Need Help On Canon EOS Rebel/ 300d Set Up

You got me looking now LeatherHawk. I'm going to go check out what westcoin suggested for better pics of my Half Dimes. Thanks Rpmsrpms for the info on how to set for glare. I'm going to do some shoots today and practice. I only use the LED lights I have and always try to eliminate all other light. Just want the natural look of the coin without glare. I am curious what LeatherHawk asked if that adapter works for other lenses like the Fuji's or Schreider?

From what I can see they are 39mm screw mount. A standard size really on older enlarging lenses. I found a bunch of EL-Omegar 50mm F/3.5 lenses for cheap too ($6.00 to $12,00) there are some 75mm for just a few dollars more too.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/284207436851

Here is a brand new lens (old stock) in box for about $12.00
https://www.ebay.com/itm/194217531356

This one is $20.00 https://www.ebay.com/itm/353518375872

This guy does a lot of various objective and enlarger as well as standard macro lens tests, worthy of a look and read.

https://www.closeuphotography.com/lens-tests

Here is a fairly good multi part video explanation of how and why enlarger lenses work well for macro photography. This should help you with the adapters for sure.

Sort of the same thing, except none of those are the right size adapters, here is what you want to search for exactly this copy and paste into ebay search.

M42 to 39mm enlarger lens adapter

That will get you links to, double (recommended) and single adapters, the single ones are as low as $1.50 from China but they don't tell you which way the threads go, I'd get the two adapter set so you have both ways, one will work. Should be a set of both 39 to 42 and 42 to 39.

Remember your 39mm enlarger thread is a different pitch than a 39mm lens thread for a filter. So they are not compatible, the ones in the link you ask about are for front of lens where you might want to put on a UV or Polarizing filter but not want to buy several filters for different diameter lenses. In that case you buy the largest and get step down rings, you want to avoid step up rings as you then are putting a smaller filter on a larger diameter lens which will cause vignetting. This isn't really relevant in our case of macro shooting, we are concerned with the back sides of the lens (the end that attaches to the camera body, helicoid tube or bellows. Lens thread pitch (size of distance between the individual threads) is or can be different that what is on the rear lens threads just to confuse you even more. While you may think it's just a tight fit - don't try to force any type of small threads. Once they cross-thread they might never want to come apart again, especially if the metals are different, like aluminum and brass.

Now is also time to let you know about filter wrenches, they are worth having a set of as well, eventually you will need them more than likely. They are cheap as you will need the smallest sized.

Just like these. https://www.ebay.com/itm/391027587265 NOTE I am not endorsing that seller I don't know them, just the product and size for the lenses we are discussing.

In a pinch rubber bands and a jar lid opener (a bit of rubber) can do the same thing, I've used a jar opener on a table top just by pressing the lens down onto it and twisting the lens while holding the rubber piece to keep it from twisting, the filter was able to be removed. The lens wrenches are just easier and safer.

As if we aren't confusing you more and adding stuff you never thought about getting now. Sorry - LOL, welcome to fun with macro photography 101.

I don't think there are really any filters that will help other than perhaps close-up lenses (not the same) but the go on front of the lens. Maybe a polarizing lens in a very rare situation. Now if we were still shooting on to film and in black and white that's another story altogether, but I think we've all moved into the digital world by now.

Back when I took the coin photography course at the ANA Summer Seminar (1984 I think) we used film, that was the hardest part of experimenting was waiting to get the film processed and negatives printed onto a proof contact sheet to see if we had improved or not using new techniques.

Update....
I have almost everything I need... I think. Just got the adapter for the lens today. Got the wrenches the other day. Ordered my video cable today. I just need to know if the following link is the helicoid I need. Please and thank you!!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/224026140088

LeatherHawk - looks like a good one to me as well. Soon you'll be shooting and posting some photos I look forward to that.

It seems like a job at first. Wait until you start struggling with the lighting.. I'm going to do some shooting tonight on some older half dollars and get a round about grade for them. Hey west coin I'm having problems with trying to use tone, but I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. Everything is at zero except contrast. That's at -4 and I posted pics was told they are gods just adjust tone. Mine editor is Microsoft that came with the laptop and can't find anywhere for tone on it. My Kennedy 72 no FG was a bit dark and a close up was requested on the FG site and that came out really nice, but uninteresting to one.

Never noticed you were using the first Canon Rebel made, sorry for not catching that either.

Here is the list from Canon that shows each model that has "Live View" in Still mode - which is what you want.

https://support.usa.canon.com/kb/in...id=ART143778

This is the lowest level camera that shows to support it, DSLR Rebel XSi

They are selling in the $45 to $90 range on ebay for nice looking working body only. You should be able to sell yours and get the upgrade easy enough.

Of course the newer the model the more pixels you will have in your photos, Most of my shots are made with a 7D which I find plenty large enough.

I also might let you know about some other places I've bought camera gear (especially used when I was shooting for a living) Roberts Camera in Indianapolis, KEH.com were both great people to deal with, I purchased and saved a lot over the years on many lenses from both of them. I do know KEH would take your model in on a trade in, but they won't pay out much on the camera body you already have (you'd do better to sell it yourself).