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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Clovishound" data-source="post: 829383" data-attributes="member: 50197">I bought, and briefly used a reversing ring back in my film days. It's been a long time ago, but I do remember I wasn't overly happy with the results. I ended up with a set of extension tubes. Fast forward several decades and I'm back into macro work. I briefly started with extension tubes for my Z5. It worked well, but had several downsides. I ended up purchasing a Nikkor Z 105mm micro. It wasn't cheap, but it is a very sharp lens. I still use the extension tubes with the macro lens on occasions when I need a little more magnification. Still, I'm only at 1.25:1 or so. If you are looking for magnification much over 1:1, there are several options.Extension tubes are relatively inexpensive, retain original sharpness of the lens used well, and preserve control of aperture and autofocus. Caveat: I almost never use autofocus for macro work, and if you are going much beyond 1:1, I doubt you will have much success with AF.Macro lenses are probably the most common route for macro. They are optimized for sharpness at close focusing distances and good ones may minimize diffusion at the smaller apertures commonly used to maximize depth of field. The downside is their cost. A new Nikon Z 105mm will run a little over $1000. Buying used, or 3rd party brings the cost down, but you are unlikely to get a decent macro lens for a couple hundred dollars. Bellows are more expensive than extension tubes, and work the same way, except you can adjust the amount of distance between the lens and camera without adding and removing tubes. A bellows unit will typically give you a lot more distance, and thus magnification, than a normal set of extension tubes, although extension tubes can be stacked to most any length desired, as long as you have enough tubes. Like tubes, they can be used in conjunction with a macro lens to give additional magnification. As to ring flashes, most macro shooters use standard on camera flashes with diffusers. As opposed to ring flashes, this gives a little more directional quality to the light, which is often more aesthetically pleasing. Ring flashes tend to be rather expensive compared to on camera flashes. (which you already have, so no need to buy something else)One big question I have is how much magnification you want. Most true macro lenses will provide 1:1 magnification, with some going to 2:1. If you want more than this, you will have to go to other means to get there. I have no experience with anything much beyond that. Here is a shot done at around 1:1. It was shot handheld with my Z 105mm micro lens, Godox TT685 on camera flash, and an AK macro flash diffuser.[ATTACH=full]415619[/ATTACH]</blockquote>

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