Extreme Macro Photography with a Reversing RingThere's a world of detail too small even for a dedicated macro lens to record. Here's how use s reversing ring to get amazing close-ups.
There are several inexpensive ways to go even closer to your subjects than you could with an expensive macro lens, so you don't need a lot of expensive equipment to capture extreme close-up shots.
Simply screwing a lens on your camera backwards is one of the easiest and least expensive solutions. Trust me on this, even if it may sound ridiculous. To use this technique, you will require an adaptor ring to reverse your lens. These adaptors, which run about £10, have a filter thread and a bayonet mount on opposite sides.
You can't use automatic features with these adaptors since, as their low price would imply, they don't provide an electronic or mechanical connection between the lens and camera. There are some restrictions when using lenses made for most modern SLRs. Although you can mount these lenses to a reversing ring, there is no aperture control; therefore, you cannot change the aperture.
Use a lens with a mechanical aperture ring, like many vintage Canon, Nikon, or Pentax lenses, to solve the problem. Any lens may be used because it is mounted backwards; having the same mount as your camera is not required.
When selecting a lens for this project, there are a few things to keep an eye out for. A fixed focal length lens will typically produce the best results, and the shorter the focal length of the lens, the higher the magnification. In my photos below, on an 18-55mm lens, 18mm gives the highest magnification, while 55mm gives the least.
How to Get Closer to Your Subjects
How to attach and operate a reversing ring to get jaw-dropping close-ups.
To take the pictures you see here, I utilised a reversing ring and an old kit lens. Ensure the reversing ring adaptor you select has a filter thread appropriate for the intended lens or a stepping ring to modify the thread for various sizes.
Prepare the subject and the camera. The camera and subject must be firmly fastened in place for clear photographs because even the slightest movement will blur the image.
Pro Tip: Mirror Lock-up - You'll discover that even the smallest movement will blur an image at very high magnifications. Your photos can be ruined even by the vibration that your camera's mirror causes when it moves out of the way. To ensure you receive sharp results, use your camera's Mirror Lock-up feature, which can be located in the menu.
Consider the lighting. When working so closely with small subjects, you require a light source that is small enough to be placed conveniently between the lens and the subject. I sometimes use two USB lights to illuminate laptops connected to a phone charger. I'm using a multi-LED light on flexible arms to illuminate the subject in this image.
Reversing Ring Macro Photography Example Images
These images were all taken in a single afternoon whilst playing with the reversing ring using the 18-55mm kit lens. Some practice will improve results somewhat. With no method of focus and such a narrow depth of field, a lot of this was hit-and-miss, but there were some successes. You need a tripod for this, and a lens with mechanical aperture control would be beneficial.
Master Focus Stacking
Even when using a lens's smallest achievable aperture, the depth of field at extreme magnifications will be so small that just a few millimetres or so of your subject will be sharp. To get around this, you can employ focus stacking, shooting several pictures with different focus points and combining them using image editing software.
You cannot shift the focus when using a reversing ring on your lens; thus, you must move the camera to take a series of pictures. You must fasten the camera to a focusing rail to move it in the appropriate little steps. This makes it possible to slide the camera back and forth precisely. If you shop around, the focus rails will cost you around £60, but if you get the macro bug, they will be well worth the investment.
