Macro Kludge Experiments

[geckonia]

A quick solution while I'm still researching proper macro lenses.... the 50mm kludge. Tape an old 50mm backwards on the new 50mm and voila! Instant macro!

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/20-Jun-2003/3996-geck_20_kludge.jpg

Of course, the working distance is minimal.... the tip of the lens is about an inch away from the subject, but I like getting up close and am willing to live with that for now. Also, the vignetting is a major problem, since the old lens is smaller than the new, but sometimes you don't notice it because the background is dark anyway. (see #3)

Here's a reference with just the 50mm so you can see what a huge difference inverting the old 50mm on the end of it made. This is the closest I could get with just the 50mm...

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/20-Jun-2003/3996-geck_13_hand.jpg

Now, with the kludge, I can go deep within that very flower pod...
#1
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/20-Jun-2003/3996-geck_13_hopper2.jpg

#2
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/20-Jun-2003/3996-geck_13_hopper.jpg

#3
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/20-Jun-2003/3996-geck_20_moth.jpg

#4
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/20-Jun-2003/3996-geck_20_spidey.jpg

#5
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/20-Jun-2003/3996-geck_20_spidey2.jpg

...and when I want a little more in the photo, I take off the inverted 50mm and just use a magnifying glass pressed up against the end of the lens...
#6
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/20-Jun-2003/3996-geck_17.jpg

Canon D30 | 50mm 1.8 | 50mm 1.7 | magnifying glass

[Bobby D]

These are absolutely stunning, you did a fantastic job Geck, No's 1 & 2 are awesome so sharp and clear, in fact I would be proud to have taken any one of them, when you get results like this why pay out for a proper macro lenses. :D

[haggis63]

I was impressed with the fly shot but #1 #2 & #5 are just amazing. SOmething I'll have to try one day. I have tried using a magnifying glass before but didn't get very good results. Are you literally hold the magnifying glass up against the lanse or holding at the focal point.

Alan

[DraigAthar]

Wow, Geck, talk about resourceful! These are great, and you're so clever with all your gadgets taped together and whatnot, lol!

Amy

[geckonia]

Thanks, Rob... can you tell me what you think of the extension tubes you got, and which lens you like using them with? I want to get closer...lol

Hi Alan... thanks! Yes, I place the old magnifying glass right up next to the lens...lol... instant diopter! Check it out... I discovered a fascinating site (http://www.mplonsky.com/photo/article.htm) last night. He put a 50mm like my Pentax on a G3... and that's just the beginning... check out all the options he's discovered for your camera!

[haggis63]

Originally posted by geckonia
Check it out... I discovered a fascinating site (http://www.mplonsky.com/photo/article.htm) last night. He put a 50mm like my Pentax on a G3... and that's just the beginning... check out all the options he's discovered for your camera!

Cool - just had a quick look but can't wait look closely at this sight when I'm awake. :D (midnight here)

Alan

[Crias]

Wow these are way cool! I am off to check out the link too.

[drapier]

I rename thee Techonia
Anne as I never tire of saying you never cease to amaze me

[SunnyJon]

:clap: :clap: Ah yes the Geck in true inventive mode! I'll have to check the link out too! Ilove 'em all Anne but what is that flower inthe first pic? I love the one where you can just barely see the wasp/bee in the bg! Cool ! These are some strange critters you posted!:D :cool: :clap: :clap: :clap:

[bairam]

These are incredible shots. I just can't get over your inventiveness. You must have been a most interesting child to raise. Great shots of things that most of us avoid or never notice.

The flower Sunny is "Love in the Mist" a most romantic old fashioned flower. I have it in my yard also. The seed pods dry beautifully for winter arrangements.

[vklum]

Well, Geck, you've made my jaw drop again!

Now, I'm off to check on getting an additional 50mm for my Minolta and some electrical tape...

...and hoping I don't see/feel those creepy critters in my dreams tonight! :eek: :p

[kaleidoscope eyes]

Marvellous stuff Geck, they're all amazing but #3 I just love:clap: :clap:

[geckonia]

Thanks, Amy... you know I'm going nuts trying to figure out how to do macro with this thing... I'm determined to make something work until I break down and get something more practical.

Thanks, Cathy. If you happen to find a way to get closer with the 4500 let me know!

LOL.... thanks Mike.... I had a feeling you would dig this. :D

Sunny.... glad you noticed the bee! That spider was enjoying it for lunch, but stepped away for a moment to have his photo taken...lol.

Thanks, Maria... "Love in the Mist" is my favorite flower this summer... I keep noticing it everywhere I go! The little hopper inside was such a nice surprise.

Thanks, Victoria. I guess the *real* way to do this is to put a shorter lens reversed on a longer one, so maybe you already have something you can use? (I was just making due with what I happen to have.) I think I'm going to have nightmares too! Might have the dog sleep in my room tonight just in case...lol

Thanks, Carol... you like the moth? I do too... it had the coolest yellow tongue.

[MissMouse]

Well done Geck ......I like the bug on the branch ....but I got to say I still like the 990 for getting really close. You know what I mean easier to hold and when you drop it on your subject it might not kill them :D

However your lily ROCKS girlfriend ....

