Macro extension tubes, reverse adapters?

MXM · June 15th, 2006, 02:19 PM

... do they actually work?
I was looking at macro lenses, and there are no cheap ones it seems. But plenty of those relatively cheap extension tubes/rings and reverse mounting adapters. Is result even comparable to proper macro lenses? I don't want anything super serious, just something to play around with.

I'm using d50 with 18-70mm btw.

flamingice · June 15th, 2006, 04:53 PM

Yeah, I've seen those as well... I've just assumed that you'd get what you pay for (ie. not much) but I don't really have any idea... anybody know for sure?

mancs · June 15th, 2006, 04:59 PM

I use my 18-55 canon ef with reverse "adapter"(duckt tape images/smilies/biggrin.gif

) DOF is veeery intensive.

MXM · June 15th, 2006, 05:10 PM

DOF is very small in any macro shots I assume..

But how those reverse adapters work? When there's no contact between lens and camera will it shoot anyway? (EDIT: just checked - does not shoot without lens) How can I control apperture? Some extension rings provide connection and even AF works apparently (although not very important for macro I think), but that will not work when lens is reversed.

Did some googling, apparently you can get ok results with extension rings and 50mm F/1.8 lens, not sure about my zoom lens. 50mm + rings will still be cheaper than macro lens. And probably more versatile anyway, since everyone says that 50mm is so great images/smilies/smile.gif

flamingice · June 15th, 2006, 05:17 PM

Here's a page that I think might have some useful information:
http://www.mplonsky.com/photo/article.htm#cam

MXM · June 15th, 2006, 05:40 PM

Thanx, seems like I missed another option, conversion lenses. Pretty cheap and decent quality. Doesn't bring you as close as macro lenses of course images/smilies/sad.gif

mancs · June 15th, 2006, 11:32 PM

Hm reversing works quite good @ my 300D. I dunno about Nikons images/smilies/sad.gif

MXM · June 16th, 2006, 11:51 AM

http://www.photocritic.org/2005/macr...y-on-a-budget/
Hehe, I might wanna try that images/smilies/wink.gif

And btw, camera DOES shoot without lens, I just forgot to put it in full manual mode images/smilies/unsure.gif

, so yes, reversing the lens would work too.

Skoshi · June 16th, 2006, 02:12 PM

Yeah and you can set the aperture by pressing on the aperture preview button while removing the lens images/smilies/biggrin.gif

Yes it works and hasn't broken my lenses yet.. images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

MXM · June 16th, 2006, 03:51 PM

Erm.. on D50? I don't think I have this button.

Anyway.. another option is to get one of these cheap chinese bellows they sell on ebay for 20 pounds or so. On plus side gives great magnification, but I'd also need external flash for anything remotely serious... So plenty of options.

So far I'm leaning towards pringles-macro, that of course would mean ruining the little plastic cover, but not a big deal even if I fail images/smilies/smile.gif

BerserkerCatSplat · June 16th, 2006, 04:15 PM

No, our D50's don't have a DoF preview button. If you want to do the Pringles thing, I suggest picking up an older 50mm F1.8 with aperture ring - otherwise, you'll have to shoot with your lens stopped all the way down. Fortunately, I picked up my old-school 50 for a mere $50, so it won't break the bank.

June 15th, 2006, 02:19 PM	#1
MXM old porsches do run! Joined: Jun 9th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Finland Age: 26 Posts: 2,651 Car: Porsche 944 LFS Status: Rep Power: 31	Macro extension tubes, reverse adapters? ... do they actually work? I was looking at macro lenses, and there are no cheap ones it seems. But plenty of those relatively cheap extension tubes/rings and reverse mounting adapters. Is result even comparable to proper macro lenses? I don't want anything super serious, just something to play around with. I'm using d50 with 18-70mm btw.

