My EX-25 became an EX-41 and a general macro adapter.

[OlyFlyer]

A few weeks ago I finished my next DIY project. The idea I actually got about a year ago but had no time to finish it. Now it is done.



It is based on the EX-25 and a 12mm OM extension tube. What I did was I removed all electronics from the EX-25. The male part of the EX-25 was removed and the male part of the OM extension tube was replaced it. The male part of the EX-25 was installed on the OM extension tubes male side. A ribbon cable connected to the two E-system sides to enable the use without any trouble.



I can now freely use any OM stuff that is made to be used in between an OM lens and an OM camera. Some examples are, OM 2xTC, macro converters, additional extension tubes and macro bellows.







Maybe it is not the most beautiful bellows but it is definitely very useful. Now I can use any lens, both OM and E-system lens on the bellows. The same goes for the EX-41, it may not be the world most beautiful extension tube but definitely the most practical one I have ever seen. Functionally it would have been better if the EX-25 part could heve been made shorter but I do not have the proper tools for that, so I just have to accept it as it is.

[NeQo1]

OMG!

I WANT THIS
Yeah, nice one there.
Can you give more details on this project, this is just to great to let it pass.

Fantastic work...

[OlyFlyer]

OK, here it comes. Some more details.

#1


I completely lobotomised my already modified EX-25. All electronics finally removed and regarded as not needed any more.

#2


EX-25 is just an empty tube now.

#3


Then I drilled new holes in the male part of an OM extension tube connector. New screws were used because I needed longer screws than the original ones. Please note, you have to use 2mm metric screws or else you will cause some demage or make the EX-25 completely unusable without a major repair work. Very important! Use only the right tools and material.

#4


New holes are drilled in the EX-25's male bayonette to be able to fit it on the OM extension tube. I made sure not to drill any hole where the locking pin touches the ring. I don't know what this pin is called formally, it is the metal pin that locks the lenses and other accesories to the camera. It's way shold not be blocked by anything.

#5


The ribbon cable carefully soldered. Make note of the order otherwise it will not work.

--- Next post is part two. ---

[OlyFlyer]

--- Part two ---

#6


The wires kept together and hidden as much as possible inside the tube.

#7


Black cardbord used to prevent reflection from the wires and the solderings.

#8


Black rubber vulcanising tape used to block light out along the ring. This makes the OM extension ring complete. The procedure is about the same for the EX-25 part. Cable carefully soldered and the wires hidden in the tube.

#9


Another example of use. Panagor Macro converter in between the EX-41 and the Olympus ED 50mm f2.0 lens. Auto focus and aperture control works well. EXIF shows 50mm lens and nothing else. It is a phantastic fileld equipment this way. I can also add more extension tubes in between or reverse any E-system lens using a lens reverser. I can also add a 2xTC to increase magnification and distance from the front element.

[holidaydom]

This guy is simply amazing....

Kudos mate~!!

[Kid Shotter]

Well done,envy you for DIY project.I got no that kind of knowledge and skill.Cheers.

[Teo]

wow ...you are good.
errr...how much will you charge to modify our Ex25??
you can start your biz here..

[tao]

Olyflyer, amazing engineering skills demonstrated, I am humbled!

Now, how close can that monster macro combo gets? Pics please!!

[OlyFlyer]

I received the following PM from a reader. I chose to paste in and answer here without his/her alias. I don't know is he/she wants it to be known, but the questions/answers may be of interest by others too.

Quote: Regarding your thread above... Fisrt of all, like to let you know that i enjoy reading what you had posted. My question is; You are not willing to part sgd28 (Singapore selling price) of your money to buy the remote control for use with your E-500 but you are willing to use a sgd250 Ex-25 and modified it to your Ex-41, i do not quite understand your logic behind. Why huh??? Happy shooting, xxxxx

Hi xxxxx,
I am glad you enjoy my post. In regard to the "why?" the answer is simple. Because I enjoy doing it.

