seeking info about reversing 50mm for macro

Olympus 18-180mm f/3.5-6.3 Zuiko ED Digitial Zoom

06/07/2005 06:24:10 PM · #1

Couldn't find anything through forum search on dpchallenge ( through google ). Is there any tutorial ? or can anyone point me to any tutorial they found helpful anywhere on the net?
thanks for your help,
Gaurawa

rayg544

Olympus E-5

06/07/2005 06:29:09 PM · #2

I don't know of a tutorial, but I use to do this all the time with my Nikon EM (35mm). I just purchased a reverser ring, screwed it onto the lens, then attached the lens (backwards). You focus by moving the camera closer (or further) to the subject.

Artifacts

06/07/2005 06:43:26 PM · #3

Originally posted by rayg544:

I used to do the same thing years ago with a Mamiya-Sekor 100DTL. However, aperature control was mechanical and all I had to do was press down on a little protruding post from the back of the 55mm lense to stop down the lense. Then you move back and forth close to your subject to "focus".

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

06/07/2005 06:46:51 PM · #4

I use Canon EF 50mm F1.8 mkII. This doesn't have the manual fstop setting. Also which adapter should I buy for this lens which gives me the lens mount interface.

akshayvh

Canon EOS-7D

06/07/2005 07:00:28 PM · #5

I think your 50mm prime has a 52mm diameter; and the 100mm macro has a 58mm diameter. You'll probably need this

I'm expecting mine today =)

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70 f2.8 L IS

06/07/2005 07:11:20 PM · #6

Yup, as akshayvh stated, you'll need the macro coupler. The 50/1.8 should work fine for this purpose. Once you have the coupler, just mount the 50/1.8 in reverse and set the focus on it to infinity. The aperture on the 50/1.8 will remain full open, which is what you want. Use the 100/2.8 Macro in manual focus mode, set the aperture desired, and shoot! Working distance will be short, so focus by moving the cam, and adjust magnification by using the focus on the 100mm lens.

06/07/2005 07:21:56 PM · #7

Thanks akshayvh and kirbic. I might pick up the macro coupler today if I get off work early.
what is the approx. working distance with 100mm and 50mm coupled ?

Also is there a way I can reverse just the 50mm ? ( without any other telephoto lens ) for the I would need a coupler(?) which screws to the 50mm and mounts on my camera I guess.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70 f2.8 L IS

06/07/2005 07:35:02 PM · #8

Originally posted by gaurawa:

Thanks akshayvh and kirbic. I might pick up the macro coupler today if I get off work early.
what is the approx. working distance with 100mm and 50mm coupled ?

A couple inches.

Originally posted by gaurawa:

Also is there a way I can reverse just the 50mm ? ( without any other telephoto lens ) for the I would need a coupler(?) which screws to the 50mm and mounts on my camera I guess.

You can actually do that, but you'll need a more complicated adapter. there is one that mounts the lens in reverse, then uses a cable to couple to the mount, providing aperture control, which of course you really need in that situation, but that adapter costs several hundred bucks :-P

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

06/07/2005 07:37:28 PM · #9

Originally posted by kirbic:

Originally posted by gaurawa:
Also is there a way I can reverse just the 50mm ? ( without any other telephoto lens ) for the I would need a coupler(?) which screws to the 50mm and mounts on my camera I guess.

You can actually do that, but you'll need a more complicated adapter. there is one that mounts the lens in reverse, then uses a cable to couple to the mount, providing aperture control, which of course you really need in that situation, but that adapter costs several hundred bucks :-P

I am not that rich :D
I also searched for this and I found something on fredmiranda.. though this seems too complicated for me to do.. but could be cheap as the FD mount 50mm sell cheap
FM forum for reversing 50mm

Message edited by author 2005-06-07 19:38:12.

brianlh

Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi

06/07/2005 08:20:52 PM · #10

Originally posted by gaurawa:

The FD mount lenses are cheap, but the FD-EOS converters are not (from what I've found). I just looked into the same exact thing you're talking about a couple days ago - but it's possible that I did bad research. Make sure that the coupler you get is, as akshayvh mentioned, the 52mm to 58mm thread coupler and not a 58 to 58.

