Macro Photo, But I don't have a Macro Lense

[ChasWG]

First I'll start with the some pictures, then I'll tell you how I did it.







OK, so I don't own a Macro lense. And these pictures are not simply 100% crops. I was cruzin' around on YouTube and stumbled onto an interesting video.
Here:

YouTube - Macro without macro lens

I used my new Canon 40D and a 1.8 50mm lense. It has the required 52mm filter mount to do this. I was totally shocked to see this work out so well. And with a little more practise I think this could really be fun!

I set the lense to it's greatest DoF, f22 and used the on camera flash to make exposure. I think shutter speed was 1/60th.

Here's a quick shot I took with the 50mm lense mounted normally and as you can see, the effect is dramatic.



I was only a few inches away from the flowers. I had to be careful not to breath too hard as I could make the flowers move around. And ofcourse being that close means lighting can be an issue. You also need some other source of light falling on the subject so you can focus. Oh, that's done by moving the camera and lense in and out untill it looks right. It's a touchy thing, small movements make a huge difference. I think I took 33 pictures to get a couple nice ones.

Here's a funny one I tried with another orchid. With my naked eye I didn't see the ultra fine spider webs on the lip of my Blc. 'Rustic Spots'. but in this image the show up! I'm hoping on this site you can see them too. I was using my very nice comp. monitor and PhotoShop to see them.





Here's a picture from the other day using a 70-200 f4 L lense. At around 180mm I could get the whole flower. And I had to stand back at least 1.2 meters to get focus.



If you have a camera with a DoF button and a lense with a 52mm filter thread-in front, you too can do this!

[WhiteRabbit]

wow - haven't watched the video yet but your pix are awesome so gonna watch it for sure!
thanks

[cirillonb]

just a few observations and hints. If you are hand holding get a tripod and use it. Stop using the flash, the coverage is inadequate at this distance. If you can, once you have decided on an alternative light source, use a low ISO such as 80 or 100 and some of the "grain" may clear up. Since alternative artificial light introduces all the problems with white balance, try taking you pictures outdoors. Use the camera's time release to avoid shaking the camera when you push the shutter release thus introducing more blur.
I am actually amazed that the close up lens did so well. Keep experimenting.
Nick

[cirillonb]

I'm sorry I thought you were using a close up lens, not a lens reversal mount. The other comments probably still apply
Nick

[help]

it took some nice pics of my phal with my d90

[help]

i dont know how to make it bigger and it still let me upload it, o well

[ChasWG]

Did you use this reversed lense technic to take the pictures?

It's nothing that will replace using a real macro lense, but it is fun!

[help]

oh, i have a macro lense, but i thought id share anway! i just dont know how to post the pics at the very best they can be posted.

do you shoot in raw

[ChasWG]

Not yet, those are just large/fine Jpegs.

Not sure why your photos don'topen up. What photo site are you using? I use Photobucket and it always works. You need to load the url info to make them post up properly.

[help]

im just uploading the image, i dont have a photo site.

if you shoot in raw you can develop the image and fix any lighting issues very easily, it makes your pictures turn out soo well