How to Turn Your 50mm Lens into a Macro

How to Turn Your 50mm Lens into a Macro {Creative Photography}

Dying to shoot with a macro lens, but finding yourself macro-less? Use your 50mm lens instead!

Here’s an easy tutorial on creating beautifully detailed macro shots using, of all things, your 50mm lens.

How to Turn Your 50mm Lens into a Macro

Grab your camera, your 50mm lens and let’s do this!

Remove the lens from your camera. Take care to avoid getting dust on your sensor.

Flip your lens over.

Position the back of your lens toward the front.

How to Turn Your 50mm Lens Into a Macro Lens, creative photography ideas, fun photography ideas,

Hold your lens in place and shoot. Keep the space between your camera and lens sealed to avoid light leaks.

Get in close to your subject. Real close.

You’ll need to get in closer than you normally do with a 50mm lens.

I’m not going to lie. Using your 50mm lens as a macro is pretty tricky, but with a little bit of patience and the following quick tips, you’ll get the hang of it in no time:

Shoot in full manual mode.
Keep a firm grip on your lens, creating a seal between camera and lens to avoid light leaks.
Use a tripod for stability if you find that you’re getting too shaky.
Your camera’s internal focusing mechanism will not work. Get within inches of your subject, moving around to find that sweet spot.
Unfortunately, this trick may not work with a select group of lenses.

Have fun using your 50mm lens as a macro.

Keep shooting.

Think beyond the lens.

Have fun.

Have you tried using your 50mm lens as a macro yet? I’d love for you to share your photos with me.

Stuck in a photography rut? Feeling uninspired? Rebecca of Bumbles & Light and I are sharing a few fun and creative photography ideas to fuel your creativity and help you to think beyond the lens in our mini Creative Photography Series.

Head on over to Rebecca’s blog where she’s sharing a super fun tutorial on creating photography magic with oil and water.

More Creative Photography Ideas:

Pin It

46 Responses to “How to Turn Your 50mm Lens into a Macro {Creative Photography}”

Mindi (46 comments) twitter: @simplystavish

So cool! Would this work with my Nikon 35 mm lens? Thanks for the tips!
Mindi´s last blog post – Sometimes You Have to Put Life On Hold to Capture the Right Now

Kristi (4349 comments) twitter: @TweetingMama

I have no idea! I don’t have a 35mm so I’ve never tried it, but if you do please let me know!

P.S. I can’t wait to meet you in person next week! Squeeeeeee!

Jenny (29 comments) twitter: @osvme

I have an 18-55mm lens… will this work with that?
Jenny´s last blog post – From Up on Poppy Hill

Kristi (4349 comments) twitter: @TweetingMama

I haven’t tried it with a zoom yet, but I say it’s worth a try. Let me know how it goes!

Anna-Leigh (12 comments)

I’ll be trying this soon
Anna-Leigh´s last blog post – Little Fish ~ Nurture Photography Challenge

Kristi (4349 comments) twitter: @TweetingMama

Awesome! Let me know if you share your photos. I’d love to see them.

J. (3 comments) twitter: @mamabiird

I saw this earlier and wanted to try it so bad. You inspired me to pull out my 50 and play around lol. Uploading them now to see how they turned out.

I also plan on testing it on my 35 to see if it works too. Thanks for sharing!
J.´s last blog post – 005.

Kristi (4349 comments) twitter: @TweetingMama

I’m so glad that this post inspired. Do let me know if you decide to try this technique and whether or not you were successful in getting it to work with your 35mm.

Love your photography, by the way.

Sarah@ This Farm Family's Life (3 comments)

I cannot wait to try this! Thanks for sharing!!

Kristi (4349 comments) twitter: @TweetingMama

You’re so welcome! Let me know if you decide to share the photos. I’d love to see how they came out.

Desirae R / Sommerfugl Design (15 comments)

Awesome share! Thanks!!
Desirae R / Sommerfugl Design´s last blog post – Whatever Wednesday – Week 4

Anne U (10 comments)

Yours turned out so good! I can’t wait to try this with flowers next time in the spring.
Anne U´s last blog post – Life Lately

Kristi (4349 comments) twitter: @TweetingMama

Thanks! It was really tricky! I can’t wait for the flowers to come up around here. I’m so stinkin’ excited for spring!

The Pinterest Housewife (1 comments)

So glad I found your blog through DearCrissy’s blog. I’m an amateur photographer. I recently got a NIKON D5100 last month. It took me a while to figure out which camera I wanted. NIKON or CANON. I’m starting to think I made the wrong decision now that I see so many bloggers using CANON. But, to each his own. It’s all about your preference, right? I do not know much about cameras, but I’ve always been fascinated and wanted to get involved in Photography. I’ve been playing around with my camera and taking lots of pictures, so far. It just seems like my photos don’t look good unless I zoom in or get really close to the subject. I don’t have any other lens except for the one that [obviously] came with the Nikon. Any advice as to what type of exta lens I should get? And what editing programs do you use? Thanks!

Kristi (4349 comments) twitter: @TweetingMama

Nikon. Canon. Totally a personal preference. I’ve shot with Nikons at first and they performed beautifully so no worries about which one to use. As for the kit lens that came with your camera, while they do an okay job there’s so much better out there. If you’re looking for another great zoom, I recommend the Tamron 18-270mm. That’s a great starter and a step above the kit lens. The Tamron 24-70mm is my absolute favorite, though. Very sharp photos. If none of those are in your budget, try looking at a 50mm 1.8. It’s a great prime lens. As far as editing programs go, I use Lightroom 4, Photoshop CS6 and Photoshop Elements 11. If you’re interested, I have a couple of free eBooks with photography tips and tutorials. I can send the download link if you’re interested.

