Old Canon kit lenses (35-80, 28-90mm) modification for macro.

[inphoto]

With those old and cheap Canon kit lenses we can achieve 1:1 macro easily, all is needed is to remove their front lens element.

 

[inphoto]

1) Canon EF 35-80mm USM
Unscrew the 3 tiny screws and the front element pops off. If you tape it back the lens works as a normal kit lens.

 

[inphoto]

Canon EF 35-80mm USM

 

[inphoto]

2) Canon EF 28-90mm. This one requires a twist with the plier tool.

 

[inphoto]

Canon EF 28-90mm

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

This is so cool. Thanks for posting this, inphoto!

 

[inphoto]

3) Canon 35-80mm
This lens requires the name plate removed with a needle.

Then the front element is removed with a counter clockwise twist.

Assembly in the reverse order makes the lens usable for regular shooting again

 

[inphoto]

Now that I unscrewed the front element of the 28-90mm I didn't tight it back firmly, so now I can use a hard wire or something.

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

Now that I unscrewed the front element of the 28-90mm I didn't tight it back firmly, so now I can use a hard wire or something.View attachment 13664

So you can still zoom? That's clever.

 

[inphoto]

Yes I can zoom, but DoF is nonexistent even at f22, and magnification is more than lifesize, maybe 1.5x