Macro is an amazing genre to get stuck into that allows you to magnify your subject for super-detailed close-ups, revealing a brand-new world, otherwise hidden to the naked eye.
But, if you've ever tried to take a close-up using a standard lens, such as an 18-55mm kit lens, you might be a bit underwhelmed.
A dedicated macro lens is usually required to take close-ups. These special optics come with reproduction ratios of at least 1:1, also called lifesize, because you can capture your subject at the same size as if it was laid across your Canon camera's sensor.
However, macro lenses can be pricey and won't be in budget for many in the current cost of living crisis. Luckily, in this project we take a look at a cheap and cheerful lens hack that will let you experiment with macro magic without breaking the bank. Here's how you can reverse an old film lens for terrific close-ups.
TOP TIPS YOUR CANON CAMERA GEAR SETUP
Discover camera and photo kit needed for top macro shots with this cheap lens hack
01 TRIPOD
Tiny movements in your camera and lens will be exaggerated when shooting macro close-ups. Therefore, a sturdy tripod is a good idea to eliminate camera-shake. A tripod also makes it possible to take a batch of photos for focus stacking.
02 REVERSING RING
Reversing rings are inexpensive (£12.95) and screw into the front filter thread allowing it to be mounted to your camera in reverse. Just be sure to order the correct Canon camera mount and the right lens filter thread size for your setup.
03 OLD PRIME LENS
Denne historien er fra April 2024-utgaven av PhotoPlus : The Canon Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra April 2024-utgaven av PhotoPlus : The Canon Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Speed up editing with recipes
Edit a single photo and apply processing settings to pictures taken at the same time
PHOTOSTORIES
World Unseen - Canon’s incredible World Unseen campaign opens up the world of photography to the visually impaired
MATTHEW PERKS
Matthew Perks is a talented lifestyle photographer whose passion has evolved next to his career in engineering. He sees processing photos as a balance of inspiration and instinct…
Perfect your colours with HSL
James Paterson enhances colours in Affinity with HSL
Turn the noise down with Denoise AI
James Paterson shows you how to use Lightroom and Adobe Camera Raw AI to fix noisy images and improve quality
Go vintage with a Wet Plate effect
Sean McCormack shows you how to give your images a unique look by emulating the historic wet plate effect
Playing with shadows
Dan Mold’s three easy one-light B&W portrait set-ups to follow at home
Hit the streets with your Canon camera
Next time you’re in a big city be sure to try out these fun techniques for creative cityscape shots
A place in the sun
Learn key Canon camera skills for stunning silhouette portraits, then stitch them together for a striking image that will turn heads
Vive Loire Valley rally
An unexpected change in the weather forces a race against the sun to shoot Chambord