27May 550D / T2i DIY Cheap Macro
I’ve blogged about this item before at http://cheesycam.com/?p=241. This time around I thought i’d show you what it looks like on video. This is not limited to the 550D, in fact i’ve owned this special Macro Bellow since the Canon EOS 20D was new. For some reason I’m able to get best results using the 18-55mm kit lens on a cropped camera. It doesn’t have Image Stabilization, but this little rail can outperform the $1000 dollar Canon 100mm Macro any day, and it starts for only around $30 bucks. You can find a bunch of these Macro Bellows for sale by clicking here.
click image
This bellow works similar to these Extension Tubes found here.
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May 28th, 2010 at 1:43 am
Before anything, thanks for all your articles!!!
Time ago I bought on some cheap “canon extension tubes” and they work great for macro photo.
http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=9&pub=5574894626&toolid=10001&campid=5336604774&customid=tubes&icep_uq=canon+extension+tube&icep_sellerId=&icep_ex_kw=&icep_sortBy=12&icep_catId=&icep_minPrice=&icep_maxPrice=&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229466&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg
I believe I paid $5 2 years ago. They have no glass elements and you can fit ef and ef-s lenses on them (but I also got best resutls with the 18-55 lens).
They are divided in like 4 sections so you can remove or add “sections” (get closer or further away from the camera).
Has anybody used them?
June 1st, 2010 at 5:41 pm
how do you open/close the iris with the 18-55mm lens on this?
June 15th, 2010 at 11:14 am
I’ve got the same question as Trevor. Does someone know how to control the aperture with the 18-55 when the bellow is attached?
July 19th, 2010 at 5:09 pm
great work!
would it work with a 18-135 mm lens?
thanks
July 19th, 2010 at 5:24 pm
Should work with any lens, the magnification and aperture will be different for each lens though. I have no experience with the 18-135mm + this Macro Bellow.
July 22nd, 2010 at 5:50 pm
Brilliant Blog!!!!!!
1) I really want to know if a still image will come out sharp enough?
Do you have any examples?
2)I’m curious, how do you control the aperture,
at the 18-55 when the bellow is attached?
July 23rd, 2010 at 10:00 am
You can’t control the aperture with the bellows. It should default to the lenses maximum aperture. If it’s a variable aperture, that should change too as you zoom in and out.
August 27th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
Could you use the concept of macro bellows to create a DIY tilt/shift lens?
http://www.creativepro.com/article/build-a-tilt-shift-camera-lens-peanuts
Thanks,
Terry
August 27th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
Yeah, I guess take it off the rail, that could probably work.
September 26th, 2010 at 9:22 pm
Great product; but… would it work with a Nikon D70, and a 3CCD GZ-MC500 Everio digital cammera?
Thanks
September 26th, 2010 at 9:24 pm
No it won’t.
October 19th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
Hey, do you know what magnification you can achieve with this?
November 9th, 2010 at 11:20 am
This is embarrassing but how do I remove the lens from the macro bellows?
Getting some great shots but I also can’t figure how to use my remote IR and how to fully open aperture and getting it to hold while I change to the bellows.
Any and all comments will be greatly appreciated. lol
December 7th, 2010 at 7:22 pm
What’s the difference between this and the macro tubes on ebay (9mm,21mm,30mm)? Does it work well with a prime lens?
December 7th, 2010 at 11:23 pm
Ehm about the aperture… Guys get a prime… old one (cheap)
Pentax M or something like that. This way you can control aperture, ow and you’ll get far better shots. You will need a adaptor. And don’t forget to get a skylight filter (UV)!!!
December 26th, 2010 at 8:17 pm
Just wondering if this would work with Canon 5D Mark II 24-105mmL?
December 26th, 2010 at 8:32 pm
@GerVaj08 – It will work on any camera, results are dependent on the lens. Might get better use with an FD Lens since aperture can be controlled manually.
January 4th, 2011 at 10:16 am
This idea is based along the lines of a macro extension tube. Though works well, lighting it quite difficult to achieve because you must be so close to get a good photo. By far the best purchase for macro I have made is a lens reverse rings for 58mm and 52mm sizes. My 18/55 & 70/300 on 58mm reverse ring and the 52mm reverse ring for my nifty fifty and 35/80. You do not need to be nearly as close which is helping the lighting a ton and they’re less cumbersome. It basically allows you to mount your lens backwards…
September 25th, 2011 at 8:45 pm
Great for stack focusing macro objects.
May 20th, 2013 at 8:55 pm
So, your post is old but I have a question. How are the bellows affixed to the mounts? Like, if you were to look into the bellows itself, onto the back side of one of the lens mounts, do you see screws holding it in?