550D / T2i DIY Cheap Macro

• • 22 Comments

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
macro-bellows

This bellow works similar to these Extension Tubes found here.

22 thoughts on “550D / T2i DIY Cheap Macro”

  1. George

    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?

  3.

    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...

  4. Emm

     Post author

    @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.

  6. That Guy

    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)!!!

  7. Austin

    What's the difference between this and the macro tubes on ebay (9mm,21mm,30mm)? Does it work well with a prime lens?

  8. Ronnie Bennett

    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

  14. Emm

     Post author

    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.

  15. ariel

    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?

  16. Emm

     Post author

    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.

  18. Willem

    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?

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  22. Martin

    Before anything, thanks for all your articles!!!
    Time ago I bought on some cheap "canon extension tubes" and they work great for macro photo.

    https://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?

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