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Archive 2008 · Rev lens Magnification Comparison

Tom Hicks
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Rev lens Magnification Comparison

Took some time today to run a comparison between some lens , I started out thinking I would try to find the lens that might be very soft in the corners , but for the most part they all are . Thinking about this further I have come to the conclusion that for bug and flower stuff it doesn't really matter as DOF in the corners for the most part is non existent. What I did find is a great variance in the mag rates for the different lens , specially the wide variance in the 50mm lens . All shots on tripod , trying hard to keep everything on the same plane, all lens set at f 8 and focus set at infinity . All focus done manually ( yes my eyes got tired. ) You can come to your own conclusion.

Hope this helps some, it was a lot of work .

Edited by Tom Hicks on Feb 26, 2008 at 04:59 PM GMT

Edited on Feb 26, 2008 at 05:59 PM

Feb 26, 2008 at 05:55 PM

Tom Hicks
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Rev lens Magnification Comparison

#2

Edited by Tom Hicks on Feb 26, 2008 at 04:59 PM GMT

Edited on Feb 26, 2008 at 05:59 PM

Feb 26, 2008 at 05:58 PM

Tom Hicks
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Rev lens Magnification Comparison

Feb 26, 2008 at 05:58 PM

Tom Hicks
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Rev lens Magnification Comparison

Feb 26, 2008 at 05:59 PM

Tom Harpstead
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Rev lens Magnification Comparison

Tom,

Very interesting, not all lenses are equal when reversed. Who would have thunk it. Thank you for all the eye straining work.

One more question, was your test, reversed on lens or directly to a body?

I will now also have to look at my 50s.

Thomas

Feb 27, 2008 at 07:49 AM

Tom Hicks
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Rev lens Magnification Comparison

All the lens were rev. direct to the camera

Feb 27, 2008 at 08:34 AM

Justin Huffman
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Rev lens Magnification Comparison

thanks for this Tom. I have been considering a nice little 28mm for reversing, as it gets so much closer and is alot wider than my nifty fifty.
thanks again!

justin

Feb 27, 2008 at 08:38 AM

Nick Klofkorn
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Rev lens Magnification Comparison

wow I cannot even imagine what a hassle this would have been, good job Tom

Feb 28, 2008 at 01:54 AM

LordV
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Rev lens Magnification Comparison

Good comparison Tom- suprised at the different mags from the 50mm lens series- were they all at the same focus setting on the lens (ie either min or max) ?

Brian V.

Feb 28, 2008 at 02:12 AM

Tom Hicks
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Rev lens Magnification Comparison

LordV wrote:
Good comparison Tom- suprised at the different mags from the 50mm lens series- were they all at the same focus setting on the lens (ie either min or max) ?

Brian V.

Yes everything was set at infinity. It did produce some surprises .

Feb 28, 2008 at 09:22 AM

Eric Gottesman
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Rev lens Magnification Comparison

Could you show how you mount the lens to the body reversed? I've seen lens to lens, but not lens to body. Is this a regularly available adapter to the filter? I have a 18-250mm that I held to the body at 250mm and the mag was huge! What would 250mm reversed produce (what's the calc.)? I have a 60mm macro for quality work (nice lens), but the 250mm was fun to play with. I'd love to have a more secure mount than my hands;-)

Thanks for all the hard work!
Eric

Edited on Feb 29, 2008 at 08:00 AM

Feb 29, 2008 at 07:59 AM

Tom Hicks
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Rev lens Magnification Comparison

Eric Gottesman wrote:
Could you show how you mount the lens to the body reversed? I've seen lens to lens, but not lens to body. Is this a regularly available adapter to the filter? I have a 18-250mm that I held to the body at 250mm and the mag was huge! What would 250mm reversed produce (what's the calc.)? I have a 60mm macro for quality work (nice lens), but the 250mm was fun to play with. I'd love to have a more secure mount than my hands;-)

Thanks for all the hard work!
Eric

Follow this link, the one for my canon I made .

http://www.srb-griturn.com/canon-eos-reversing-rings-73-p.asp

https://www.fredmiranda.com/hosting/showgallery.php?cat=500&name=Tom+Hicks

Edited on Feb 29, 2008 at 03:18 PM

Feb 29, 2008 at 03:17 PM

nanana
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Rev lens Magnification Comparison

Wow, impressed.

Tom, could you give me the info of the ring or adapter you used for Nikon as shown above in the picture?
I am very much interested in trying this out...man, impressive...

Thanks in advance,
Abe

Edited on Sep 02, 2008 at 12:09 AM

Sep 02, 2008 at 12:02 AM

Dalantech
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Rev lens Magnification Comparison

Wow! Thanks Tom! I've been thinkin' of doing some rev work myself just for the experience.

Sep 02, 2008 at 07:04 AM

molson
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Rev lens Magnification Comparison

oops - wrong thread

Edited on Aug 16, 2017 at 12:30 PM · View previous versions

Aug 15, 2017 at 04:13 PM

notherenow
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Rev lens Magnification Comparison

I have used quite a few 50mm lenses reversed and yes, there can be a big difference in magnifications.

It has been a while since I had as many as 5 or 6 to shoot alongside each other but I think it was lenses with more glass in them that had greater magnification (or maybe that was just how it worked out with the lenses I tried).

The Pentax 50 1.2 in particular I think from memory seemed to have a bit higher magnification. I used the lens to death so don't have it any more but if anyone has it and a few others, it might be worth looking at.

One lens I really want to try reversed is the Sony Zeiss 55 1.8.

It will be a pain to use as I wont be able to focus it via focus ring and will have to set the aperture by removing it from the camera while still turned on but it is such a nice lens that I have just ordered a reversing ring to use it (on a K to E adapter to get a bit more magnification as well as on my 2x macro converter).

I might then get a cheap E mount reversing ring as well if it works ok.

Aug 15, 2017 at 09:25 PM

JohnK007
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Rev lens Magnification Comparison

Rather than leave the exposed rear element of the lens unprotected (and unshaded), I recommend the user affix a BR-3 Adapter to the element ...

Like This

Aug 18, 2017 at 07:33 AM

Photozack81
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Rev lens Magnification Comparison

I have a reversing ring but only a 50mm to put on it. I've been thinking about trying a shorter lens to see what happens. To my eyes, the reverse 50mm isn't worth the hassle when compared to the 105 f/2.8D especially if on an extension tube or three.

Aug 20, 2017 at 12:10 AM


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