Regarding the remote, as I wrote shortly after I cracked the Oly RM-2 codes about a year ago and made my own 100% compatibel remote. I was angry by the fact that the E-500 had no cable release. That is the one thing I am still very angry about Oly cameras. Actually, later I discovered that even the E-300 has a stupid solution on that one, you need the grip to be able to use it. What a stupid idea from Oly. The E-410 and 510 also has a similarily stupid solution, since you use the video/USB connector and as such, a special cable is needed. I was also angry because the RM-1 or RM-2 is given free with many cheap P&S cameras but Oly wanted me to pay about €24 for a simple, massproduced 5-button IR remote. No way, I thought. So I spent quite many hours (evenings and nights) on cracking the code, than a few more to make the electronic and now I have several different remotes. Economically it was definitely not worth it, but it was a challange doing it and it did not give a cent to Oly. So it was also a revenge and a matter of principles. I knew from the start that if I spend the same time at my ordinary work and get paid for the overtime I would make so much money that I could fill at least one camera bag with RM-2s, but the project was challanging and interesting.

Regarding the EX-25 that I sacrificed for the bellows adapter, there is no such thing on the market as of today. So that is a different story. I was looking for it but there is none. The adapter is very useful and it fills a very large gap in E-system macro gadgets. So even if I risked all that money, I see as I had no choise.

No point waiting for Oly and even third party manufacturers seems to sleep. It would be a piece of cake to any camera accessory maker to make one, two rings (say, each 5mm thick), a pair of OM and E-system camera/lens connectors and 9 wires is all that is needed. So, really, I don't understand why nobody is making it. I estimate it could be sold for well over US$ 250 or maybe even 300. Especially if it is made lighter and still good quality and improved just a tiny bit to make it nicer.

It can be used for the following:

- To reverse any E-system lens on E-system cameras having full control of aperture and AF. Note that AF should not be used on lenses with rotating front element. Note also that the EX-25 part of the ring weights quite a lot for some lenses. I should think to use it on the ED 50mm f2.0 set to infinity is safe. I would not use it on the 40-150 extended to 150mm.

- To use any OM macro bellows in between together with any E-system lens on E-system cameras having full control of aperture and AF.

- Enable the use of any other OM stuff made for "in between OM camera and OM lens use" like tele converter, macro converter, additionel extension tubes. in between together with any E-system lens on E-system cameras having full control of aperture and AF.

- The tube can of course still be used as an extensin tube but it has become EX-41 and not EX-25. Magnification is slightly increased of course also, so it is no longer 1:1 with the ED50mm. It may not be the World's most beautiful one especially with that umbilical cord in between the two parts, but definitely the most versatile one.

Have I missed out something? Anyway, this is about what I plan to use it for. The experience I have so far is good, but if there was a safe and good way to make the EX-25 part thiner, like 5mm or so, it would be better. On bellows the distance between the object and the front of the construction is just to short to be able to use the ED 50mm reversed for large magnifications. Unfortunately I have no tools to make the ring thiner. Adding a 2xTC helps but maybe the best result is given using OM lenses if large magnification is requested.

[drakon09]

This is why the world, photography and the four-thirds forum need engineers like Flyer.

They show us the real world, against the one the marketers want us to see.

[OlyFlyer]

Originally Posted by Teo wow ...you are good. errr...how much will you charge to modify our Ex25?? you can start your biz here..

Hmmm.... I don't know if you are serious, but maybe others think the same way, so I answer...

I hope I am not getting kicked out from CS for this... if this is illegal, I hope admin tells me that and I get a chance to remove this post.

You send me a working EX-25, a good quality OM extension tube of your choise, cash € 120 + return post costs from Sweden, put all that in an envelope or a box well protected and about two weeks later I send it back to you. The only reqiurements on both EX-25 and the OM tube is that they must be "as new" with undemaged but unscrewable screws (no locktite or other stuff used on them). Once I start on yours, in case I fail, I guarantie you, I would send you mine which is working. No requirements can be made that I return the very same units that you send me. No other warranties are given except that before I post it I test it to see that it is working so I post a working unit.

I know what you think, OlyFlyer is crazy, it is too expensive, no warranties, tuff requirements on you, paying in advance, no return rights and so on. I am actually sure you can find a cheaper way somewhere near you to copy my idea, so I don't expect to be rich on this one. Anyway, I do enjoy doing things but sorry, I cannot do it for free and since I have no company to back me, I cannot take any finacial riscs by allowing other ways of payment.

[OlyFlyer]

Originally Posted by tao Olyflyer, amazing engineering skills demonstrated, I am humbled! Now, how close can that monster macro combo gets? Pics please!!

Thanks!

Will post more pics later but I am still learning for the best ways to use it. I did some measurements of different magnifications and distances. I will post that too as soon as I have time to make a readable table out of my notes. Anyway, the largest magnification so far was 17:1 (yes seventeen times) but that was with OM 35mm reversed on bellows + 2xTC near the camera.

