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In reply to Post #2038 Many thanks for posting, certainly a improvement. Will definitely give this a try when I'm feeling brave enough!
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In reply to Post #2037
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Shot 1 shows lens reversed. Shot 2 shows the much magnified image Shot 3 shows the largest image you can get with the lens used the normal way
Take your 18-55mm lens off the camera and turn it around so that the front of the lens is now facing the camera body. Set the zoom at 55mm. carefully place the lens against the body and have a look through the viewfinder.
Chose an object with some detail and move the body and lens backwards and forwards until it comes into sharp focus.
This is called reverse lens and to attach the lens to the body you need a `reversing ring` which has a male screw thread on one side and a Canon EOS mount on the other. One side screws into the filter mount on the lens and then mounts onto the camera.
As you are using an electric lens there is no way you can set an aperture on it. The aperture is set on the body and the contacts in lens and body talk to each other which sets the aperture on the lens.
As you have broken that contact, that can’t happen but you can trick the lens into setting and keeping an aperture set and retained when the lens is taken off the camera’
Put the camera into AV mode and set an aperture f8 is a good choice
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On the camera body there is a small button called `Depth of Field Preview Button` ( the button manually stops the lens down to the aperture set)
Keeping the button pressed in, dismount the lens from the camera.
You now have a lens set at the aperture you have selected and it will retain that setting until you mount the lens again.
When the lens is mounted either in reversed lens mode or using manual extension tubes or a set of bellows the camera will match a speed which allows for an appropriate exposure.
The slight downside is that the image seen in the viewfinder will be darker because you are looking through a smaller aperture than if the lens was in full auto mode at maximum aperture. A middle of the road aperture does overcome this situation to a great extent.
Cost of a reversing ring around £5UK, Cost of manual extension tubes around £15 UK.
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In reply to Post #2036 I use a canon 600d, so hopefully I have the right one as £5 is a bit cheaper than £400!
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In reply to Post #2035 Your welcome Andrew. What camera do you use? as there is a tweak with Canon models that gets you approaching 1/1 lifesize with the 18-55mm lens for around £5
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In reply to Post #2034 That's great! Many thanks Jeff just shows you dont have to spend a fortune, hopefully i will be uploading some pics here soon.
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In reply to Post #2033 Hi Andrew
If you are looking at insect macro’s then they are taken hand held. A tripod is useful for stationary objects such as flowers. You can get some much needed stability from using a mono pod but generally it’s hand held.
You do not need to buy a ring flash for macro photography. They are expensive although you can get an LED version off the bay for less than £20. A ring flash gives shadow less lighting and delivers the light directly onto the subject but the lighting is very flat and tends to give less contrast.
I own a ring flash but seldom use it preferring to use a Canon 430 ex with a diffuser attached which is a standard outfit amongst macro people.
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The lens in the picture is a Vivitar 90mm f2.8 Macro in FD mount adapted to Canon EOS mount. It's 30 years old and I paid £80 for it off the bay and it does this
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It also works quite nicely with flowers
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In reply to Post #2025 Some great macro shots Dave! also I have a few questions if you wouldn't mind answering them, or anyone else who does macro photography:
Is most of your shots done handheld, or done using a tripod? Also do you find a ring flash is essential for macro shots as I'm looking at purchasing my first dedicated macro lens which aren't exactly cheap and I'm hoping I don't have to splash out a large amount of cash for a ring flash also, I plan on shooting insects/flowers predominantly outside if that helps.
Thanks in advance, Andrew.
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One from today
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In reply to Post #2030 loving this gizmo on my camera. 'blue is the colour'

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In reply to Post #2029 quite like this one, if i say so myself
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did know i could set my camera to only pick up certain colours
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Have a look at BBC iplayer guys.
'Wild Camera men at work'
It is a good watch.
Presented by David Attenborough.
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In reply to Post #2026 Thanks Pete
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In reply to Post #2025 All I can say is brilliant photo Dave
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