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Dobson — Erythrite
Published: 2006-06-09 04:13:27 +0000 UTC; Views: 1055; Favourites: 16; Downloads: 65
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Description
Erythrite; Bou Azzer, MoroccoTaken with 50mm F1.8 reverse-mounted on a 100-300 F4.5-5.4 USM
I just learned this technique and it's really fun. It allows great magnification with no additional equipment. The field of view is about 4mm wide.
Submitted to 's macro contest.
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Comments: 13
This shot really demonstrates the result of using proper equipment for taking images with a small fov. I'd really like to find out how to take such pics, but I wouldn't know where to start. Would surely enhance micromount experiences...
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God, those details! What a spectacular photo! Is erythrite a type of gem stone...?
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Thanks a lot. To answer your question; erythrite is not really suitable for making into gems. Individual crystals rarely grow more than a couple of milimeters long and the mineral is fairly soft. It is prized by mineral collectors due in part to the fact that the only macroscopic specimens come from a single area in Morocco.
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Ahh wow, so fascinating! What job do you have? ^^'
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Umm, jobs..... Well I am currently going to college for a mining engineering major. I am really just taking summer off to enjoy it.
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Awesome! I wonder, does it sound more interesting than it is?
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I think this is really beautiful. The colour and DOF is beautiful. I wish I knew what reverse-mounted meant, 'cos it seems like a great technique 
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The gist of reverse mouning is that you're using one lens in front of your main lens as a powerful close-up filter. It shortens the close-focus distance of the lens dramatically.
What I've been doing requires no special equipment. I attach my 100-300 (a longer focal length is best) lens to my camera. I then take my 50mm lens (a shorter focal length will give you more magnification) and turn it backwards. The objectives of the two lenses should face one another (the back of the 50mm will be closest to the subject). My lenses happen to have lens hoods that nest perfectly together, so I don't have to handhold the 50mm lens in front of the lens. You can also buy adapers, (they look kinda like filters without glass) that attach one lens to the other.
Especially if you have a full-frame camera, you will notice a great deal of vignetting. Stopping the lens down will improve things a bit. Also remember that a really stable set-up is needed, even mirror shake can be visible.
Give it a try, it can be lots of fun. There are also other equipment-free things you can do for the same effect. An internet search reveals some interesting things.
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Thank you so much for that explanation / advice - you obviously had it rock steady as the detail and sharpness is just wonderful.
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