Options for macro . . .

[j.lukow]

Several zoom lens I have are marked Telephoto Macros, but still I'm not totally happy with them, when I try for an extreme closeup.

When I first arrived I asked abot Achromatic lenses - screw on close up - and have note time and time again how tricky they are for DOF.

I've seen mention in other posts about extension tubes, so a couple questions . . .
1- Are they better for dealing with DOF?
2- Their purpose is also to shorten the focussing distance Y/N?
3- Do they work with any focal length?

I know there are also reversal rings as well.
Thanks in advance,
Jim

[padiej]

Hallo Jim!

I have this extention rings, and this rings are working with all focus lengths, but 50mm is standard, I know.

Another method is using a lens reverse, with an adapter (or a "balgengerät").

A good macro is the pentax m 100/4.

regards Peter

[poilu]

Hi Jim,

1) No
2) Yes
3) Yes

What do you mean by extreme closeup ?
What do you want to shot ?

[maddog10]

Jim,

Extension tubes will allow you to close focus and will work with any lens that attach's to them. You will have shallow DOF and sometimes this is VERY shallow indeed.

I have used them with plenty of lenses, including Micro-Nikkor lenses with varying results.

[LucisPictor]

An excellent macro lens is the Volna-9 2.8/50 which is much cheaper than most of the other "real" macro lenses and at least as good.

Esp. with macro shots AF is not important, so it makes hardly any sense to invest in the more expensive AF solutions.

The Volna-9 comes in M42, so you can get additional extension rings for almost no money on *bay, just in case you want to get really close.

[Abbazz]

[patrickh]

Macro can be achieved in several ways:

1) Specially designed lenses - look for those that give 1:1 without additional devices.
2) Extension tubes - you can mount any focal length lens on them and achieve macro
3) Bellows - as above but variable length and sometimes tilt and shift too.
4) Reversed lens - requires purpose built adapter, but can produce stunning results

Macro can only be done with manual focus, despite what the producers say, so go for MF lenses. I have not tried it personally, but I have seen results from enlarging lenses on extension rings or bellows that are spectacular, and enlarging lenses are going very cheaply now (most have M42 threads). The Volna-9 is an excellent way to try your hand without investing too much. A good macro lens can command significant dollars.


patrickh

[j.lukow]

Thanks for the influx of advice, I'll try to help focus things a bit . . .

@poilu
By extreme closeup, I mean getting a shot of a bumblebee cramming its body down a Wiegela bloom and the shot filling my camera's viewfinder.
I've been loving the detail and structure of the plants in the garden - occasionally you can catch a small ghost-like spider prowling between the petals.

@patrickh
You mention about the adapters that I think are termed reversing rings, are you speaking from your own experience?

@ everyone . . .
AF/digital aren't issues, as I'm a film shooting MF 35mm camera guy
The biggest hassle I run into is the very shallow DOF I get while using the closeup lens. If a bloom is a 4 cm diameter "sphere"/hemisphere then parts will be blurred.

[A G Photography]

The only solution I know about the DOF problem is shooting with a tilt lens, or a tilting bellow (Nikon made one, the PB6 maybe, not sure about the code), or a large format camera.

[patrickh]

Alessandro is correct about tilting. I also forgot to mention the addon lenses that you originally mentioned. The Canon is often mentioned with respect. I have no personal experience of reversing lenses - I just use bellows, rings and macro lenses.
DOF is mainly a physical properties issue and one of the constant balancing acts is speed vs aperture only in macro it is critical. So - lighting is very important. So is a tripod. Also for this reason you will find most macro lenses are slow - you simply cannot use anything wider than 5.6 as a rule of thumb (and yes I know everyone has great shots at 2..


patrickh

[dickb]

[j.lukow]

This is what I'm running into with just a (Minolta XG70) with Tamron CF TeleMacro zoom 80-210 f1:3.8 . . . For focus I need to work on my DOF
These are anemones - aka Grecian Windflowers . . .


Jim

[zewrak]

How about a lensbaby on the bellows for tilting?

[A G Photography]

[zewrak]

[zewrak]

Got my bellows (as seen in "Score" thread).

This is my first tries. Handheld on a 6-8mm fly. No masterpieces, but I am happy for being the first try ever with extensions of any kind.




http://flickr.com/photos/zewrak/ for larger images.

Its great fun. But a bit hard to get used to zooming by moving the whole packet back and forth . Used a Helios 44-2 on the bellows. I'll try with the Chinonflex 100mm instead later on I think. Was well hard to use it that close.

[Attila]

Nice one! I really wish to get time to myself to do same. Congrats!

[poilu]

congrats zewrak! top quality result from the first try and at 1/15s

[maddog10]

Don't you just love the HUGE DOF!

[zewrak]

[F16SUNSHINE]

You know. It is not cheating to make your own aperture. How does f64 sound?

[Himself]

Here is the true one

http://www.vividlight.com/articles/2914.htm

I know, I know, but it's a manual one.

[Rob Leslie]

[peterqd]

I haven't tried the Volna-9, that's one for the future. But for the present I use the Flek 2.4/35 for close-up work. The magnification factor isn't as high of course, but it will focus on something almost touching the front element.

[estudleon]

I love my leica bellow 2 (Idon't see better than this).
With the lens, without attachment i like the Steinheil macro-quinar 2,8/100, focus to 1:1,3 with double focussing mechanism, one to 1:1 and the second - nearest the front of the lens- to 1:1,3. And the sharp and contrast : The best of the best. Only four elements, (sonnar design) no flare with single coated. Great!!!!
With the bellow, I like rodenstocks or schneiders makro lenses with adap. and don´'t go to smaller aperture than F/22 or, better, 32.