If you're goofy enough (like I am), you can flip it around reversed just by holding it with your hand on your telephoto lens just to get an idea. This took me quite awhile though - and you have to be careful not to drop the lens, so I'd be careful ;). Unfortunately, I didn't have much success with this method, and only got moderate focus (you have to re-focus manually once you put the lens in front).. but someone on FM suggested to someone else do try this to see if it would be sufficient magnification for their needs.

Message edited by author 2005-06-07 20:24:35.

Beagleboy

Canon EOS-30D

Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4.0 AT-X Pro DX

06/07/2005 08:57:19 PM · #11

Jacko's done a ton of these reveresed 50mm jobs. Send him a PM, he might be able to help.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

06/09/2005 10:59:04 AM · #12

Originally posted by Beagleboy:

Jacko's done a ton of these reveresed 50mm jobs. Send him a PM, he might be able to help.

thanks beagleboy. I just sent a PM to Jacko

colda

Nikon D800

06/09/2005 11:04:38 AM · #13

Originally posted by gaurawa:

Also is there a way I can reverse just the 50mm ? ( without any other telephoto lens ) for the I would need a coupler(?) which screws to the 50mm and mounts on my camera I guess.

I dunno about Canon, but I have one of these to do exactly what you are talking about with my D70

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

06/09/2005 11:11:20 AM · #14

Originally posted by colda:

why doesn't canon offer something similar ? :((

akshayvh

Canon EOS-7D

06/09/2005 11:33:24 AM · #15

Originally posted by gaurawa:

Originally posted by colda:

Originally posted by gaurawa:
Also is there a way I can reverse just the 50mm ? ( without any other telephoto lens ) for the I would need a coupler(?) which screws to the 50mm and mounts on my camera I guess.

I dunno about Canon, but I have one of these to do exactly what you are talking about with my D70

why doesn't canon offer something similar ? :((

Edit: Oh nevermind, this is for reversing just the 50mm :/

Message edited by author 2005-06-09 11:35:06.

colda

Nikon D800

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

06/09/2005 11:36:27 AM · #16

Originally posted by akshayvh:

Originally posted by gaurawa:

Originally posted by colda:

Originally posted by gaurawa:
Also is there a way I can reverse just the 50mm ? ( without any other telephoto lens ) for the I would need a coupler(?) which screws to the 50mm and mounts on my camera I guess.

I dunno about Canon, but I have one of these to do exactly what you are talking about with my D70

why doesn't canon offer something similar ? :((

Why pay $25 for the brand when you can get the same functionality for $7 ?

There is a difference between a reversing ring (direct to camera - as per the BR2A) and macro couplers (2 lens - filter thread to filter thread connection).

06/25/2005 10:46:47 AM · #17

thank you everyone for your tips. I got the coupler and here goes an extreme macro shot :)

06/25/2005 12:44:08 PM · #18

the lens setup

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

06/30/2005 04:36:53 PM · #19

What are these ?
Reversing lens on EOS system ?
they seem to imply that I can reverse the lens directly !!

kyebosh

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 80-200 f/2.8L

06/30/2005 04:39:25 PM · #20

The coupler method is alright, but from examples I've seen reversing lenses directly on the body produce much more DOF and have more working distance. 50mm is 1:1, 24mm is about 2:1 with that method.

letenele

Canon EOS-5D

06/30/2005 04:39:40 PM · #21

I just bought a +4 magnifying filter, works just as well.

Bebe

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

06/30/2005 04:42:56 PM · #22

Originally posted by gaurawa:

thank you everyone for your tips. I got the coupler and here goes an extreme macro shot :)

Thanks for starting this thread; I may look into this myself now that you've gotten such a great shot!