As beginner photographers, we often don’t have very much money to spend on gear, and it doesn’t help that good lens are EXTREMELY expensive!

I couldn’t justify spending $1,000+ on a macro lens, but I really wanted to experiment with macro. So I figured out how to build my own macro lens for less than $100!

I started out with a cheap lens that I already had, which is the Pentax 50mm f1.7. I paid around $25 for it on Ebay.

Then, I found some extension tubes on Amazon for $18. The idea was to extend the lens away from the camera’s sensor so it would magnify my subject. Similar to the way a magnifying glass works.

Then I found a reverse ring, again, on Amazon, to reverse the lens on the end of the extension tubs. This also helps with the magnification.

You could also just reverse the lens on your camera to get the macro effect, but you won’t have the control over how much magnification you need like you can with the extension tubes.

Here is a video showing you how I made it, as well as some of the pictures I’ve taken with it.

If you enjoy my work, check out my free photography course on my website.

More info: philliphaumesser.com | Instagram | Facebook

Here’s a video that shows how I do it

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