BTW, Tao, there was not so much of "amazing engineering skills demonstrated". Really simle project, just needed two different screwdrivers and some other small tools, soldering iron, black cardboard and rubber tape. Really not much engineering. I think the "amazing engineering skills demonstrated" was more during the cracking of remote codes for Oly IR remote. Even that would have been very simple if I had access to an original remote but I refused to pay for and I do not know anybody who have one to lend me.

I appreciate your words anyway, very nice of you.

[OlyFlyer]

Originally Posted by drakon09 This is why the world, photography and the four-thirds forum need engineers like Flyer. They show us the real world, against the one the marketers want us to see.

Thanks for your nice words.

Actually, Oly has more. Just open an old OM manual and look at what they once had. I just don't understand where all that disappeared. They could easily fill the gap and I think they would really take the lead once again if they would do that gap filling. I see no point in producing new and similar lenses on top of each other. They have a long series of lenses with small differences in range like the 17.5-45mm, 14-45mm, 14-42mm, 14-54mm, 12-60mm. Why spending all that effort on all those? One low budget and one pro would be more than enough for long time to come. But I am not working for Oly and have no idea how their marketing department and strategies are working, what they are thinking of. They are probably waiting for a third party factory to wake up producing all the missing parts.

[NeQo1]

Originally Posted by OlyFlyer Thanks for your nice words. Actually, Oly has more. Just open an old OM manual and look at what they once had. I just don't understand where all that disappeared. They could easily fill the gap and I think they would really take the lead once again if they would do that gap filling. I see no point in producing new and similar lenses on top of each other. They have a long series of lenses with small differences in range like the 17.5-45mm, 14-45mm, 14-42mm, 14-54mm, 12-60mm. Why spending all that effort on all those? One low budget and one pro would be more than enough for long time to come. But I am not working for Oly and have no idea how their marketing department and strategies are working, what they are thinking of. They are probably waiting for a third party factory to wake up producing all the missing parts.

OlyFlyer,

Being a Sales rep myself i only can guess it's all about marketing and sales.
Why let the old stuff work, if you can sell a new line of products to the costumer with a higher profit (and hopefully a better quality) then the older stuff.
They leave a serious gap between the new line of gear and the om macro systems they developed, but i think it's a good thing they invest in new tech and materials.
(Think at Live-View, no other manufacturers have a similar thing)

If the sales are not what they hoped for, they can always fall back on the Macro material for the new E-line. Even scientific or labo material, they already have the knowledge to make and adapt if they want to, why not try out some new techs.

Anyway, your adaptation is a brilliant solution to fill the gap for us -not so professional- peeps. I'll try it if i have the money.
I do have access to some machinery, maybe i'll try to make some connection rings myself in the near future. but i need accurate blueprints first...

Thanks for your help to the community

[OlyFlyer]

Originally Posted by NeQo1 OlyFlyer, Being a Sales rep myself i only can guess it's all about marketing and sales. Why let the old stuff work, if you can sell a new line of products to the costumer with a higher profit (and hopefully a better quality) then the older stuff. They leave a serious gap between the new line of gear and the om macro systems they developed, but i think it's a good thing they invest in new tech and materials. (Think at Live-View, no other manufacturers have a similar thing) If the sales are not what they hoped for, they can always fall back on the Macro material for the new E-line. Even scientific or labo material, they already have the knowledge to make and adapt if they want to, why not try out some new techs. Anyway, your adaptation is a brilliant solution to fill the gap for us -not so professional- peeps. I'll try it if i have the money. I do have access to some machinery, maybe i'll try to make some connection rings myself in the near future. but i need accurate blueprints first... Thanks for your help to the community

I know it is all about money and making business. I also understand they don't want us to use old OM stuff, but they have nothing to offer compared to what they had during the film days. That is what disturbs me. Creating a whole series of macro products would not cost them anything in development costs. A real E-bellows would be nothing else than two fittings, one for the camera one for the lens and 9 wires in between. That's all, really simple and cheap. The technology and the machinery to make the bellows is already there. If they can spend money on camera bag development why can't they develop products FOR the cameras? I really believe that third party manufacturers are better to make bags than any camera manufacturer. Anyway, I am never going to carry a big Oly camera bag unless I get paid to do that.

Well, I hope som third party will wake up because I believe Oly is never going to give us more than cameras and a few lenses and a whole bunch of P&S. That is where the money is.

