Dedicated macro lenses can be expensive sometimes, but if you want a macro lens and not break the bank, especially if you have a smallish zoom you aren't using, you can sometimes get away pretty cheap.
I took a Canon 18-55 EFS and mounted it in reverse. The front element is near the camera body and the bayonet mount is the new front element.
You can get a 'reversing ring' and leave it at that - or you can also get a bayonet mount that has threads for a clear filter to keep any dust out - that's what I did.
![[Image: ysADZca.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/ysADZca.jpg)
![[Image: X4bEuKk.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/X4bEuKk.jpg)
![[Image: oTw3QkT.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/oTw3QkT.jpg)
Now ... what to do about the light? Well I have a ring light but the original mount put the ring too far forward of the front filter
![[Image: VaeOJDQ.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/VaeOJDQ.jpg)
![[Image: VwYcDZP.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/VwYcDZP.jpg)
So I went to the lathe and made a custom ring to back that ring light up some
![[Image: fA3GgLg.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/fA3GgLg.jpg)
![[Image: 9xbGqSd.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/9xbGqSd.jpg)
![[Image: XE9ZvtR.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/XE9ZvtR.jpg)
![[Image: 62bRMt1.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/62bRMt1.jpg)
That's better!
This type of set-up provides some great results, but has a very shallow depth of field limitation, so if you don't use photo-staking software, you will have to be pretty precise on your focus.
Look for part 2 to see how I address 'fine focus'
I took a Canon 18-55 EFS and mounted it in reverse. The front element is near the camera body and the bayonet mount is the new front element.
You can get a 'reversing ring' and leave it at that - or you can also get a bayonet mount that has threads for a clear filter to keep any dust out - that's what I did.
![[Image: ysADZca.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/ysADZca.jpg)
![[Image: X4bEuKk.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/X4bEuKk.jpg)
![[Image: oTw3QkT.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/oTw3QkT.jpg)
Now ... what to do about the light? Well I have a ring light but the original mount put the ring too far forward of the front filter
![[Image: VaeOJDQ.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/VaeOJDQ.jpg)
![[Image: VwYcDZP.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/VwYcDZP.jpg)
So I went to the lathe and made a custom ring to back that ring light up some
![[Image: fA3GgLg.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/fA3GgLg.jpg)
![[Image: 9xbGqSd.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/9xbGqSd.jpg)
![[Image: XE9ZvtR.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/XE9ZvtR.jpg)
![[Image: 62bRMt1.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/62bRMt1.jpg)
That's better!
This type of set-up provides some great results, but has a very shallow depth of field limitation, so if you don't use photo-staking software, you will have to be pretty precise on your focus.
Look for part 2 to see how I address 'fine focus'
“Why is it I always get my best ideas while shaving?”
- Albert Einstein
- Albert Einstein