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SqueakingShoeless — Macro Macros: Zoom Comparison
Published: 2006-06-10 21:11:37 +0000 UTC; Views: 404; Favourites: 4; Downloads: 47
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Description
Just something for those of you who have been asking about the macro trick.If you have a camera with a detachable lens, I have an experiment for you to try. Take the lens off and turn it backwards, then align it with the camera so that you can take photos through it. Get up reeeaaally close to something... and hold back your gasp of surprise. It produces a SUPER macro effect, the likes of which I've almost never seen.
And it seems that the zoom works backwards when you flip it. That is, the farther you zoom out before flipping the lens, the better the macro effect. Above, I have put together two shots taken with the lens turned backwards: the first is taken with the lens zoomed to 55mm, and the second is taken at 18mm. Same cloth, approximately the same spot on the cloth. Clearly, the 18mm is more impressive, in terms of being macro.
Try it, and have some fun. Questions are welcome.
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Comments: 13
I've done some similar stuff with random lenses from optical equipment. Really fun to play with. Also I thought it was worth mentioning that the Canon S2 IS that I just recently got can focus at 0mm. You can get pretty amazing macros with that, but you have to be really careful not to scratch the lens. Also, any dust you have on the lens can come into focus and be a distraction in your photos.
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0mm??! Haha that is so cool. Do you have any examples? I don't see any in your gallery.
And BTW, your gallery is quite nice.
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It makes sense really, due to the way lenses work. And how does your "Macro" at 18mm compare to a real macro using the lens the right way around? The 18mm one really is almost microscopic. Quite cool how the area in focus is so small.
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I know. I love this technique.
[link] <-- a macro taken at 55mm zoom, with the lens flipped the right way around.
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Wow, reversing it really is much more macro. Makes one wonder whether spending all that money on macro lenses is realy worth it!
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Haha yeah, I don't think I'll ever go for a macro lens now. Besides, this is far more fun, even if it's slightly harder.
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Yeah, not sure how much effect it will have at 28mm on mine, as 18mm is a lot shorter... might give it another go...
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Haha, I remember when you first discovered it. Your journal was like "OMG IT'S TEH SEXAYNEZZ."
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LOL
Yeah
I had no idea you could do that. it was amazing to me
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