Bellows or lens reversal?

[emirpprime]

I'm thinking of playing with real macro - more than 2x. The only ways I know of getting into this really is through lens reversal, or using bellows.

Anyone have any experience?

As I see it I either look pick up an OM50 1.8 maybe, and an adapter ring, and mount it on the front of the 50-200 or 50 macro.
Or I look for some OM bellows and a OM50 1.8, and mount them on my OM adapter.

Does anyone know how to work out which will give the greater magnification? I think it would be the bellows at maximum extension but am not certain.

An advice would be great

Thanks
Phil

[theMusicMan]

Re: Bellows or lens reversal?

Hey Phil - what about the Oly 50mm Macro, with some quality x filters as a first (and cheaper) first option...?

I have the 35mm Macro and find that great for my standard - the 50mm is a step up from this I gather and could yield you significantly better results that I have managed.

[emirpprime]

Re: Bellows or lens reversal?

Thanks for the idea John. To be honest I always thought the results were pretty low quality and only really for P&S, but thats not based on experience! Have you tried or seen any results from them on DSLRs? Feel free to put me right
Meanwhile I'll go look at some online.

Cheers
Phil

[R MacE]

Re: Bellows or lens reversal?

Hi,

I've used the OM 50mm f/1.8-OM Bellows on my E-1. You'll get up to 4.0 with the lens reversed.

http://olympus.dementia.org/eSIF/om-sif/macrophotogroup/auto_bellows.htm

[emirpprime]

Re: Bellows or lens reversal?

That looks quite promising, and it doesn't seem too expensive. How did you find the sharpness?
Thanks a lot,
Phil

[Hiding_Pup]

Re: Bellows or lens reversal?

Another cheap alternative...

There's a trader on eBay who does stackable extension tubes for 4/3 cameras:

http://tinyurl.com/3bs2gy

Presumably, these wouldn't be great with a digital lens as you'd have no control over aperture or, for that matter, focusing - but with an adapter and some manual focus lenses...

[R MacE]

Re: Bellows or lens reversal?

That looks quite promising, and it doesn't seem too expensive. How did you find the sharpness?
Thanks a lot,
Phil

I thought it was ok, I also used a 2 way focusing track (ebay #180196246118) The focussing should be easier on the E-3 using Live View.

[R MacE]

Re: Bellows or lens reversal?

Hope you haven't bought OM Bellows to use on the E-3. I just tried to fit mine to the E-3, it doesn't fit as the Prism housing gets in the way. The lever on the bellows lens mount needs about 5mm cut off to clear the prism. It should be ok if you're prepared to do that.

[edit] I disvovered that if you remove the plastic covering on the Bellows lens lock lever (2 small screws) it just clears the prism on the E-3. Problem solved. :-)

[R MacE]

Re: Bellows or lens reversal?

I've taken some shots of the E-3/OM bellows combo.

http://e-group.uk.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/1597/ppuser/78

The lever circled is used to rotate the mount to lock it to the camera body. The OM>4/3rds adapter is also fitted. The lever just fails to clear the prism.

http://e-group.uk.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/1598/ppuser/78

I simply removed the plastic cover from the lever and it can now clear the prism. The cover is attached by 2 small screws

http://e-group.uk.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/1598/ppuser/78

Lever at closest point to prism

http://e-group.uk.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/1599/ppuser/78

This is the adapter fully locked in position ready to be attached to the bellows.

http://e-group.uk.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/1600/ppuser/78

Shown without the camera. The mount simply fits to the rear standard and is locked in position by the small thumbscrew.

http://e-group.uk.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/1601/ppuser/78

E-3/OM Auto Bellows combo with an OM 50mm f/1.8 in the normal position and at full extension.

http://e-group.uk.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/1602/ppuser/78

This shot shows the lens reversed.

http://e-group.uk.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/1603/ppuser/78

A 2 pence coin taken at about half extension. un-cropped but resized.

[emirpprime]

Re: Bellows or lens reversal?

Thanks That makes it much clearer, and thank you for clearing up about the lever. The magnification also looks very promising!
Something else to spend the pennies on...
Phil

[OlyFlyer]

Re: Bellows or lens reversal?

A few links you may want to have a look for some ideas.

http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?t=261281

The highest magnification I could get with bellows and an OM 35mm lens reversed is so far 17:1. Not much light left to be used, so count on long exposure or a lot of flash.

http://olyflyer.blogspot.com/2007/05/general-macro-adapter-for-e-system.html

http://olyflyer.blogspot.com/2007/05/magnification-ratios-using-my-ex-41-and.html

...and the answer I gave in another thread.

http://e-group.uk.net/forum/showpost.php?p=3847&postcount=26

[Glyn R]

Re: Bellows or lens reversal?

Why can't I just buy an OM bellows set and use it with my 50mm OM macro using an OM-4/3 adapter on the camera.

[OlyFlyer]

Re: Bellows or lens reversal?

Why can't I just buy an OM bellows set and use it with my 50mm OM macro using an OM-4/3 adapter on the camera.

Indeed you can, just like I use my OM35 mm as well. I don't have that lens and I wanted to make a macro adapter for my digital ED50, but if I had an OM 50mm macro I would use that as well. I'd still have the modified EX-25 adapter anyway. The only thing you have to think about is that the Olympus bellows needs a piece of extension tube as well, unless you modify the bellows. Have a look at my link about the bellows I had. There are plenty other alternative bellows as well, you don't need to get the OM bellows, but of course you need the right lens and adapter for the camera.

[R MacE]

Re: Bellows or lens reversal?

An interesting post, the linked articles are very good.

I've just replaced the plastic lever on my bellows and added a 7mm OM extension tube to the lens mount to give me enough clearance for the E-3 Prism Housing.

Thanks for the Tip

[lauriek]

Re: Bellows or lens reversal?

Hi,

I've used the OM 50mm f/1.8-OM Bellows on my E-1. You'll get up to 4.0 with the lens reversed.

http://olympus.dementia.org/eSIF/om-...to_bellows.htm

Bit late on this thread I know but I only just found this site!

Don't forget the 4x magnification stated on this page assumes a 35mm sensor size in an OM camera behind the bellows. As the 4/3 sensor is half the size, the magnification should be 8x (on a 4/3 sensor cam).

Please see my gallery for some examples of what you can achieve with this combination... (using focus stacking for enhanced DOF).