Finally gone macro

deadtiger2 · 22nd December 2008, 10:56 AM

I picked up a minolta 55mm 1.7 lens the other day from a fete for $1. I figured while I can't mount it on my 40D easily, I can reverse mount it on my kit 18-55 and use it as a macro lens, which is something I've wanted to do for a long time.
I took all of the following shots with the 55mm 1.7 reverse mounted on the 18-55 kit lens with a 430ex + custom made softbox for lighting. Unfortunately using the lens reversal means I have a working distance of roughly 2cm, which makes it very difficult to get photos of insects. Especially when I'm scared of spiders

C&C welcome, but don't comment on dust bunnies, I'm well aware of them! Just haven't had the chance to pp them out. All photos have received minimal pp, mostly just sharpening.

Warning: Photo 6 is a spider

1.

ISO 400
1/250 sec
F/22

2.

ISO 400
1/250 sec
F/22

3.

ISO 250
1/200 sec
F/14

4.

ISO 250
1/200 sec
F/22

5.

ISO 250
1/200 sec
F/22

6.

ISO 250
1/250 sec
F/18

Steadyhands · 22nd December 2008, 3:17 PM

Awesome series. You are going to find macro stuff is addictive....

Ostenn · 22nd December 2008, 6:43 PM

Quote:

I can reverse mount it on my kit 18-55 and use it as a macro lens

Could you possibly show me some photos of this. Sounds interesting!

deadtiger2 · 22nd December 2008, 8:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ostenn

Could you possibly show me some photos of this. Sounds interesting!

Sure!
Here's the kit that I'm using for macro. The 18-55 is attached to the body, and the minolta 55mm 1.7 is turned around and attached to the front of the 18-55 with... masking tape.

So basically the front elements are next to each other.
The 55mm 1.7 is set to f/1.7 manually, and is focused to infinite. The coolest thing is the 18-55 can still autofocus in this setup

If you're interested, the softbox is made of cardboard, and is lined with aluminium foil, plus a tissue on the end to diffuse the light.
Sorry for the crap photos, they were taken with my phone.

Cat600RR · 22nd December 2008, 10:38 PM

#2 is really nice, I like the colour and composition.

The set up is really ghetto (read: awesome!), and clearly it works well.

azz · 22nd December 2008, 11:02 PM

No.3 is awesome

Love the composition.

Seeing the 55mm reverse mounted with tape put a smile on my face

Hope to see more from you soon.

scon · 22nd December 2008, 11:04 PM

I really do like that a setup that ugly can produce such lovely photos! Good work!

0oBelialo0 · 22nd December 2008, 11:24 PM

Nice work, especially given the fiddly equipment.

Ben

Archades · 23rd December 2008, 12:23 AM

I use my nifty fifty reversed on the 18-55 IS but it's damn hard to get focus'd and hard to see through when you tighten the aperture on the reversed lens:P

Agg · 23rd December 2008, 12:49 AM

Very nice! #4 and #6 are great.

deadtiger2 · 23rd December 2008, 9:57 AM

Thanks for the comments

Once it is set up, the gear isn't as fiddly as is looks. And the masking tape holds the lens on pretty well. Going ghetto saved me a few bucks, and it produces good enough results for me!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archades

I use my nifty fifty reversed on the 18-55 IS but it's damn hard to get focus'd and hard to see through when you tighten the aperture on the reversed lens:P

It shouldn't be hard to see through at all! Make sure when you attach the nifty fifty it is wide open (f/1.8) to allow as much light through as possible. Its the 18-55 that needs to be stopped down to allow for more Depth of field. If the nifty fifty isn't always wide open, I'm pretty sure you can lock the aperture by setting it manually on the camera to 1.8, then pressing the DoF preview button and removing the lens.
I accept no responsibility if doing the above causes problems with your equipment

xishnik · 23rd December 2008, 11:03 AM

#2 is great. Very artistic! Worth printing big and putting up on a wall.

stoj19. · 23rd December 2008, 11:30 AM

wow, great work with the setup!

deadtiger2 · 23rd December 2008, 11:40 AM

Cheers.
I'm happy to send full size images to people if they want them

Heres a 100% crop of a fly I shot last night to show the quality.

Ostenn · 23rd December 2008, 8:33 PM

This is amazing! I want to buy a minolta 50 for $1 at a fate now!!!

