Extremely small scale macro photography

[XKCD97]

Hello, I'm trying the use like 13 extension rings to take pictures of a computer screen pixels, but the focus is extremely finicky. I was wondering if as you add extension do you have to decrease the focal length of the of the lens at the end of the whole stack. Is there something im missing or any tips to help get more magnification?

Equipment:
Nikon D3300
4 Kenko 30mm extension rings
3 uniplus 20 mm extension rings
6 uniplus 12 mm extension rings

Nikon 55-18m FL lens (AF-S NIKKOR 18-140 1:3.5-5.6 GED or AF-P NIKKOR 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 G)

Images of setup below

 

[Marilynne]

Welcome!

Please feel free to introduce yourself her - new member

 

[BF Hammer]

I have to say it. That is comically ridiculous!

2 or 3 extension tubes is reasonable. There are other ways for even closer work. First is to use a 200-300mm lens with 2 or 3 extension tubes. I have seen a super-macro lens out there by a Chinese brand. I think it is for mirrorless bodies, not sure how to adapt one for F mount. And there is the old Nikon bellows adapter that appears on used resale sometimes. That will allow fine-tuning the focus by moving the lens in/out.

 

[Clovishound]

Another issue is that at extremely high magnification, depth of field becomes razor thin. Even with small apertures, it is going to be challenging. If you don't go the bellows route a focusing rail may help.

If image quality is a priority, I would look at a prime lens vs a zoom kit lens. Also longer focal length lenses require subsequently longer extension. A rule of thumb is to achieve 1:1 magnification with a non macro lens, use extension equal to the focal length. IE, a 100mm lens will require around 100mm of extension to achieve 1:1, but a 50mm lens will only need 50mm of extension.

You might want to look at some microphotography setups. Here is one:

DSLR Microphotography

A little research on the web about the subject should give you some ideas and options.

 

[XKCD97]

Another issue is that at extremely high magnification, depth of field becomes razor thin. Even with small apertures, it is going to be challenging. If you don't go the bellows route a focusing rail may help.

If image quality is a priority, I would look at a prime lens vs a zoom kit lens. Also longer focal length lenses require subsequently longer extension. A rule of thumb is to achieve 1:1 magnification with a non macro lens, use extension equal to the focal length. IE, a 100mm lens will require around 100mm of extension to achieve 1:1, but a 50mm lens will only need 50mm of extension.

You might want to look at some microphotography setups. Here is one:

DSLR Microphotography

A little research on the web about the subject should give you some ideas and options.

Yes, the depth of focus was really thin but the ingenious book mount helped. Also, thank you for the tips and Microphotography resource. Googling this stuff is really hard because I don't know what to ask Google so thank you for a starting point.

 

[XKCD97]

I have to say it. That is comically ridiculous!

2 or 3 extension tubes is reasonable. There are other ways for even closer work. First is to use a 200-300mm lens with 2 or 3 extension tubes. I have seen a super-macro lens out there by a Chinese brand. I think it is for mirrorless bodies, not sure how to adapt one for F mount. And there is the old Nikon bellows adapter that appears on used resale sometimes. That will allow fine-tuning the focus by moving the lens in/out.

Hmm, I'll have to try the larger focal length lens setup, seems like it could be better than the current extreme jank, Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[BF Hammer]

A follow-up, here is the Laowa lens I mentioned in the previous post, and it comes in F-mount.
https://www.amazon.com/Venus-Laowa-...sIgD1IwayewBdcYdn60a0WE&dib_tag=se&mfadid=adm

And the bellows extension for F-mount.
https://www.amazon.com/Runshuangyu-...bO6bI&dib_tag=se&sprefix=nikon+bellow,aps,141

 

[XKCD97]

A follow-up, here is the Laowa lens I mentioned in the previous post, and it comes in F-mount.
https://www.amazon.com/Venus-Laowa-...sIgD1IwayewBdcYdn60a0WE&dib_tag=se&mfadid=adm

And the bellows extension for F-mount.
https://www.amazon.com/Runshuangyu-Extension-Macro-Bellow-Camera/dp/B07SHF7QJC/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3UZY0MXHUAB6G&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.r58OVmwHFdaA-CHbzm7LPHafHfJIRpLkHMNPhR0vE60-AZIYcm0McKLY1gGY3l1ZyTUKYjWkwtDUs_5OAQp-Gb0sC2ypDfZYDy5ZlQ8B6kupBX8NpkMYyTsXUf66Jn2tK-h85xJRXX9WLOwgTLEh0Xz4lf8iy-I6AVyYiarW8qHwVcYakOHxUSCy9a3ug_N9mfBiziIL6J1U29qSN9uGzqPmKSNimec_60w2tsPK-1Y.FpXOOymGcatuGSEvH8h3rWfeajmqLGl9vsg1NLbO6bI&dib_tag=se&sprefix=nikon+bellow,aps,141

Thank you! I'll see if these would be worth it

 

[Clovishound]

Be aware that the bellows posted has no electronic connections. That means that if you are using a lens without an aperture ring, like the ones you mentioned in your post, you will have to jump through hoops to change the aperture. I have a D3400 with the 18-55 kit lens, and tried several methods to get the aperture to change once the lens has been removed, and nothing worked. I have heard that setting the camera to the desired aperture, then turning off the camera and removing the lens would do it. It didn't work for me. I even tried setting a long shutter speed and turned it off before the shutter closed again, to no avail. The posted bellows should work well with an older lens that has an aperture ring.

 

[SkvLTD]

4:1 (or perhaps closer) of a BB ball using my Tamron SP90 + kenko DGX 2x TC + fuji adapter + Fuji's 2x TC on X-T3. Probably my usual f/32 aperture, and a smidge of room to wiggle.