Reversible lens adapter

At the request of readers, a short article on a reverse macroadaptor. The reversible adapter should not be confused with reverse ring.

Lens changer on camera, through reversing adapter

Lens changer on camera, through reversing adapter

Reversible adapter Is an adapter that allows you to attach the lens to the camera backwards. This is done mainly for macro photography. This installation looks rather funny, since the rear part (tail) of the lens is designed to be screwed into a bayonet mount. Actually photos of such an installation can see for yourself in this article.

View of the reversing ring on the lens

View of the reversing ring on the lens

That is, having any lens, it can be turned into a macro lens using a reversible adapter. The adapter ring is put on (wound) instead of a light filter and with it it connects to the lens. It turns out as shown in the picture.

Whale lens in reverse on camera

Whale lens in reverse on camera

The advantages of such an adapter - this is very easy, fast and cheap way to get a good macro. When used, a rather strong increase is obtained. Also, it is possible to attach lenses of any other manufacturer to one bayonet, it is important that the diameter of the filter matches the reverse adapter.

Sample photo using a reversing adapter

Sample photo using a reversing adapter

The disadvantage is a number of limitations:
1. In this position, the lens can be used, in fact, only for macro from a very close distance.
2. Focusing (focusing) practically does not work. Twisting the focus ring is often simply useless.
3. If you have a modern lens with built-in iris control, shooting is very difficult. You will have to either block the diaphragm in some way, or shoot on a fully open / closed aperture.
4. On a number of cameras, operation will be possible only in M ​​mode (manual mode), on a number of cameras it will be possible to use the aperture priority mode.

Sample photo using a reversing adapter

Sample photo using a reversing adapter

When working with such an adapter, it is important to remember that focusing is done by moving the camera-lens bundle back and forth from the subject. Depth of field is standardly controlled by aperture. It is best to focus with a tripod on a fully open aperture, close to the desired value and take a picture.

Macro with a reversing adapter

Macro with a reversing adapter

For example, on my Nikon D90, D80, D40 you can shoot only in manual mode with manual installation of the aperture on the lens and manual installation excerpts in the camera.

Macro with reversing adapter

Macro with reversing adapter

Examples of actual use:
When used with an 18-55 whale lens, the diaphragm can be controlled only through the lever (diaphragm jump), which is quite inconvenient and without certain values, but the macro is excellent. With exposure, it's just not real to guess. Using a fifty kopeck Nikkor 50mm F1.8D, you can control the diaphragm, which simplifies the entire process.

Macro with reversing adapter

Macro with reversing adapter

How to Install?

To choose an adapter, it is enough to know the diameter of the thread of the lens under the filter. For example, a number of my lenses have a diameter of 52mm, so for installation on the Nikon system I will need an adapter “reverse 52mm \ Nikon”, for Kenon it will be 52mm \ Kenon. Such an adapter is not expensive at all, since it basically cannot be with any kind of electronics. This is just a piece of iron / plastic. I use the old Soviet adapter "KO-N / 52", which means an adapter for thread 52 on a bayonet type "N" (Kiev, Nikon).

Macro with reversing adapter

Macro with reversing adapter

Note: you can still get macro quickly and cheaply when using macro rings. You can read more in my article about macro rings, and there’s an interesting option Bundles of two lenses for macro photography.

Macro with a reversing adapter

Macro with a reversing adapter

The photos below are taken on lenses in their reverse position, all photos without crop (cutting out parts of the frame), auto levels, conversion from RAW to JPEG with resize and watermark.

Macro with a reversing adapter

Macro with a reversing adapter

Hack and predictor Aviator: what an amateur photographer will never come up with to get the most out of his lens. So a reversing adapter will allow you to get a macro lens with good magnification from almost any lens.

Help to the project. Thanks for attention. Arkady Shapoval.

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Comments: 84, on the topic: Reversible adapter for the lens. Reverse adapter for macro.

  • Smetanka

    I like keys with keys))))
    and of course STAR;))))

  • Serg

    Ahh, my flash drive is in the background))) she didn’t deserve it)))

  • The

    I didn’t even hear about this, thanks for the useful article.

  • I would not have thought that you can use a lens like that. Must definitely try!

  • Alexander

    Arkady, quite an interesting technique of macro photography "lens to lens". If you own it, it would be great to read an article from an enthusiastic practitioner like you.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Of course, you should have seen my terrible bunch of Granite-11 + Nikkor 50 1.8. The article takes time, now I am preparing a selection of filters and Tokin 50-150 2.8

      • SERGEI

        GOOD DAY ARKADY !!! I MADE ACCORDING TO YOUR ADVICE AN ADAPTER FROM LIGHT FILTERS - 55 mm TO 58 mm - CAMERA SONY a - 65 - AND SUPPLIED LONG-FOCAL MACRO-SIGMA Sony AF 70-300 MM F / 4-5.6 APO DG MACRO - DIAMETER - K 58 mm TO THEM THROUGH THE ADAPTER - LENS SONY SAL-1855 18-55 MM F / 3.5-5.6 DT SAM - DIAMETER - 55 mm - THE WHOLE EVENING WHAT JUST DIDN'T TRY - DOES NOT FOCUS - IN ALL MODES TRIPS - BUT - SEE - IT SEEMS TO GET MAYBE WHAT DONE WRONG -

  • I blink nervously in surprise !!! hmm ... really how the inquisitive mind will not bend to achieve its goal by non-standard means !! even such would not have occurred!

  • VALENTINE

    Most appropriate for wide-angle applications. Less distortion. Of course, with the corresponding thread for the filter. Otherwise, an additional adapter is required.

