>My main question in this email is this: If it's optimized for about a
>4-6x "reduction" onto the film plane when used normally, if you reversed
>it (somehow, probably involving some step-up rings -- assuming that it
>has filter threads -- and the BR-2 reversing ring), would you then get
>a well-corrected 5x macro lens? Knowing your (insatiable 8) curiosity
>and experimentation with lenses of all sorts, have you tried it this
>way yet (if it's at all possible)?
> Michael C Liu

The 55mm f1.2 fits directly on a BR-2 ring reversed, and with about
5" of tubes, gives about 3.5X magnification. I tried it at marked
f5.6 and f11 - it was quite sharp at f5.6 (a good find!), noticeably
into diffraction by f11. Thanks for the suggestion, and it turns out
to be fairly easy to use hand-held with TTL flash used for exposure.
(Didn't know I owned a good 3-6X or so lens!)