[Dave Carter]

WOWIEEEEEEEEEE :cool: :cool:

Hmmmm...I have this 150mm with macro...I wonder?:eek:

[Ozzie]

Your resourcefullness never ceases to amaze me. So creative................

And so talented.


Ozzie

[TeAnne]

Holy Hell! :clap: :clap:

[Bobby D]

I'm doing quite reasonable with the extension tubes, Geck. Though you can't go in as close as I could with the S602. I mostly use them with the 50mm lens and can get considerably more than the life size image. I do, on occasion, use them with the 70-300 Macro Zoom as this allows me to once again go above life size but from a greater distance and, of course, you can then use the Zoom function to do your focusing instead of moving the camera back and forth.

I've just posted a thread taken with the tubes and the 50mm.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=1305423#post1305423

[geckonia]

Thanks, Rob... that's exactly what I wanted to hear! Sounds like I'll be picking up a set myself.

Thanks, MM, TeAnne, Dave and Ozzie. :D

[AriadneArts]

These are just incredible! I knew you'd tame the danged thing and make it do things your way, if anybody could.

Oh, and thx for the link. Marvelous stuff.

[geckonia]

Hey, thanks Eileen... the ability to get in even closer than the CoolPix is really fascinating me, however, the shallow DOF is completely frustrating me! Glad you enjoyed the link. I'm going to see if there's some way to get the coolpix to magnify even more with the gadgets I already have too.

[jsr88]

At the risk of being accused of plagerism...

:D ~ HOLY HELL, Geck! ~ :D
Woman...you AMAZE me! (hehehehehe I did it again! Thanks Mike! :D )

These are beyond "good"...they run into the area of SPECTACULAR!! Especially given the "attachments" you used to get them. :)

I think it's ok to say...I'm PROUD of your ingenuity!

:clap: :clap: :clap:

[wandathefish]

Bugs Are Us:D Duct tape has a lot to answer for!!Elegant pictures:clap:

[rebob]

I'm glad I just happened by and saw your original post. What a great tip, and your results are wonderful. Thanks also for the link to Plonsky's web site.

Bob

[artmidwife]

Geck- The photos knocked my socks off!! What a great idea to tape lenses together. I have a 70-200 and a 50mm. How would I tape them together to try this. I absolutely love #1, 2 and 3. Well I love all of them, but I just don't like spiders!!:mad: ick!!

Thanks, Lisa:cat:

[She-She]

Oh boy! I'm glad I came across this thread. I would have never thought of taping lenes together to get macro shots or a magnafing glass either. I have a Minolta film camera with a 28-80mm macro lens. I wonder if that will work. That means I will have to go out & buy a 50mm lens. I have a great camera shop that I go to. The owner will help me in what I need, except for the money part. :rolleyes:

Geck-- great shots as usuall !!!! :clap: I bookedmarked the link. I will go back & read over it later. Looks very helpful.

I will be back in the photography forum soon with something......I hope. ;) :)

[meriadoc]

ahh yes, the fun experiments...

I used to do that with an old pentax K1000 with inverted 50mm lenses... so nice :)

i'll have to see if i've still got the photos :)

great pics geck, makes me want to get a couple 50mm 1.8s and get out there and try it - but i might get the DSLR first ;)

how do you find the D30 anyway? whats the max resolution? I'm used to canon's idiosyncrasies, and not used to the nikon - i much comfortable with an SLR than a P&S ;)

(wonders where I can get a cheap D30)

[geckonia]

LOL.... Thanks Julie, wanda, bob and lisa :D

Meridoc, check out the buy/sell board (http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/board/10) at Fred's... looks like you can pick up a D30 body for $700. It's 3mp, but remember, the sensor is huge, there is virtually no noise, even at high ISO's, and the pixels are something like 9 times larger than the pixels in a Coolpix 3 mp camera. I can res these up to 11X17 no problem using Fred's SI action. It'a a wonderful camera! Don't get me started, or I'll keep raving about it all day. :D

artmw, you don't need to use tape, I just don't have the right connector. These two lenses happen to mate almost perfectly on their own, so the tape is just insurance. Invert the 50 on your zoom and see what happens! Sounds promising!

She-She, I know you can reverse a single 50mm lens straight onto the body with the right adapter, I assume that would work with your macro too? I'm not sure if you'd lose the metering function if you did it that way. I have to compensate when I add the inverted 50mm to mine. It gets a bit darker in there with it on.

Thanks again everyone, I'm glad you enjoyed the kludge.

[drapier]

I am the only one who had to look up what Kludge (http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci212446,00.html) meant ?
I'd never heard it before.

[jsr88]

Originally posted by drapier
I am the only one who had to look up what Kludge (http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci212446,00.html) meant ?
I'd never heard it before.

:o uhhhhhh, No! :D
(But thanks for the clue! ;) )

[Raindrop]

Wow wow wow ! #5 is absolutely stunning !
You're rather the resourceful kind, aren't you ? I don't have a spare 50 mm, but I'm going to try with a magnifying glass!

Thank you for the tip,
Raindrop

[joemajury]

These are GREAT.
I love #2, its as if you are in there with it.
I would be afraid of using a magnifying glass, I would probably incinerate the bugs - knowing my luck lol

Joe
;) ;)