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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Reversing ring
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 10/18/2012 09:46:18 AM · #1
I was looking up some stuff about macro photography and I came across an article about using a reversing ring and a prime lens to get really close up shots. Intrigued by the idea I ordered myself one along with a coupling ring.
Has anyone using one of these rings, and if so how was the outcome? Can this harm my lens? and do you have any tips for me when doing this.
 10/18/2012 10:10:16 AM · #2
Using reversing rings will do no harm to your lens. The reversing ring goes only your camera where the lens attaches and you screw on the lens backwards using the threaded filter connection.

I have had reasonable success with reverse lens shots for macro work. I like to use the 50mm 1.4 MF lens for these shots, it allows in an amazing amount of light which can be very useful. Just remember that the DOF is crazy narrow. The focus of the shot is completed by a combination of moving the subject and lens since the focus ring on the lens is rendered useless when reverse mounting.

I have found that you will need a tripod to make this work at all. Good luck.

First ever attempt


And an improved attempt


10/18/2012 11:59:39 AM · #3
Do not over tighten the ring, they are very hard to remove when over tightened.

Message edited by author 2012-10-18 11:59:54.
 10/18/2012 12:38:05 PM · #4
You may find this to be useful if you want to control the aperture when you are shooting.
Sony Aperture Control
One other handy thing, you can use any brand lens you can find for this if you have a reversing ring that will fit the lens filter threads. The old manual ones are good for this, and a lot of them are inexpensive if you buy on line or at thrift shops.

Message edited by author 2012-10-18 12:42:36.
 10/18/2012 12:51:33 PM · #5
I thought a reversing ring would be cool, but I was never able to have success reversing a lens. I wonder what I was doing wrong.
 10/18/2012 01:20:06 PM · #6
It usually works well with the 70mm and shorter focal lengths.
 10/18/2012 01:33:23 PM · #7
Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:
You may find this to be useful if you want to control the aperture when you are shooting.
Sony Aperture Control
One other handy thing, you can use any brand lens you can find for this if you have a reversing ring that will fit the lens filter threads. The old manual ones are good for this, and a lot of them are inexpensive if you buy on line or at thrift shops.


So since the aperture is set in one position all I need to do is change the shutter speed? I have an old Minolta cap I will try this with. Thanks for the link.
 10/18/2012 01:43:40 PM · #8
There is a variety of things you could do with reverse-mounted lenses, and is in fact the basis of all the macro work I'm currently doing.

Take a look in the Tutorials section of the website for a good explanation on how to reverse mount one lens onto another for even greater magnification. The problem there is that it's quite random whether your configuration of lenses will give a good quality photo or not (regardless of the individual lens qualities).. this is because lenses are not designed to be used in reverse. I have tried a variety of combinations with my lenses, and so far the best combination has been with reverse mounting a Minolta 40mm f2.8.

As mentioned, your DOF will be EXTREMELY shallow at these magnifications (think about looking through a microscope), so a technique called focus-stacking will be your friend. The following photos were taken with a reverse mounted lens (first one on a bellows, second coupled with another lens) and focus-stacked.





Good luck!

Message edited by author 2012-10-18 13:47:45.
 10/18/2012 04:18:10 PM · #9
Originally posted by Dudski:
There is a variety of things you could do with reverse-mounted lenses, and is in fact the basis of all the macro work I'm currently doing.

Take a look in the Tutorials section of the website for a good explanation on how to reverse mount one lens onto another for even greater magnification. The problem there is that it's quite random whether your configuration of lenses will give a good quality photo or not (regardless of the individual lens qualities).. this is because lenses are not designed to be used in reverse. I have tried a variety of combinations with my lenses, and so far the best combination has been with reverse mounting a Minolta 40mm f2.8.

As mentioned, your DOF will be EXTREMELY shallow at these magnifications (think about looking through a microscope), so a technique called focus-stacking will be your friend. The following photos were taken with a reverse mounted lens (first one on a bellows, second coupled with another lens) and focus-stacked.





Good luck!


Thanks for the info. Never heard of focus-stacking until now. What program do use to align each image together? I don't have any of the pay programs. I just downloaded CombineZP to give it a try. From the reviews alot of people like it.

Message edited by author 2012-10-18 16:39:37.
 10/18/2012 09:51:14 PM · #10
Originally posted by Mannphotos:


Thanks for the info. Never heard of focus-stacking until now. What program do use to align each image together? I don't have any of the pay programs. I just downloaded CombineZP to give it a try. From the reviews alot of people like it.


Personally I used Zerene Stacker
 10/18/2012 09:54:58 PM · #11
I had one for my 50mm 1.8, but I had zero luck with it, so I gave it for free when I sold the lens. Good luck with it, though. Some people get awesome results. I just wasn't one of them.
 10/18/2012 10:35:50 PM · #12
Yeah- I'll second what dudski said in that it really is random which lenses will and won't work.

Here's one with my 150 normal and the 50 reversed on it


And this one was made just hand holding my E Series 50 in front of the camera.
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