Reversed-lens macro

[Answerprancer]

Has anyone here tried this?
I've given it a go using both my 50mm prime and 18-200 zoom, both give varying results.
DOF is a tricky one to deal with; I can freeze the iris at a specified diameter before taking the lens off in order to give a wider field but that makes the view very dark and therefore difficult to see in order to focus.

[Answerprancer]

Anyone? ..Slapshot? Shoota? Eddie51?

[shoota]

Sorry AP macro never appealed to me and this is one technique I never explored.

[shoota]

What kit are you using and do you have an adapter?

[Answerprancer]

At the moment masking tape and Blutack LOL I have a reverser ring on order from Amazon. The 50mm has proved to be the easiest to use . The camera is an EOS350D, I will be upgrading soon hopefully to a 50D, I know - old, but I'm on very low budget.

[EDDIE51]

sorry never done it, i have used macro lens but just ones that include a macro setting as standard.
One lens I can recommend is the Helios 44 50mm, it was standard on the Russian Zenit cameras , these can be picked up on ebay for under £10 and will work on any DSLR with an adaptor. The Helios is not a macro lens but it focuses down to 5 inchs and it is f2, very good lens, strangely it is normally cheaper to buy an old Zenith camera just for the lens than buying a lens seperately. The Helios has a reputation as having great Bokeh and also is a great portrait lens. I have sold several of them on ebay but don't have one at the moment.

[Answerprancer]

Wow! Thanks for that info Eddie - I'll look into it (pardon the pun).

[EDDIE51]

Yes a great lens , if you have a choice get a Helios 44-2 there were at least 6 variants but the 44-2 is generally reckoned to be the sharpest
http://www.pentaxforu...os-44-2-58mm-f-2.html
The 44-4 has an auto/ manual switch so you can switch to manual and don't need to worry about the aperture auto pin getting stuck.
The lens is a direct copy of the legendary Zeiss Biota , but when those Russians copied it they actually improved it, the Biota needed to be stopped down at least 1/2 a stop for ultimate sharpness but this is pin sharp even wide open at f2.

[EDDIE51]

Just one point , the 50D is one of the few cameras that the Helios does not work on. The lens protrudes in to the mirror space and stops it returning. It will be fine on your EOS though.

[Answerprancer]

Ok thanks for that info - will have to find a way round that (some sort of extension tube maybe).
BTW I have just dug into a bag of assorted analogue SLRs, all in various states of disrepair and found what appear to be two M42 mount lenses: one is a Mirage 28mm 2:8 and the other is a Fuji 55mm 1:6. Would these work on my 350D with an adapter ring? (The iris seems to be a bit sticky on the Mirage).

[Answerprancer]

Update: I just bought a Zenit E complete with Helios 44-2 lens for £20 :-)

[shoota]

Congrats - I've got an old screw fitting outfit somewhere deep in the depths of the loft with all manner of gizmos to go with it including some kind of bellows attachment. Fujica I think.
You may be better off trying your macro with the manual kit.

[EDDIE51]

You can get an M42 to EOS adaptor easily there are loads on ebay from £5.
Not sure if the same adaptor works the 350D , it is only the 50D that has a problem with the Helios as far as I know. If the other 2 lens are M42 they will both work with an adaptor. Google M42> D350 adaptor and find the one you need , I suspect it is the same as an EOS adaptor.

[EDDIE51]

Found this

The M42 lens go straight on to a D350 with an M42>EOS adaptor .
As I thought it is only the D50 that has aproblem using a Helios.

[Answerprancer]

Thanks for that, Eddie. I've just received my adaptor ring from Amazon (very quick too). Started experimenting with the Helios and got some nice results so far but need daylight and no rain to test it properly !
I've suddenly got the bug for M42 lenses and am going to go looking for second-hand camera places near me to see what they've got.

[Answerprancer]

...and now my second ringpiece has arrived! Hooray, I can do macro properly now :-)

[shoota]

You'll have to show us some of the results AP.

[Answerprancer]

Will do.

[Answerprancer]

BTW - latest addition to my small collection of vintage glass: a 135mm 3.5 Super Takumar.