1981Eagle's version of macro photography

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.







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





So I went to the lathe and made a custom ring to back that ring light up some









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'