Some people over on Twitter (@Tawcan in particular) was asking me about my reverse macro setup. Today as I got home from doing some WordPress Consulting I checked the mail and waiting for me was my 58mm to 52mm filter adapter. The peice that would take my reverse macro set up to a WHOLE new level. Why a whole new level? Mainly it will allow me to use the Auto-Focus feature of my Canon XSi without having to physically hold my broken EF 50mm f1.8 (the nifty fifty) up to my lens.
The peices, looks pretty straight-forward right? Canon XSi, 58-52mm filter adapter and the broken 50mm lens.
This is how it looks when it’s all together! No more having to hold the lens up to the other lens and the Auto-Focus works too!
This is the result, granted there is a wee bit of barrel vignetting due to the broken lens portion, but I can auto focus pretty close now. I try and keep my kit lens at maximum focal length (55mm) to help minimize the barrel effect, though this can easily be cropped out. I wanted to show what it looked like uncropped.
For those who might have never seen Canadian currency, the dime, or 10 cents ($0.10) is our physically smallest currency. Roughly 18mm (0.70 inches) in diameter.
Now I have a whole new world to explore with more ease than before.
Brady ValentinoAug 13, 2009 at 15:44:19
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That’s an amazing technique! I’m gonna have to give it a try
VancityAllieAug 13, 2009 at 18:11:53
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I love the vignetting actually!
Question: Can you do this with a NON-broken 50mm?
Tyler Ingram August 13th, 2009 at 19:49:34[Link]
I have done it with my non-broken 50mm. I just used my broken one because it just sits on my desk doing nothing else
Brady ValentinoAug 13, 2009 at 20:20:22
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If both my lenses have 52mm screwins, could I just use a regular filter?
TawcanAug 14, 2009 at 06:13:13
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Very neat that AF works now. Thank god the nifty fifty isn’t that heavy. Can you imagine mounting something heavy at the end of the 18-55 IS? SNAP!
Tyler Ingram August 14th, 2009 at 06:39:06[Link]
@Brady if you found a 52mm to 52mm reverse filter adapter yup it would work too.
@Tawcan yea its nice the 50mm is light. The adapter ring is metal so that won’t break, though the two lenses are plastic
VancityAllieAug 14, 2009 at 14:21:00
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Hm, that’s a bit confusing.
I wonder if it would be cheaper to just buy a macro lens instead of an extra 50 mm?
Tyler Ingram August 14th, 2009 at 14:29:15[Link]
Canon’s macro lenses: 60mm ($350?) 100mm ($750)
Sigma’s 50mm macro: $260ish i think
The above lenses I believe are 1:1 ratios.
Canon’s 50mm f1.8: $75-$100
my 58mm to 52mm was $5 from ebay with free shipping
With my 18-55mm + 50mm I get a 1.1:1 ratio but the vignetting is a bit of a draw back.
I would LOVE to have the Canon EF 100mm f2.8 Macro but $750~ is a bit much.
I’m sure Nikon has equivalents, but you know I <3 Canon
Modern TechnologyAug 16, 2009 at 07:35:38
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Its a lovely piece of modern technology, but a bit expensive for the fans. You are betetr of buying a macro lens.
Regards.
princessAug 16, 2009 at 22:41:28
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hmmm…. dont you think its a little expensive for most people? i work in a website designing company and i however do think its a gud effort.
Tyler Ingram August 17th, 2009 at 08:45:50[Link]
Um what part is the expensive part?
The dedicated macro lenses are expensive yes. Its why I don’t have one.
The adapter ring cost me $5. I had the broken 50mm laying around and my kit lens came with my dSLR. All of that is a LOT cheaper than purchasing 1 lens for $800 or at least I think so.
StellaAug 19, 2009 at 05:23:18
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Great technique. Will try it.
shirleyAug 25, 2009 at 10:17:58
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I bought a reverse adapter for my XSI, but it won’t mount, is there something specific you need to do to make it mount properly?
The adapter fits on the lens, but not on the camera.
Tyler Ingram August 25th, 2009 at 11:07:03[Link]
There shouldn’t be, if it is a Canon (EF) mount it should mount just like a lens. Or at least that how I would think it would work as I don’t have the reverse mount. I have a reverse filter ring for my set up.
Where did you get your reverse mount from?
Love GraphicsAug 26, 2009 at 03:04:05
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Nice technique Tyler, appreciate you sharing it with us.
evaAug 28, 2009 at 21:41:00
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I have a 18-55mm kit lens, 50mm prime lens, and a 58mm-52mm stepping ring.
Is a stepping ring and filter adapter the same thing?
I can put the stepping ring on the 18-55mm lens, but the 50mm prime doesn’t fit on the other side of it? Any suggestions as to why?
Tyler Ingram August 30th, 2009 at 11:52:16[Link]
It should work, you’re stepping the 58mm down to 52mm like I do. The ring itself has male threads on both sides. I guess the filter adapter is the same thing as a step-down ring.
Unless the threading is messed up (worn/broken/cross-threaded) it should attach without issues. Don’t force it on though or you could cross-thread one of the ends.
Tyler Ingram August 30th, 2009 at 12:03:04[Link]
Wait.. if I think about it a step up/down ring will be male/female (thread wise). My adapter ring is a male/male so that I can attach the lens backwards.
evaAug 30, 2009 at 12:03:37
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A 52mm filter will fit on the other end, but not a lens.
Maybe mine is a male to female filter adapter? I don’t really know how to look to figure that out.
But since the 52mm uv filter fits onto it, but not the lens, i assume that is the issue.
AndrewSep 02, 2009 at 13:19:54
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I do not believe that the 50mm is locked in 1.8f by default, I think its more in the f4 range. If you want to open it up, and don’t have a manual aperture ring one way you can do it is to attach it to your camera, and press the DOF preview button, and remove the lens while holding it. Now obviously this is not intended use of the lens nor the camera, so do so at your own risk. I think it would result in alot less vignetting than in your picture! Great article however
My Fashion JewelrySep 02, 2009 at 13:30:31
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Thanx for the excellent ideas.I have defiantly bookmarked your site.