbium wow that is a nice piece of work, i will definetely try it !!!!!!!!! I have 50-200 it was in my kit!