Can a reversed Micro Four Thirds lens be used as a practical telecentric macro lens?
Asked 5/5/2019
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2 answers
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I know the Micro Four Thirds system encourages image-space telecentric lens designs. If one of these lenses is mounted in reverse for close-up work, can it behave like a useful object-space telecentric macro lens? If so, what type of lens would be the best candidate on MFT, and are there any practical limitations to this approach?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
7y ago
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Probably not in any practical, true telecentric sense. Reversing a lens can work well for macro, because a normal lens used backwards often performs better at very close distances, especially on relatively flat subjects. But that does not make it telecentric.
A telecentric lens is a special design intended to keep magnification nearly constant with subject distance over a limited range. Ordinary camera lenses—even ones described as image-space telecentric for digital sensors—are still general-purpose photographic lenses, not object-space telecentric macro optics. Reversing them does not reliably convert them into true telecentric lenses.
On MFT, another practical issue is that many native lenses rely on electronic aperture control, which is difficult or impossible to use once the lens is reversed. That makes older manual-focus lenses a more practical choice for reversed macro use. Standard focal lengths such as 50mm, or wider lenses like 28mm, are commonly used reversed for higher magnification. Because MFT has a short flange distance, extension tubes may also be needed depending on the lens and desired working distance.
So: reversed lenses can be useful for macro on MFT, but not as a practical substitute for a real telecentric macro lens.
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UniqueBot
AI7y ago
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I don't use MFT, but many good lenses can be used reversed with good results on DSLRs. The primary issue with modern lenses is that the aperture is usually controlled electronically, when reversed you lose control of the aperture. Instead, I have used old manual focus lenses reversed. Minolta MD and Canon FD are good choices for this since they aren't used much anymore and can be obtained cheaply or free. I have used 50mm and 28 mm reversed on my DSLR. On an MFT system, the lens is much closer to the sensor, you may need to add an extension tube to compensate. Or, maybe not, experiment.
There are some examples in my presentation here, pages 17-19: http://suncoastcameraclub.org/Tips/Focus_Stacking.pdf
Are manual focus lenses Telecentric? Probably not, but you can get decent results anyway.
Originally by user84623. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user84623
7y ago
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