22nd December 2008, 10:56 AM	#1
deadtiger2 Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Outer Melbourne Posts: 94	Finally gone macro I picked up a minolta 55mm 1.7 lens the other day from a fete for $1. I figured while I can't mount it on my 40D easily, I can reverse mount it on my kit 18-55 and use it as a macro lens, which is something I've wanted to do for a long time. I took all of the following shots with the 55mm 1.7 reverse mounted on the 18-55 kit lens with a 430ex + custom made softbox for lighting. Unfortunately using the lens reversal means I have a working distance of roughly 2cm, which makes it very difficult to get photos of insects. Especially when I'm scared of spiders C&C welcome, but don't comment on dust bunnies, I'm well aware of them! Just haven't had the chance to pp them out. All photos have received minimal pp, mostly just sharpening. Warning: Photo 6 is a spider 1. ISO 400 1/250 sec F/22 2. ISO 400 1/250 sec F/22 3. ISO 250 1/200 sec F/14 4. ISO 250 1/200 sec F/22 5. ISO 250 1/200 sec F/22 6. ISO 250 1/250 sec F/18 __________________ Q6600 // Asus P5k // Xpertvision 2900XT // 2GB OCZ & 2GB Corsair twin2x pc6400 // Coolermaster Stacker 830 Evo Black // Silverstone ST65ZF 650W // Thermaltake Big Typhoon 120 VX Canon 7D \\ Canon 10-22mm F/3.5-4.5 USM \\ Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM \\ Canon 70-200 F4L IS USM \\ Canon MP-E 65mm \\ Canon 430ex \\ Canon EOS 350D \\ BG-E3 \\ 8GB Sandisk Extreme III \\ 4GB Sandisk Extreme III 2 Last edited by deadtiger2; 22nd December 2008 at 3:27 PM.*

22nd December 2008, 11:04 PM	#7
scon Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Canberra Posts: 4,540	I really do like that a setup that ugly can produce such lovely photos! Good work! __________________ Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. Douglas Adams, "Last Chance to See" - 1990 Food Blog: Wok the Fuck?!

22nd December 2008, 11:24 PM	#8
0oBelialo0 Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Canberra Posts: 4,013	Nice work, especially given the fiddly equipment. Ben __________________ "A vital ingredient of success is not knowing that what you're attempting can't be done" - Pratchett Blog \| RedBubble \| Gear \| Kiva.org - Loans That Change Lives

23rd December 2008, 12:23 AM	#9
Archades Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Jeebus Land Posts: 1,957	I use my nifty fifty reversed on the 18-55 IS but it's damn hard to get focus'd and hard to see through when you tighten the aperture on the reversed lens:P __________________ Flickr \| RedBubble

23rd December 2008, 12:49 AM	#10
Agg Lord of the Pings Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: A Reported Post near you Posts: 25,467	Very nice! #4 and #6 are great. __________________ www.overclockers.com.au - also now on twitter and facebook.

22nd December 2008, 3:17 PM	#2
Steadyhands Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 196	Awesome series. You are going to find macro stuff is addictive.... __________________ Greg 1DmkIII, 40D + other stuff that sticks to the front of them. Photogallery

22nd December 2008, 10:38 PM	#5
Cat600RR Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Brisbane Posts: 657	#2 is really nice, I like the colour and composition. The set up is really ghetto (read: awesome!), and clearly it works well.

22nd December 2008, 11:02 PM	#6
azz (Taking a Break) Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Heidelberg, Melbourne Posts: 3,809	No.3 is awesome Love the composition. Seeing the 55mm reverse mounted with tape put a smile on my face Hope to see more from you soon.

23rd December 2008, 11:03 AM	#12
xishnik Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Sydney Posts: 1,419	#2 is great. Very artistic! Worth printing big and putting up on a wall. __________________ Flickr Blog G+ When You Earnestly Believe You Can Compensate For A Lack Of Skill By Doubling Your Efforts, There's No End To What You Can't Do!

23rd December 2008, 11:30 AM	#13
stoj19. Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Newcastle, NSW Posts: 450	wow, great work with the setup!

23rd December 2008, 11:40 AM	#14
deadtiger2 Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Outer Melbourne Posts: 94	Cheers. I'm happy to send full size images to people if they want them Heres a 100% crop of a fly I shot last night to show the quality. __________________ Q6600 // Asus P5k // Xpertvision 2900XT // 2GB OCZ & 2GB Corsair twin2x pc6400 // Coolermaster Stacker 830 Evo Black // Silverstone ST65ZF 650W // Thermaltake Big Typhoon 120 VX Canon 7D \\ Canon 10-22mm F/3.5-4.5 USM \\ Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM \\ Canon 70-200 F4L IS USM \\ Canon MP-E 65mm \\ Canon 430ex \\ Canon EOS 350D \\ BG-E3 \\ 8GB Sandisk Extreme III \\ 4GB Sandisk Extreme III *2

23rd December 2008, 8:33 PM	#15
Ostenn Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Melbourne Posts: 171	This is amazing! I want to buy a minolta 50 for $1 at a fate now!!!