Nikon Lens Reveral
Ring BR-2A and BR3
I regard them as a set, although they do not necessary work together.
BR-2A is the lens reversal ring, which converts camera's lens mount into a
male filter thread. Then a lens with 52mm filter-thread can be threaded --- the lens is
reversed. This is the cheapest way to get a whole bunch of micro lens: essentially, all
normal to wide-angle lenses can be used to produce larger-then-life-size images. The
shorter the focal length, the larger the magnification. The price: you lose the
automatic diaphragm, so "stop-down" metering has to be used.
BR-3 is a nerve preserving ring, officially called filter ring. When a lens is
reversely mounted, its rear is now exposed ;-) . It sometime is really nerve wracking
to use a lens, especially those expensive wide-angles, this way since, to get a sharply
focused image, you have to get really close to the subject. BR-3 mounts into the lens'
bayonet mount and converted it into a female filter thread. Even without a filter, it
eases your nerve a little bit.
Of course, BR-2A and BR-3 themselves can be coupled together to be used
to extend the lens barrel: coupling their bayonet mounts together makes them a tube
that can be mounted onto the front of the lens --- a lens shade, or coupling their filter
threads to make them an extension tube of 20mm, which can be used with all other
extension tubes, but again, you lose the automatic diaphragm. I think this
pair is extremely useful accessories that need to be in every Nikon owner's camera
bag.
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Last updated: July 3, 1997.