Reversed lens macro on D5100

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Rexer John

Senior Member
OK so I got a reversing ring from Amazon to have a go at macro with reversed lenses.
Here are some pics to give a comparison.

All pics are of the same AA battery.

Using the 18-55 kit lens, set at 55mm (shorter focal length gives more magnification when the lens is reversed)
1st pic with a fully open aperture and second with smallest aperture.

KitLensAt55mmApertureLarge.jpg KitLensAt55mmApertureSmall.jpg

Same kit lens at 18mm, full open aperture and smallest aperture.

KitLensAt18mmApertureLarge.jpg KitLensAt18mmApertureSmall.jpg

Now a 35mm 1.8 prime, full open and smallest aperture.

Prime35mmApertureLarge.jpg Prime35mmApertureSmall.jpg

P.S. no post processing or cropping. All shot with ISO at 200.
Reversing ring is metal and cost £9
 
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WhiteLight

Senior Member
Re: Eeversed lens macro on D5100

Very cool.. Always wanted to see how images would look through reversing rings as opposed to a true macro lens...

Sent from my HTC Incredible S using Tapatalk 2
 
SkvLTD

SkvLTD

Senior Member
Re: Eeversed lens macro on D5100

Yea, you can do really neat things w/ this method, but its quite delicate to focus. One of the good examples was shooting chips on a motherboard under red/blue lights.
 
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WhiteLight

Senior Member
How easy/difficult is it?
I mean the whole process of attaching the lens in reverse & focusing and stuff?
Sorry for the noob question, i am a noob! :D
 
R

Rexer John

Senior Member
The reversing ring fits onto the camera body just like a standard lens, then screw the lens onto the reversing ring. It screws onto the reversing ring with the filter threads.

This is the one I got, best to be metal I think.

I also made a makeshift flash diffuser to fit close to the end on the lens for times where you need a fast shutter. i.e. insects or if using hand held.

My method for handheld shots...
Shutter 1/200
Flash on manual and set to full power, no TTL is available with lens reversed.
Homemade flash diffuser attached to end of lens.
Adjust ISO as necessary, good results and depth of field at 100 or 200 ISO with 35mm prime, aperture closed to minimum (f22).
Using viewfinder or live view, slide the aperture tag open.
Get focussed, very easy with the aperture wide as depth of field is extremely small.
Now let go of the aperture tag and the lens will stop down to the smallest aperture, take the shot.
If you want to control depth of field you can just slide as far as you like.
If you dont want to use a flash, use a tripod and a longer shutter speed.
A remote release is needed for anything over 30 seconds.

Flash without a diffuser is not good because you need to be VERY close, with the 35mm lens the focus point is 45 to 55mm from the subject depending on the focus ring position. I wasn't expecting the focus ring to be usable but that 10mm really helps when you are on a tripod.
Pictures can be taken with the built in direct flash but I think that was with the kit 18-55 zoom, set to a longer focal length.

It's a lot of fun and well worth it as a (not too) gimmicky extra.
Use raw to get extra dynamic range to adjust the final shot exposure level.

Take care not to poke the rear element into anything and cover when not in use.
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