Wide-angle macro photography using a CCTV lens and 4x microscope

Start by making my 4x microscope adapter for your camera:

https://www.printables.com/prints/143754-microscope-adapter-for-4x-macro-photography-with-s

Then add this particular 4x objective (only this one is supported) to it:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32360730919.html

Now you can unscrew the casing from the objective and replace it with the printed CCTV adapter. On the left is the objective with its case removed, on the right is its case.

You can now attach any M12 CCTV lens to the adapter (these are usually described as lenses for “board cameras” since the cameras are sold as naked circuit boards, look on Aliexpress).

I took the example photos above using the “C” lens from my Mobius ActionCam, which has a 132 degree FOV. This is an equivalent angle-of-view of about a 10mm lens on a full-frame camera.

Wide-angle CCTV lenses give the most unique effect since wide-angle macro is difficult to achieve on a typical mirrorless camera.

For more macro photography equipment, please check out my other designs too!

https://www.printables.com/social/25723-thenickdude/models

Shooting instructions

To focus the CCTV lens you'll need to screw and unscrew it on its threads. Infinity focus is possible, so you can use it as a regular wide-angle lens, but you can also focus right down until the subject is basically touching the lens, which you'll need to do to get good magnification using a wide-angle lens!

Your view in the viewfinder will be reversed, so up will be down, which makes it tricky to frame your subject!

Because the frame coverage is small, shoot in APS-C crop mode. You'll still get a circular image, which you'll need to crop further if you want a square or rectangular output. The final example photo of the mushrooms shows an uncropped APS-C image.

Printing instructions

Print at 0.1mm layer height in black PETG or ABS, 3 perimeters, no brim or supports are required.

Watch it used in the field!

Macro photographer Micael Widell took the adapter out to the field to take photos of insects, you can watch that review here: