Macro Photography

Here is my setup for macro photography. Im using parts of my microscope and a new objective lens that allows more working distance but requires a 160mm distance from end of lens to sensor. I am not properly set for distance and was suggested I get a bellows then find that perfect focus distance for this lens. This lens is not designed for use at any other distance from the sensor. The closer you get the sharper the image is how I take it and you get perfect sharpness and focus at 160mm. I have a Sony A7rIII and an old Pentax Microscope adapter. What I did was connect the long extension tube from the microscope to the adapter. The adapter only allows me to put the extension tube so far then stops and won't go into the adapter any further. Bummer. The end of the extension tube has a screw mount where I can actually screw on my lens. But I found out this evening I can turn the tube around and actually push the lens into the tube and get the lens closer to the optimum distance. So far I have not tested the new distance but if I stacked and used 10u increments I was able to get a real nice image. I use Affinity Photo to stack but I'd like to use something else to see how I like it. I have no other controls for Affinity Photo. For now Affinity is it. So with the adapter I can also put in the ocular lens to magnify even further. The microscope is a nice vintage one my Dad used when he was in college. Has to be in the 40's or something like that. He was a lab Vet.

Here are the photos and a bit about each photo.

Just a shot of the setup. 

The Pentax adapter is an M42 Screw mount which is screwed to an M42 adapter to my A7rIII. You can see the extension tube to help magnify the image if used on the microscope. The

Here is a close up of the extender tube connected to the microscope adapter. Lens is screwed to the end of the tube. 

If I could find another tube like this I'd cut it shorter than needed then just add extension tubes to bring it to the proper length. 

A view of the Microscope Adapter. 

Another view of the adapter, tube and lens. The tube is bottomed out and can't be shortened. I don't want to cut the tube as that will destroy the vintage microscope and can't be replaced at this time. 

My PVC is too small for this so I'll have to try later. 

I did figure out that if I turn the tube around I can slip the lens right on in and shorten the distance a bit more. Still not enough. The top part of this tube where the ocular lens goes. 

Another view. This is about 177mm from the sensor.

Here are the images I took with this setup. 

This image was done at 34u increments and about 86 images. Processed in Affinity Photo. 

This one done at 10u increments and 74 images. I also increased the shutter to 1/250 and and used my big CFL daylight to light this and a bounce card to help highlight the opposing side. The increased shutter and shorter increments helped. 

New image using 5u increments and set the camera to Super35 instead of full frame. Lens is 177mm from sensor. 152 images for the stack.