Mai Bateson (4 comments)

This is so cool! Can’t wait to see more of your photographs!!! Thanks for sharing!
Mai Bateson´s last blog post – Occupying the Biggest Part of His Heart

Kristi (4349 comments) twitter: @TweetingMama

Thank you so much!

Amanda Jillian (98 comments) twitter: @faeriebarista

That’s a nifty tip. Of course I don’t have a 50mm lens lol.
Amanda Jillian´s last blog post – Finding what you’re good at… {The Blog Dare}

Kristi (4349 comments) twitter: @TweetingMama

Well, thanks! No 50mm? Awww…

Amanda Jillian (98 comments) twitter: @faeriebarista

Getting one with my tax refund =]
Amanda Jillian´s last blog post – Finding what you’re good at… {The Blog Dare}

084: nasty hobbitses | fall in love. take photos. repeat. (1296 comments)

[...] my internet travels today, I came across a really neat link for how to turn your EF 50mm f 1.8 II into a macro lens. How she did it without a horrendous amount of light leak, I haven’t a clue, because I really [...]

Oil and Water Photography (1296 comments)

[...] on over to Live and Love Out Loud today where Kristi is sharing a tutorial on how to use your 50mm lens as a macro lens (a perfect [...]

Susi (102 comments) twitter: @bocafrau

I love this and have seen this trick before somewhere. Unfortunately, I can’t try it out because I don’t have a 50 mm lens – but it is on my wishlist. I finally, got a 55-200 mm lens and I’ve had so much fun playing with it.
Susi´s last blog post – Why I think my hubby is great!

Kristi (4349 comments) twitter: @TweetingMama

Oh fun! Don’t you just love getting new lenses?

stephchows (1 comments)

OK this is so seriously cool! Thanks so much for sharing!!
stephchows´s last blog post – Ewwey Gooey PB Perfection

Kristi (4349 comments) twitter: @TweetingMama

You’re so welcome! Let me know if you decide to give it a try!

How to Create Ethereal, Color-Infused Photos Using Scarves (1296 comments)

[...] How to turn your 50mm lens into a macro [...]

Jules (2 comments) twitter: @adoseofjules

I couldn’t wait to try this…..just did….need to practice, but it’s really cool… I’m a bit dizzy from looking through the lens. Doesn’t help that I have horrible balance and couldn’t keep things steady. Will definitely need a tripod! Thanks for this cool tip
Jules´s last blog post – Project 52: Layers

Kristi (4349 comments) twitter: @TweetingMama

It is pretty cool, huh? It’s so much fun to experiment with and I can see how you’d feel dizzy after looking through the lens for too long. lol Let me know if you end up sharing the photos. I’d love to see them!

Jules (2 comments) twitter: @adoseofjules

Hi Kristi—-Ok, I posted my pics from my trial. I used the 18-55mm lens that I had and these were the results. I also hope you don’t mind, but I put a link to your page.

Jules´s last blog post – Three for Me

Kristi (4349 comments) twitter: @TweetingMama

Of course I don’t mind! Thank you so much. I’m going to hop over right now to take a look. Can’t wait to see!

Up Close | (1296 comments)

[...] http://liveandloveoutloud.com/2013/03/13/how-to-turn-your-50mm-lens-into-a-macro/ [...]

Brittany H. (2 comments)

I just tried it! I used a circuit board from the guitar pedals my boyfriend (facebook.com/luckduckpedals) builds
I posted it on my flickr page… http://www.flickr.com/photos/brithfoto/

I’m def gonna try this again. I literally just finished reading this post, picked my camera up, grabbed a circuit board, and tried it really fast… haha.

Kristi (4349 comments) twitter: @TweetingMama

I just saw it! You did such an awesome job! Thanks so much for sharing with me, Brittany! Come back again on Wednesday. I’m sharing another fun and creative photography trick!

How to Create a Tilt-Shift Lens Effect With Your 50mm Lens (1296 comments)

[...] How to turn your 50mm lens into a macro [...]

Brittany H. (2 comments)

I tried it at the newborn shoot I had yesterday too! I think it came out pretty good, though I could definitely practice more to make it better!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=506144719422304&set=a.180497878653658.33166.180479311988848&type=1&theater

Run DMT (139 comments) twitter: @denisermt

Kristi, you are serious a genius! I am so grateful for your creative talents, which you graciously share with us. I can’t wait to try this!

You said to shoot in “full manual mode”. What are the ISO/F-stop settings though?
Run DMT´s last blog post – Skinnytaste’s Southwest Black Bean, Quinoa and Mango Medley

Samantha (2 comments)

No. Way. I would have never thought of that. Running home to turn my lens backwards.

up close with a pear tree | muncie photographer » j.ro photography {sweetness + light} | Muncie, Indiana Family Baby Newborn Child Photographer (1296 comments)

[...] read this post the other day about how to turn your 50 mm in to a macro lens and now I’m [...]

Karen (1 comments)

Just wanted to add that you can actually buy a reverse lens adaptor for your camera that will firmly lock the lens in place while doing this…no need to hold it tight or tape it up! Now…why haven’t I got one yet…? lol And a set of macro rails will help with the ‘wobbles’…they are inexpensive and a great investment!