Understanding Macro Couplers

[Mediahaze]

Hello all,

I came across a couple articles that talk about creating a DIY macro lens with a a prime lens, a zoom lens and a 'macro coupler'. However, as I have a slightly different setup, I am trying to understand what size of coupler I will need.

The specific article that is closest to my setup is here.
Double lens reverse macro for an SLR.

My setup is a little different as I have a
Nikon D90
50mm 1.8f Nikkor ( identical to the one in the article ) (size is 52mm?)
18-105mm 3.5-5.6 Nikkor (size is 67mm?)

Now, what type/size of coupler would I need to make this macro setup work? Or is it even possible?

Has anyone done something similar to this?

Thanks - Any advice would be very much appreciated.

[Mad Aussie]

I've heard of reversing a lens for macro (and using an adaptor to connect to the camera) but never heard of connecting a prime to a zoom for this reason, or any other reason.

I'd have the same issues as you do ... different circumference lens.

Sorry ... can't help.

[Mediahaze]

Interesting.

I found some reversing rings on Ebay. I 'think' the 52-67mm will do the trick.

52 67 macro, Cameras Photo items. Great deals on eBay!

[Mediahaze]

Hey. I posted my question at dpreview who gave me some good feedback.

Here is the thread if anyone is interested.

Understanding Macro Couplers: Open Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

[kat]

Keep us updated on how you make out with your purchase!!! I'm interested to hear. Didn't know you could even do that till I read this thread/and the other sight.

[ericmark]

Many years ago around 1981 I used a fixed 135 and 50mm front to front to take macro and it was better than plain reversing ring on single lens. There was a little focus. Where with single lens you have to crank the tripod up and down.

I now have lens reversing ring for 28mm fixed lens and bellows plus close up lenses for the 18 - 55mm lens and where I can I use the close up lenses. The bellows tends to wag a bit but with a 400mm lens it does allow one to get reasonable distance from the subject when trying to catch bee in flower etc.

The magnification on the reversing lens with a 10m CCD is better than light microscope at 50x mag and with the ability to stop down gives better depth of field. However I can only use it with old lens as new one has no manual aperture control.

The light microscope with built in CCD has been a bit of a failure. No way to set aperture, only 1.5m and setting light is very poor as totally reliant on PC.

At greater than X50 then microscope starts to be better but up to X50 not impressed.

However once you go beyond 1 to 1 the subject matter is not really the type which one could hang on ones wall. Interesting yes. The working of a watch or leg of a fly are very interesting however having a 10 x 8 picture of fly leg on ones wall although a talking point is not really what I would consider fine art?