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How To

Macro Photography on a Budget

By Brian Mullins

10 August 2007

After experimenting with simply zooming in with my Tamron 70-300mm lens, I was simply unsatisfied with the results. I was unable to get in close enough to really enjoy the work. So I decided to get serious and go buy a macro lens. After a little research I found out that a really good macro lens could cost as much as $500, and I could get some cheap ones for $50-100 but they had a sound reminiscent of a coffee grinder when in auto focus mode.

Not that I have a problem with that, but I also think there is something to be said about engineering your own version of something. Then I read about how someone made a Pringles can into a macro tube, with a reversed 50mm lens. Now mind you I don't want a greasy, chip filled can hanging off the end of my camera. So I decided to make my own, with something a little more sturdy, and a little less unattractive.

My first attempt involved a piece of two inch PVC, two pvc female connectors, a Nikon D40 Dust Cap, and a Tamron Lens Cap. I quickly grabbed my drill and an inch and a quarter bit and drilled the center out of my dust caps and found that I had the perfect way to mount lenses to my PVC and PVC to my camera.

Then I cut a piece of PVC that would provide me a focal length somewhere reminiscent of a chip can, guessing roughly at nine inches. I found this to be a wonderfully huge amount of magnification, but you pretty much needed to live on the surface of a star to get enough light into your camera to take a picture.

So I re-engineered it. I decided I would go for a smaller device. Taking nothing more than a 2" PVC male, 2" PVC female, and the two caps I already had in place, I began to assemble them. I cut the receiving end of the PVC female off (the part where the pipe connects) until I had a flat surface. Then I used my sander, and proceeded to make the surface smooth. Using a strong adhesive I attached the Nikon Dust Shield to the flat surface, giving me a mounting point for my camera.

Next I inserted my Tamron Lens Cap into the PVC Male (where the pipe would go) and used a pencil to mark a line so that I could cut the connector, making the Cap a flush mount item. This would allow it to recess and allow my lens to mount snugly. I didn't want my lens to have a lot of "freedom" to fall off.

After that I had to use a razor knife to channel a groove around the lens cap, to give enough room for my Tamron Lenses which have a little protrusion, which have to turn around the cap. If you try this project you'll see what I am talking about.

After this I cut the PVC male connector and used the sander again to smooth it down, inserted the lens cap into the connector and glued it in place. I threaded the male connector into the female. I then used black electrical tape to cover the outside of the connectors. Why? Light.

The connectors are white, and thus let light in. You don't want any extra light bouncing around inside of there to confuse your lens and sensor. So I used black electrical tape. If you really wanna make it look good, some heat shrink, and some black felt on the inside would make it look really professional.

Once it was done, I mounted it to my camera, and screwed my Tamron 70-300 lens to it. The resulting pictures show how it worked.

You can really increase the magnification and quality by using a reversed 50 mm lens. I don't have one yet or a coupler, but intend to try that experiment next once I can find a used one that won't be too expensive if I ruin it. Eventually I probably will buy a nice Nikon macro lens, but for now, I'll keep experimenting with light and learning new ways to do things. I hope you will to.

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