An experiment in macro on the cheap

[bsuttie]

After seeing some of the wonderful examples on here, I've wanted to give macro a shot since I got my Sony A300 a few months ago, but can't justify the expense of a macro lens (yet!).

So bought one of these cheap lens reversers off eBay for £ 2.99 or something, which duly arrived from Hong Kong.

Now, anyone who's tried this will know that the problem is you can't see anything unless you live near the Equator and there's no cloud cover, or have access to a 10kW light source as the lens stops right down.

However, Sony lenses are opened up when you put the rear lens cap on. So simple solution, cut a hole in the rear lens cap. (I know many of you will already know this, but maybe there's someone out there who doesn't.

You can even adjust the aperture to a certain extent by twisting the lens cap a little.

Anyway, here are my first shots using the kit lens reversed on a Sony A300. Only subject I had to hand was a pile of silver threepenny bits, and of course the sun went away just as I started so I was still struggling for light :

Any comments appreciated

regards

Brian

[johnaalex]

Looks like a successful experiment to me, well done

Also, we now who to apply to for a loan - that collection should be worth a few bob now!

[Mike.P®]

Looks good, well done .. waiting to see some bug shots now

Originally Posted by johnaalex

Also, we now who to apply to for a loan - that collection should be worth a few bob now!

You obviously don't need a loan, Cashew nuts indeed .....

[johnaalex]

Originally Posted by Mike.P®

Looks good, well done .. waiting to see some bug shots now




You obviously don't need a loan, Cashew nuts indeed .....

OI! While you have been lounging around here back in the Mother Country me and others have been busy contributing to this little bucket of photographic knowledge and, dare I say it, expertise. So get of my back with your cheap comments about my nuts and review the work of your co-members.

[onefivenine]

Nice work! I've never tried reversing lenses, but a lot of folk - yourself included - do get great results with this sort of setup.
Providing you can sort the lighting out then bingo.
Were these natural light shots? Did you use a tripod?
Your images are very clean too, in terms of sensor dust.

[bsuttie]

Originally Posted by Mike.P®

waiting to see some bug shots now

I need to learn the secret of how to keep the damn things still! Also with this technique you physically have to get the lens so close that you're in danger of squishing them.

regards

Brian

[bsuttie]

Originally Posted by onefivenine

Were these natural light shots? Did you use a tripod?Your images are very clean too, in terms of sensor dust.

Yes, just natural light and not much of it. Handheld for all of these but I'll try a tripod at some point.

regards

Brian

[bsuttie]

Originally Posted by johnaalex

Looks like a successful experiment to me, well done

Also, we now who to apply to for a loan - that collection should be worth a few bob now!

Unfortunately they're not worth that much. I was hoping for an "Antiques Roadshow" moment when I looked them up on line, but sadly. no.

So you'll have to go back to Bradford and Bingley if you're looking for a loan

regards

Brian

[mucca_D]

Love the REX shot! Now thats what you call a thin line of DOF

[Fozzybear]

Very good shots - I'd call that a success. I reckon a tripod will help a lot, I find it much easier to do macro with one as I find the point of focus moves back and forth a lot if I'm shooting handheld... something I struggled with when photographing dragonflies yesterday.