“Macro photography begins when ordinary equipment is used with extraordinary curiosity.” – MJ Martin
Introduction
Long before digital cameras, autofocus systems, electronic contacts, and computerized lenses, photographers relied on simple mechanical tricks to solve practical problems. One of the most useful tricks from the film era was the reversing ring. For very little money, a photographer could take a normal camera lens, mount it backwards on the camera body, and suddenly create a surprisingly capable macro lens. It was simple, inexpensive, and often produced excellent results.
The Reversing Ring
A reversing ring was nothing more than a small metal adapter. On one side, it had the camera mount, such as a Nikon F mount. On the other side, it had a filter thread that matched the front of the lens. Instead of attaching the rear of the lens to the camera, the photographer screwed the front filter threads into the adapter and mounted the lens backwards.
There were no electronics, no CPU contacts, no autofocus motors, no aperture communication, and no exposure automation. It was a purely mechanical solution. That simplicity was part of its charm. It transformed an ordinary lens into a close focusing tool without requiring the purchase of an expensive dedicated macro lens.
Why It Worked
A normal lens is designed to project a large scene onto a small film frame. When that lens is reversed, the optical behaviour changes. The lens becomes much better suited to projecting a small subject at a larger size onto the film plane. A 50 mm lens reversed on a 35 mm camera could produce strong close up magnification. Wider lenses, such as 28 mm or 35 mm lenses, could create even greater magnification.
This made the technique ideal for photographing small objects such as coins, stamps, flowers, insects, watch parts, printed textures, and other fine details. For the cost of a simple ring, the photographer entered the world of macro photography.
The Practical Challenges
The technique worked brilliantly, but it required patience. Because there was no electronic connection between the camera and the lens, focusing was completely manual. In many cases, the best method was not to turn the focusing ring, but to move the entire camera forward and backward until the subject came into focus.
Exposure also became more difficult. With many lenses, the aperture had to be controlled manually. Stopping the lens down improved depth of field, but it also darkened the viewfinder. Since macro photography already has very shallow depth of field, accurate focusing became a careful, deliberate process.
Lighting was another challenge. At high magnification, the lens was very close to the subject. This reduced working distance and often blocked available light. Photographers used window light, small flashes, reflectors, or improvised lighting setups to overcome the problem.
Why It Was So Appealing
The reversed lens method represented the best kind of photographic ingenuity. It was low cost, technically clever, and capable of impressive results. It also forced the photographer to slow down and think. There was no automation to hide behind. The photographer had to understand light, magnification, focus, aperture, and stability.
A tripod was often helpful. A cable release reduced vibration. Careful composition mattered because even a slight movement could shift the point of focus. The process was slower than normal photography, but the reward was a new view of the world.
Relevance Today
Even in the modern digital era, the reversing ring still has value. Digital photographers can use the same basic method with mirrorless or DSLR cameras. Some modern lenses are less convenient because they rely heavily on electronic aperture control, but older manual focus lenses remain excellent candidates. A vintage Nikon lens, a simple reversing ring, and a digital camera can still produce beautiful macro images.
Summary
The poor man’s macro lens was a brilliant example of practical photography. A cheap reversing ring turned an ordinary lens into a powerful close up tool. It had limitations, including manual focus, difficult exposure, shallow depth of field, and lighting challenges. Yet those limitations were also part of the learning experience. The reversed lens technique reminded photographers that great images do not always require expensive equipment. Sometimes, all it takes is a clever adapter, an ordinary lens, and a willingness to experiment.
About the Author:
Michael Martin is the Vice President of Technology with Metercor Inc., a Smart Meter, IoT, and Smart City systems integrator based in Canada. He has more than 40 years of experience in systems design for applications that use broadband networks, optical fibre, wireless, and digital communications technologies. He is a business and technology consultant. He was a senior executive consultant for 15 years with IBM, where he worked in the GBS Global Center of Competency for Energy and Utilities and the GTS Global Center of Excellence for Energy and Utilities. He is a founding partner and President of MICAN Communications and before that was President of Comlink Systems Limited and Ensat Broadcast Services, Inc., both divisions of Cygnal Technologies Corporation (CYN: TSX).
Martin served on the Board of Directors for TeraGo Inc (TGO: TSX) and on the Board of Directors for Avante Logixx Inc. (XX: TSX.V). He has served as a Member, SCC ISO-IEC JTC 1/SC-41 – Internet of Things and related technologies, ISO – International Organization for Standardization, and as a member of the NIST SP 500-325 Fog Computing Conceptual Model, National Institute of Standards and Technology. He served on the Board of Governors of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) [now Ontario Tech University] and on the Board of Advisers of five different Colleges in Ontario – Centennial College, Humber College, George Brown College, Durham College, Ryerson Polytechnic University [now Toronto Metropolitan University]. For 16 years he served on the Board of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), Toronto Section.
He holds three master’s degrees – in business (MBA), communication (MA), and education (MEd). As well, he has three undergraduate diplomas and seven major certifications in business, computer programming, internetworking, project management, media, photography, and communication technology. He has completed over 80 next generation MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses) [aka Micro Learning] continuous education programs in a wide variety of topics, including: Economics, Python Programming, Internet of Things, Cloud, Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive systems, Blockchain, Agile, Power BI, Big Data, Design Thinking, Security, Indigenous Canada awareness, and more.
Martin in a volunteer, a photographer, a learner, a technologist, a philosophizer, and a romantic optimist.