Last summer I bought a macro lens. A normal one, giving 1x magnification. This means that your subject will be projected as big on the sensor as it is in real life. So if you shoot a bug that is 36mm long, it will completely cover a full frame sensor from side to side. I discovered that macro photography is just so much fun. It is much easier to take a cool looking macro photo than a cool looking street or landscape photo. I completely fell in love with macro photography. But the summer of 2017 I felt that I wanted to take it to the next level: I wanted to try a super macro lens, with a magnification of 2x and beyond. I wanted to really get up close to insects and bugs. I made one!
There are only a couple of super macro lenses on the market. The Canon MP-E 65 is perhaps the most well known. It is a great lens, but it costs north of $1000. There is also one from Venus Optics called Laowa 60mm Ultra-Macro, but that one is also rather expensive and has some problems with distortion. So I decided to find something cheaper.
I ordered all the parts, including flash, reverse mount adapter, a Canon 40mm f2.8 lens (which is extremely sharp and has great bokeh, probably better bokeh than the Canon MP-E 65), a step-up ring, an articulating arm to mount the flash, a flash cord, a straight flash bracket, and extension tubes. Putting these things together, will give you a powerful super macro rig capable of capturing ants and other very small insects in full size! The only pre-requisite you need is a Canon EF compatible camera, which means most Canon cameras or a Sony camera with a Canon EF adapter.
Essential parts
Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM Pancake Lens (around $50 used)Meike reverse adapter (around $55)MeiKe MK-300 Flash (around $33)Vello CB-600 Straight Flash Bracket (around $10)Articulating arm 7″ (around $14)Fotga Extension tubes for Canon EF (around $40)Vello TTL-Off-Camera Flash Cord for Canon EOS 0.5 m (around $20)52-58MM Step-Up Adapter Ring (around $8)
In total (if you buy the Canon lens used): $230 USD See the video above for detailed instructions and more sample photos. The parts can be put together in a few minutes.
Sample photos
Here are some photos I took with Sony A7 and the above setup:
About the Author
Micael Widell is a photography enthusiast based in Sweden. He runs a YouTube channel about photography, where he posts lens reviews, DIY tips, and photo walks regularly
