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I've entered this into the Digital Days contest and I'm a finalist. The voting part of the contest is now over, but I'd still love it if you'd rate my instructable.
This instructable will show you how to get quality macro shots at a high magnification. The best part is you don't even have to have a macro lens to do this. In a lot of cases you can do this with the gear you already have, or gear you can get very inexpensively.
I'll show you how to use 2 lenses, one inline with the other to get really up close and personal.
Below is a shot I took with this setup of 1 jewel in a pocket watch. Then another shot at full magnification. More sample shots on the last page.
Thanks.
This instructable will show you how to get quality macro shots at a high magnification. The best part is you don't even have to have a macro lens to do this. In a lot of cases you can do this with the gear you already have, or gear you can get very inexpensively.
I'll show you how to use 2 lenses, one inline with the other to get really up close and personal.
Below is a shot I took with this setup of 1 jewel in a pocket watch. Then another shot at full magnification. More sample shots on the last page.
Thanks.
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Signing UpStep 1What you'll need...
1) An SLR or DSLR.
2) A zoom lens, around 200mm works really well.
3) A fast prime lens, with an aperture ring.
4) A macro coupler.
5) A tripod in most cases.
Optional
6) A remote shutter release.
7) An off camera flash, or bounce flash if on camera.
In this instructable I'll be using:
Nikon D40
55-200mm zoom
52mm macro coupler
50mm f1.8 prime lens
Most people will have some sort of zoom, but maybe not a fast prime lens. The 50mm 1.8 D that I have is only about $100 new, and I'm pretty sure most of the other big camera names have a similar priced lens. Even better than that check craigslist or ebay for the cheapest prime you can find. You can buy just about any prime lens because it's going to be reversed and attached to your zoom using the filter threads, so this prime lens doesn't even have to fit your camera.
I was fortunate that the 2 lenses that I'm using both take the same filter size of 52mm, so I bought a 52mm to 52mm macro coupler. If you have lenses with different filter sizes there are a number of step-down/up couplers available from your favorite camera site/store. The coupler I bought was about $10, probably even cheaper through ebay.
2) A zoom lens, around 200mm works really well.
3) A fast prime lens, with an aperture ring.
4) A macro coupler.
5) A tripod in most cases.
Optional
6) A remote shutter release.
7) An off camera flash, or bounce flash if on camera.
In this instructable I'll be using:
Nikon D40
55-200mm zoom
52mm macro coupler
50mm f1.8 prime lens
Most people will have some sort of zoom, but maybe not a fast prime lens. The 50mm 1.8 D that I have is only about $100 new, and I'm pretty sure most of the other big camera names have a similar priced lens. Even better than that check craigslist or ebay for the cheapest prime you can find. You can buy just about any prime lens because it's going to be reversed and attached to your zoom using the filter threads, so this prime lens doesn't even have to fit your camera.
I was fortunate that the 2 lenses that I'm using both take the same filter size of 52mm, so I bought a 52mm to 52mm macro coupler. If you have lenses with different filter sizes there are a number of step-down/up couplers available from your favorite camera site/store. The coupler I bought was about $10, probably even cheaper through ebay.
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The aperture setting is controlled by the camera, but the good news is that once set it does not change its setting (i.e. it stays locked in the last setting).
So you attach the lens to the camera, you switch to M or Av and select the aperture you want. Take a sacrificial picture to make sure the lens is set (or press the "depth of field" button on the camera).
Turn off the camera and remove the lens.
It should have the desired aperture setting.
**vp
I would leave it at this - 'Set your prime lens to its maximum aperture, and the zoom to its smallest apeture'.
I'm thinking about getting a 50 1.8 for my d40 for low light photography so that would definitely be useful!
You can find them on ebay too...probably a similar price.
Thats pretty cool!
I used a 55-200 with a 50 1.8 reversed on the end (i got a 52mmreversing ring from ebay for a couple of pounds).