  • Dmitriy

    Better yet, use macromech. This is better than the rings and the reversing adapter mk allows you to do any increase.
    http://photo.vargone.ru/blog/?p=774

    • Arkady Shapoval

      In the near future there will be an article about macromech)))

      • Dmitriy

        Arkady, I will wait for the article :)

        especially how to plant the macro fur so that the ruler is exactly at the bottom and the lens is exactly at the top.

    • VALENTINE

      But with a macro fur, a reversible adapter is absolutely necessary, especially at high magnifications, in order to avoid monstrous distortions.

  • Hope

    Bright people, help, please. Tell me how you can attach fifty dollars to the Canon G12? Maybe what adapter to buy or a ring? So I want to make him tuning…. )))

  • Victor

    Thank you.

  • Slam

    Arkady, do you have any experience with macro filters? What can you say about them?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      No experience, otherwise I would share it.

  • Eugene

    Hello! I am a happy owner of D90 and recently bought a reversible macro adapter for my 105 lens with a diagonal of 67 mm .. At first I faced the fact that he did not want to take pictures and generally react to attempts to change the settings. That is, in general. Through trial and error, I came to the conclusion that I simply took off the lens and changed the values ​​already on the bare carcass (on your advice, I opened the maximum aperture, up to 22). It would seem that everything is fine, but a new problem has appeared. It is possible to shoot (normal focus is obtained) only with the lens extended as much as possible, which does not provide enough light. Even under direct light, the photo turns out to be too dark, and as soon as I open the flash, it again stops responding to attempts to click the shutter = (
    I am just starting to delve into the intricacies and still do not understand many things, but I am very interested and I am trying) ... so if you have any ideas on this matter, I would be very glad to hear them. Thanks a lot in advance for your reply!

    • Arkady Shapoval

      The flash must be set to manual control in order for it to start working.

  • Mikolka

    I also got this miracle, the lens kit 18-55, I look into the field and the darkness is solid, I just can't open the aperture, I attach the lens to the carcass in the usual mode, I set the minimum aperture number to 18mm - 3,6 in my opinion, I disconnect the lens and fasten the ring I hook on the carcass and all the same darkness ... What am I doing wrong?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      What lens? (Nikon \ Canon \ Pentax ...) If Nikon, then hold the jump rope with your hand and the diaphragm will be opened.

  • Mikolka

    Yes, Nikon, I’ll understand, and today I’ll try thanks a lot)

  • Helen

    the adapter is of course good (with a half-price it turns out a macro size almost like a 90mm macro lens with a minimum focusing distance, but the quality is worse). but how to remove it now from the lens ... tell me, which way is it screwed? ...

    • Helen

      huh I had to write to guess to see the thread on another lens! and before that nothing: D
      so you still helped me, thanks)))))

      • Vladimir

        Lena, tell me, how did you manage to remove the reverse adapter? I have the same problem but no second lens

        • BB

          The reversing adapter with the lens twists counterclockwise (same as filters)

  • Tatyana

    Is it possible to use ko-n / 52 as an adapter for helios 44m 2 (instead of kp-42 / n) on Nikon?

  • Roman

    Arkady, thanks for the articles! What can you summarize under different macro techniques (extension rings, reversible adapter, 2 face-to-face lenses) in terms of picture quality? You have articles on all topics, but the question of which method should be preferred if the only criterion for photo quality remains open. Of course, you can say very simply that special lenses plus macromechs and you will be happy. It would be very interesting to do something like testing different methods. Then the topic of macro photography would have been more or less fully disclosed on one of the best resources about photography in Russia.
    Good luck

  • Fishery

    A smart device)), I also only recently learned about such an opportunity - to turn the lens over ...

  • Andrei

    Arkady, tell me please, how and how to connect the lenses to the mount?

    • Motorcycles

      than? hands. and how exactly is described in this article. did not try to read?

  • Shaft

    I tried it differently: a camera with a native whale on a tripod, and fifty helios 44 held his hand at a distance of 1-2 cm. The result is a good macro after cropping the frame!

  • Raffage

    Good day! With the permission of the author, I want to say that I am engaged in the production of various kinds of adapters, including for reverse. Everything can be found on raf.camera
    Translation into Russian has just begun, and is being conducted as free time, so many materials are still in English. Of the bonuses for readers of this site, I can offer free shipping of adapters. Plus there is the possibility of making adapters according to your sketches or descriptions. Thanks.

  • Val

    I bought this reversible D52 ring on my Nikon D90, put the AF-S Nikkor 35 / 1.8g lens (as it should be, with the reverse side) on the camera, turned off all the automatic controls on the camera and lens, set the mode on the camera to “M” ... and what? -the shutter of the camera does not work ... what is it ??

  • jackson

    I bought a 68mm reversible adapter (18-105 mm) the dark is invisible nothing. carcass d3100. what can you try

  • Jura ^ _ ^

    to speech. Having screwed the backside on the front of the zoom school, you can focus on the zoom;)

  • SERGEI

    GOOD DAY OF ARCADIA !!! I MADE THE ADAPTER FROM LIGHT FILTERS - 55 mm TO 58 mm - THE PHOTO CAMERA OF THE SONY a - 65 - AND PUT THE LONG FOCUS MACRO -SIGMA Sony AF 70-300 MM F / 4-5.6 APO DG MACRO - DIAMETER ON THE BODY. MUCH THROUGH AN ADAPTER - A SONY SAL-58 1855-18 MM F / 55-3.5 DT SAM LENS - DIAMETER - 5.6 mm - THE WHOLE EVENING THAT ONLY I DIDN'T TEST - DOES NOT FOCUS - IN ALL MODES TESTED - BUT - EVERYTHING IS ABLE - MAYBE DID NOT DO IT -

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English-version of this article https://radojuva.com/en/2011/09/revers-macro-ring-for-nikon/comment-page-1/

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