Did you know there’s a way to take super close-up photos without spending a lot on a new macro lens? Starting at about $10, one inexpensive accessory will let you take stunning macro photos using lenses you already own. (above  photo by Dan’s staff member John E.)

It’s called a reverse ring , and it works by letting you mount a lens on your camera backwards. With the lens the wrong way around, everything changes, and suddenly you’re looking at the world through a microscope.

What’s the catch? Well, since there’s no electronic connection bewteen the camera and the lens, you have to do everything manually – focus, exposure, all of it. It can take a little experimentation to get it working for you. But if you’re willing to play around a little bit, you can get some really amazing results.

We’ve been trying these out for a little while now, and they’re a whole lot of fun. For the big results you get from such a tiny item, one of these should be in every photographer’s bag. Here’s a few more pictures from our staff…

Have you used a reverse ring yourself? We’d love to see your pictures! Join us on Facebook and share your photos.