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One of the cheapest and most available, yet most magnified methods of macro photography available to us is the reverse kit lens.
Were you to do this at home with your dSLR camera, the only cost would be that of a reverse ring (picture on left) - usually $20 or less.
This reverse mount is threaded into the end of a kit lens, which then allows the lens to mounted backwards on the camera (picture on right).
Because the lenses used as reverse lens are an older model, you also need to use an FTZ adapter for it to fit on your Z50 camera.
The only trick is that your kit lens is designed to have its aperture controlled by the camera and not manually, so there is a small hack involved. You need to wedge a small piece of folded paper into the slot on the back of the lens so that the aperture lever remains open (picture in centre). Some websites advocate using sticky tack, but that doesn't hold as well.
If you want to adjust your aperture and not just have it wide open, you'd have to cram a slightly smaller piece of paper in.
If you leave the lens in manual focus and set the focal length to to 18mm (careful not to twist the zoom so much that the reverse ring starts to unscrew), you'll achieve a very powerful level of magnification. Why 18mm? With the lens put on backwards, the focal lengths are inverted, so that 18mm actually gives you the most magnified shot.
Remember: You absolutely need a tripod to achieve proper exposure. You also will receive no aperture feedback on the camera and will have to "chimp" (i.e. trial-and-error) your way to a good exposure.
REVERSE LENS PROJECT
All shots must be taken using a reverse lens. Images should all be extreme close-ups taken at creative angles. Play around with lighting...can use natural light, light tables, other sources.
USE MANUAL MODE AND MANUAL FOCUS. TRIPOD RECOMMENDED. Also be very, very close to your subject.
*Note: Your camera's light meter and other readings are disabled when using a reverse lens. This means that:
- You can only focus by physically moving the camera forward or backward.
- Aperture has to be set physically on the lens dial itself, not on the camera
- Shutter speed and ISO are still controlled by the camera
- Only "trial & error" will guide you as to what your settings should be.
SHOT LIST
Please shoot, develop, and upload a minimum of four (4) images to Google Classroom. Name each file after its subject.
TIP: You can achieve incredibly shallow depth of field using this lens when fully open. You have to set the aperture manually, though.
SHOOT RAW AND SPEND SOME TIME DEVELOPING YOUR PHOTOS, PLEASE!
Teacher example
Close-up of a ring
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