Reverse Macro Ring - Lens Not Found?

[Jian]

I just got a reverse macro ring, 55mm, for my 55mm lens for the Sony a100.

Online, some people seem to have success with certain rings, so it's entirely possible.

The ring fits snug, as does the lens, but I can't seem to override the shutter, the camera citing 'No Lens Found,' despite manual settings, etc.

Any clues as to what I'm doing wrong?

[Jian]

I've found a Shutter override setting, but I've a new problem.

I can take a photo of my backlit screen, and it's dark. REALLY dark, even with flash, and tweaking out the exposure, and shutter settings.

Do I need to blanket our subject with tons of light for anything to look decent?

[harveyzone]

I've found a Shutter override setting, but I've a new problem.

I can take a photo of my backlit screen, and it's dark. REALLY dark, even with flash, and tweaking out the exposure, and shutter settings.

Do I need to blanket our subject with tons of light for anything to look decent?

I suspect that the aperture is shut down to the lens's minimum. Depending upon the lens you will probably need to wedge the aperture open. Some people use a butchered rear lens cap to do this on A-mount lenses. Some manual focus lenses have an switch on them to allow auto/manual aperture setting.

[Javelin]

I'm not sure what sort of lens your using. if it's a maxxum lens then your aperture is all the way closed becsuse the camera isn't there to open it with it reversed. if your using a manual lens then you can set the aperture by hand to allow more light. I did see a part that attaches to the mount on the lens and allows you to manually open the aperture but I haven't seen a new one

[Jian]

I've found a Shutter override setting, but I've a new problem.

I can take a photo of my backlit screen, and it's dark. REALLY dark, even with flash, and tweaking out the exposure, and shutter settings.

Do I need to blanket our subject with tons of light for anything to look decent?

I suspect that the aperture is shut down to the lens's minimum. Depending upon the lens you will probably need to wedge the aperture open. Some people use a butchered rear lens cap to do this on A-mount lenses. Some manual focus lenses have an switch on them to allow auto/manual aperture setting.

It won't let me adjust the aperture at all, with that on there.

I'm not sure what sort of lens your using. if it's a maxxum lens then your aperture is all the way closed becsuse the camera isn't there to open it with it reversed. if your using a manual lens then you can set the aperture by hand to allow more light. I did see a part that attaches to the mount on the lens and allows you to manually open the aperture but I haven't seen a new one

It's the lens that comes with the Sony Alpha 100, the Sony 18-70.

[Javelin]

the camera can't control the aperture. the setting you set on the camera for aperture has no effect at all. the little lever on the mount end of the lens is what opens the aperture. that lever is normally inside the camera and the camera moves it to what you set. with the lens reversed on a reverse mount then the aperture setting on the camera is a meaningless number. As Harveyzone said you will have to wedge the aperture lever opened somehow.

[stevecim]

I thought some photos might help

Here is a 50mm lens



the aperture is controlled by the small level circled in red, has you see the it defult position is closed.


here is a photo with the aperture level wedged open




Hope this helps

[Jian]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

That helped me so much, I now have results!

(the ring came with zero instructions, obviously)

Actual size (detail) result, first try with your method :



Reduced size & quality of the whole :



as you can see, it's all about the angle!

Thank you guys! Looks good for the old a100, doesn't it!