Reverse Lens Mount Macro Photography

Lichen © James Troi

A member has asked about reverse mount macro photography so I found a couple of videos which explain the process.

The best case is using a lens with a manual aperture ring so you can modify the ƒ-stop while using, though there are ways to use automatic lenses too.

• Use Any Lens for Macro Photography
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT1fcwMu8jY
  Shows a method of setting the aperture before using it in reverse.
• How to Shoot Ultra-Sharp Macro Photography for Cheap: Reverse Vintage Lens
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRyhWqGnAMM
  Uses reverse mount and extension tubes for macro and focus stacking to get more focus throughout the shot.
• Macro Reversing Ring
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVYtgJi2rLc
  Checkout the alternative method here at the start of the video, certainly not recommended for mirrorless cameras. And not recommended for any cameras where dust might be an issue. And also note a lot of lenses no longer have the little aperture lever, you may have to refer to the first video to see how to set your aperture before removing the lens.
• An Introduction to High-Magnification Macro Photography
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqRn3at0H60
  A more holistic approach, the intro reminded me of Dale's thoughts from last night. Has some very cool examples.

Note… Try this at your own risk. Most lenses are not dual-end weather sealed and you'll be exposing the rear of your lens which is usually safe inside you camera to the elements so be wary of high-wind dusty days or moist environments. The heavier the lens the more care should be taken. You're going to be mounting your lens via a small adaptor ring using the filter threads, these aren't typically designed to have a lot of weight bearing ability, so always support your lens and camera body.

You can get reverse mounting rings from Amazon (https://amzn.to/2T6T8GC) and Ebay (https://bit.ly/3wJNIiQ)

You can also get the extension tubes from Amazon (https://amzn.to/3i27LUa) or Ebay (https://bit.ly/3ebe46P) Be sure to get the ones that are right for your camera type, and with the reverse mounting ring make sure it also matches the thread sizes for your lens' filter size. You might also invest in some stepping rings if you'd like to use it on different lenses with different filter sizes: Amazon (https://amzn.to/3efxwzm) or Ebay (https://bit.ly/3ibvJwt)