I have often wanted to use a reversed lens for taking macro images. No 1 problem, once the lens reversing ring (49mm or 52mm Pentax original) has been located, is lighting the subject effectively. There used to be a Pentax Reverse Ring Light Holder K manufactured by Pentax:



Despite posts on this and other forums - no luck in finding said item, so I decided to make one. The guy that gave me the idea was Peter Smith, who regularly posts on another forum. He posted a project similar to this a few years back and I had it on my list of things to do since then. So here goes.

Firstly I purchased a cheap but functional set of extension tubes and then took the male half of the 12mm tube apart and discarded it. I then used a cheap 49mm uv filter and removed the glass.

I then removed the female mounting plate from the 12mm extension tube and cleaned it of grease and and dirt. I then reassembled the front mounting plate and then glued the filter ring into the space left by the removal of the male half of the extension tube.

I retained the locking pin mechanism, so had to be careful to keep any adhesive away from this area.

Once the adhesive (Araldite Rapid Steel) was applied to both parts I then left it to cure overnight. Next day, after a bit of scraping to remove surplus adheshive, the job was done. Now I had a device I could fit to the reversed lens and lock into place and then fit the 49mm ring flash adapter in place to mount the flash. The results are shown below...

Front view of new mount:


Rear View:


All the parts together:
Ring Flash - Mounting Ring - Newly made adapter- Reversed Lens - Reversing Ring and Camera



Fitted and ready to go:



A couple of quick images to test the system works...
5 pence coin


Ballpoint Pen


The project took about an hour in total and I think makes a worthwhile addition to my macro kit!

(For larger images - see my album - Reverse Ring Light Project)
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/members/certedfriday-albums-reverse-ring-light-project.html

[Adam]

+rep - great article!

[falconeye]

Great article, thanks for sharing.

I have a similiar project which is work in progress so I didn't report on it yet. Your approach is certainly more sophisticated than mine and I will reconsider my approach now.

Nevertheless, for interested souls, I quickly share my approach at the same issue here (if you don't mind -- otherwise I'll delete it here).

1. Aquire a rear lens cap from enjoyyourcamera.com
Objektivrückdeckel Marumi für Pentax K kaufen im Enjoyyourcamera.com Shop

It must be exactly this rear cap. At least, a Pentax original won't work.

2. Aquire a 55mm-67mm Step-Up filter ring, e.g.
Filteradapter Quenox Step-Up: 55mm-67mm kaufen im Enjoyyourcamera.com Shop

3. Saw off the upper part from the lens cap so you get a lens cap with a hole. Grind edges.

4. Slide the Step-Up filter onto the lens cap, the outer filter ring windings pointing to the sawn hole. It slides without resistance up to about 3mm off the edge.

5. Press (some force required) the Step-Up filter until it is flush with the edge. The combo feels rock solid even w/o any glue.

6. Mount the AF160 flash using the largest adapter ring which happens to be 67mm.


Of course, the fit is only as good as that of a lens cap. But it works and may be an "instant" solution for people happening to own a 3rd party lens cap and a 55mm step up ring.

[CertEdFriday]

Hi , I looked at various option before I started this project, including the method you mention above. I have read that those people that have used this method report that the lens cap begins to wear with use and not such a tight fit on the lens.

I also read on another forum that the method used would not lock onto the lens as there was no way of incorporating a locking pin.

The lack of a locking mechanism was one of the main reasons for using a part of an extension tube set. The finished article does also bear some resemblance to the original pentax option!

Whatever method - it does allow for the use of the ring flash on a reversed lens...

[falconeye]

The lack of a locking mechanism was one of the main reasons for using a part of an extension tube set.

Yes, I acknowledge(d) the superiority of your approach

[CertEdFriday]

Thank you. I hope my reply does not sound superior - it was not meant to be