Reversing Rings - Are they worth it?

helloyo53

Hello again.

Sorry for all these questions. I'm getting overwhelmed with all this new stuff that I can get for my camera.

I read not long ago about reversing rings. Apparently they can change a lens into an almost macro lens. I was thinking of getting http://www.adorama.com/MCRRCA52.html this one for my 50mm f/1.8 lens. The review that is shown on that page sounds good, but I figured I'd run it by you guys to see what you think.

So, what do you think? Should I spend my money on this or just forget about it?

Thanks.

Bend The Light

I used one for my 18-55mm kit lens (58mm thread). I found it quite good, but you do need to get light in there somewhere, too. You will struggle with Depth of Field, and an aperture of 1.8 will be nigh on unuseable...you may have to stop down to get something you can use, but again, light is needed. I rigged a reflector for my camera as I didn't have a flash until later...looks wierd, but worked!


flash aaargh 2 by Bend The Light, on Flickr

These are with 18-55mm, reversed, with the flash converter...


Hoverfly in johns Garden framed by Bend The Light, on Flickr

And this guy was about 1cm long...

Unidentified Flying Creature framed by Bend The Light, on Flickr

I'd say for a few pounds, the reversing ring was worth it. But look also at extension tubes...you don't have to spend much, especially if you want to use them manually like I do...very cheap, then.

craig_d

For ordinary macro work I prefer either an ordinary macro lens or a non-macro lens on an extension tube. I use reversing rings only for extreme magnification. Mounting a 200mm lens on the camera normally, then a filter ring to filter ring reversing lens on the end, and a 28mm lens mounted reversed, gives something like 7x magnification (200/28=7.14), greater even than an MP-E 65 (though without quite the same image quality). I haven't done much with this setup (nothing I really want to post), but it does work.

helloyo53

Bend The Light wrote: »

I used one for my 18-55mm kit lens (58mm thread). I found it quite good, but you do need to get light in there somewhere, too. You will struggle with Depth of Field, and an aperture of 1.8 will be nigh on unuseable...you may have to stop down to get something you can use, but again, light is needed. I rigged a reflector for my camera as I didn't have a flash until later...looks wierd, but worked!


flash aaargh 2 by Bend The Light, on Flickr

These are with 18-55mm, reversed, with the flash converter...


Hoverfly in johns Garden framed by Bend The Light, on Flickr

And this guy was about 1cm long...

Unidentified Flying Creature framed by Bend The Light, on Flickr

I'd say for a few pounds, the reversing ring was worth it. But look also at extension tubes...you don't have to spend much, especially if you want to use them manually like I do...very cheap, then.

So should I get one that fits my 18-55mm instead? The shots you posted are pretty impressive. How did you make your reflector? Just cardboard, tinfoil, and a white sheet? I'm sure I'd be able to rid something up similar to that.

Bend The Light

helloyo53 wrote: »

So should I get one that fits my 18-55mm instead? The shots you posted are pretty impressive. How did you make your reflector? Just cardboard, tinfoil, and a white sheet? I'm sure I'd be able to rid something up similar to that.

No, not necessarily...the 50mm would work fin (actually, in the picture above, the lens is a 35mm which also has a 58mm filter thread).
The issue with the kit lens is that it is only auto aperture - you would have to set the aperture, hold down the aperture (DoF) preview AT THE SAME TIME as removing the lens, then reverse it. This maintains the aperture. Mind you, if you're talking about the 50m f1.8 - is that only auto aperture, too?

The up-side is that you have zoom (with 18mm being the WIDEST and 55mm being the biggest zoom - lens is reversed).

I tend to use old manual lenses reversed, with manual aperture for this.

Macro tubes are easier, but you "might" still have issues with aperture - depends on what tubes you buy - simple ones will have no circuitry, so camera settings will not be transferred. Other have circuits and can transmit aperture details to the lens. It's all about cost, really.

The reflector is just cardboard and tinfoil. The tinfoil is inside. The white is toilet roll.

mud390

I recently picked up a reversing ring to give macro a try on the cheap and I'm having fun with it. I'm using a reversing ring that mounts to the body and the lens mounts to that backwards. I'm using a 50mm 1.8 and wide open the depth of field is next to nothing. It can be challenging, but again, it is definitely a cheap and fun way to get started!

Kris

helloyo53

Thanks everyone for the input. For those who have a reversing ring, did you buy it in a store or online? If you bought it in a store, how much did you pay for it?

r3t1awr3yd

Adorama has 'em for $14 (or at least when I bought mine).

helloyo53

r3t1awr3yd wrote: »

Adorama has 'em for $14 (or at least when I bought mine).

It isn't a bad price, but shipping to Canada costs more than half of the price of just the ring. I might check out the camera store down the street to see if they have any and see their prices. Anything below what I would pay with shipping on Adorama is great.

Bend The Light

Bought mine from FleaBay. About £8...not sure how much thatt'd be for you.

HelenOster

helloyo53 wrote: »

It isn't a bad price, but shipping to Canada costs more than half of the price of just the ring. I might check out the camera store down the street to see if they have any and see their prices. Anything below what I would pay with shipping on Adorama is great.

Brandon, please email me with your post code for the USPS price: HelenO@adorama.com


♫★Best wishes for a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year ★♫

craig_d

The price of a reversing ring will vary somewhat according to its diameter and perhaps what it's made of. There are also at least two different types of reversing ring: one that lets you mount a lens reversed on a camera (so it's a lens mount on one side and filter threads on the other), and one to let you mount a lens reversed in front of another lens (thus, filter threads on both sides). If you have multiple lenses that you want to use with reversing rings, you'll need rings of the appropriate filter thread diameter for each one.

The only reversing ring I have is a Fotodiox 52mm double filter thread (lens-to-lens) ring. I bought it through Amazon.com for $6.99 earlier this year.