[OlyFlyer]

Originally Posted by tao Olyflyer, amazing engineering skills demonstrated, I am humbled! Now, how close can that monster macro combo gets? Pics please!!

Sorry, I forgot...

Here are two sample pics of a Swedish coin. The coin has a diameter of 20mm.

#1



Camera: E-500, lens: reversed ED50 f2.0 Macro mounted on the camera using my DIY EX-41 macro adapter. Shutter speed: 1/100s, Aperture: f8.0. Flash FL-50 mounted direct on camra, light reflected from my desk lamp reflector. Magnification here is about 1.5:1. My lens reverser adds 20mm to the distance to my DIY macro adapter. Total distance to "film" plane from the lens is about 75mm.

#2



Magnification here is about 2.5:1. I added an additional 36mm long piece of OM extension tube inbetween the lens reverser and my macro adapter. Total distance to "film" plane from the lens is about 110mm.

[OlyFlyer]

Just adding two more images to this thread. This time it is a Silver fish.

I don't know if that is the right name in English. It is definitely not a fish since it can not even swim and hates water. It looks like a fish and the color is silver metallic as you can see. Night living creature, harmless but not a nice looking one. As soon as any light is visible the bug starts to run. It is very fast and extremely light sensitive. Focusing is more like hit or miss since it must be done in very dark room. The red AF assist of the flash is useless from this distance.

Camera: Olympus E-500
Lens: Olympus ED50mm f2.0 Macro
Extension tube: modified EX-25 which is now 41mm long
Magnification is approximately 1.5x
Manual focus, aperture priority.
Shutter speed 1/100s
Aperture: f8.0
Flash: FL-50 on top of camera.

#1 is a full size body, image resized and re-sampled to pass the CS limitations.



#2 is a 100% crop of the head part. Image is re-smpled only, as a result some details are lost.

[microcosm]

Originally Posted by OlyFlyer Hmmm.... I don't know if you are serious, but maybe others think the same way, so I answer... I hope I am not getting kicked out from CS for this... if this is illegal, I hope admin tells me that and I get a chance to remove this post. You send me a working EX-25, a good quality OM extension tube of your choise, cash € 120 + return post costs from Sweden, put all that in an envelope or a box well protected and about two weeks later I send it back to you. The only reqiurements on both EX-25 and the OM tube is that they must be "as new" with undemaged but unscrewable screws (no locktite or other stuff used on them). Once I start on yours, in case I fail, I guarantie you, I would send you mine which is working. No requirements can be made that I return the very same units that you send me. No other warranties are given except that before I post it I test it to see that it is working so I post a working unit. I know what you think, OlyFlyer is crazy, it is too expensive, no warranties, tuff requirements on you, paying in advance, no return rights and so on. I am actually sure you can find a cheaper way somewhere near you to copy my idea, so I don't expect to be rich on this one. Anyway, I do enjoy doing things but sorry, I cannot do it for free and since I have no company to back me, I cannot take any finacial riscs by allowing other ways of payment.

As long as there is an understanding between the person who is sending the adapters to OlyFlyer (Flyer) and the engineer himself that this arrangement has nothing to do with ClubSNAP (CS) and neither will CS be liable for any problems that might arise from your own personal arrangement, which is outside the forums.

In short, do this outside of CS at your own risk.

Thanks OlyFlyer, for even offering to help another mod their extension tubes. But this is not a CS sanctioned thing, so you guys should PM one another and not further discuss "transactions" in there. OK?

[OlyFlyer]

For those who cannot do it by themselves, I think the best would be to contact a local electronic shop or a friend with some soldering abilities. By showing relevant contents of this thread plus the images, I think it is a piece of cake for them. I am glad to be at help and answer questions whenever I have the time. Beware, even if it is an easy project, there are some pitfalls as always. One is drilling wrong hole. By doing that the ring may be made useless or may cause demage to your lens, camera or other equipment. Another is the soldering. The plastic contacts can melt very easy, so it is easy to make junk out of them. Be careful and think through before start. I know I had mine on my table for several days even after I had everything ready in my head.

In anycase, neither ClubSNAP nor myself can be held responsible if anything goes wrong. I suppose that is clear for everybody, but just in case it was not clear, now it is definitely clarified. If any of my DIY projects are followed, you do it at your own risk.

Thank you for visiting this thread and showing interest in my work.

[Blu-By-U]

Just out of curiosity, is the extension tube setup work on a reversed lens setup?