June 15th, 2006, 04:53 PM	#2
flamingice Joined: Nov 25th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: It's complicated. Posts: 865 Rep Power: 13	Yeah, I've seen those as well... I've just assumed that you'd get what you pay for (ie. not much) but I don't really have any idea... anybody know for sure? __________________

June 15th, 2006, 04:59 PM	#3
mancs Joined: Feb 26th, 2005 Last Online: November 27th, 2008 Location: Hungary Age: 21 Posts: 1,414 Car: Lada 2107 (only race), VW Golf MKII LFS Status: Rep Power: 17	I use my 18-55 canon ef with reverse "adapter"(duckt tape ) DOF is veeery intensive. __________________ Oversteer is when the passenger is scared, Understeer is when the driver is scared. Mphoto.hu My Project Car

June 15th, 2006, 05:17 PM	#5
flamingice Joined: Nov 25th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: It's complicated. Posts: 865 Rep Power: 13	Here's a page that I think might have some useful information: http://www.mplonsky.com/photo/article.htm#cam __________________

June 15th, 2006, 11:32 PM	#7
mancs Joined: Feb 26th, 2005 Last Online: November 27th, 2008 Location: Hungary Age: 21 Posts: 1,414 Car: Lada 2107 (only race), VW Golf MKII LFS Status: Rep Power: 17	Hm reversing works quite good @ my 300D. I dunno about Nikons __________________ Oversteer is when the passenger is scared, Understeer is when the driver is scared. Mphoto.hu My Project Car

June 15th, 2006, 05:10 PM	#4
MXM old porsches do run! Joined: Jun 9th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Finland Age: 26 Posts: 2,651 Car: Porsche 944 LFS Status: Rep Power: 31	DOF is very small in any macro shots I assume.. But how those reverse adapters work? When there's no contact between lens and camera will it shoot anyway? (EDIT: just checked - does not shoot without lens) How can I control apperture? Some extension rings provide connection and even AF works apparently (although not very important for macro I think), but that will not work when lens is reversed. Did some googling, apparently you can get ok results with extension rings and 50mm F/1.8 lens, not sure about my zoom lens. 50mm + rings will still be cheaper than macro lens. And probably more versatile anyway, since everyone says that 50mm is so great

June 15th, 2006, 05:40 PM	#6
MXM old porsches do run! Joined: Jun 9th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Finland Age: 26 Posts: 2,651 Car: Porsche 944 LFS Status: Rep Power: 31	Thanx, seems like I missed another option, conversion lenses. Pretty cheap and decent quality. Doesn't bring you as close as macro lenses of course

June 16th, 2006, 11:51 AM	#8
MXM old porsches do run! Joined: Jun 9th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Finland Age: 26 Posts: 2,651 Car: Porsche 944 LFS Status: Rep Power: 31	http://www.photocritic.org/2005/macr...y-on-a-budget/ Hehe, I might wanna try that And btw, camera DOES shoot without lens, I just forgot to put it in full manual mode , so yes, reversing the lens would work too.

June 16th, 2006, 02:12 PM	#9
Skoshi Joined: Aug 15th, 2005 Last Online: July 30th, 2007 Location: Tampere, Finland Age: 23 Posts: 484 Rep Power: 0	Yeah and you can set the aperture by pressing on the aperture preview button while removing the lens Yes it works and hasn't broken my lenses yet..

June 16th, 2006, 03:51 PM	#10
MXM old porsches do run! Joined: Jun 9th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Finland Age: 26 Posts: 2,651 Car: Porsche 944 LFS Status: Rep Power: 31	Erm.. on D50? I don't think I have this button. Anyway.. another option is to get one of these cheap chinese bellows they sell on ebay for 20 pounds or so. On plus side gives great magnification, but I'd also need external flash for anything remotely serious... So plenty of options. So far I'm leaning towards pringles-macro, that of course would mean ruining the little plastic cover, but not a big deal even if I fail

June 16th, 2006, 04:15 PM	#11
BerserkerCatSplat Hormone Induced Joined: Jun 21st, 2005 Last Online: 05:55 AM Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 5,784 Car: Pimpmobile Rep Power: 68	No, our D50's don't have a DoF preview button. If you want to do the Pringles thing, I suggest picking up an older 50mm F1.8 with aperture ring - otherwise, you'll have to shoot with your lens stopped all the way down. Fortunately, I picked up my old-school 50 for a mere $50, so it won't break the bank. __________________ OSPhoto

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