[GrahamS]

Just for fun, and out of sheer boredom, I came up with these various macro setups:

Nikon D7100 with manual extension tubes and Nikkor-S 50mm f1.4 manual focus lens.



Nikon D7100 with Nikon F - M39 adaptor and Canon M39 extension tubes with El-Nikkor 50mm f4.0 enlarger lens.



Nikon D7100 with M42 adaptor ring and Praktica bellows with Jupiter 8 50mm f2.0 lens mounted on macro focussing rail.


Pentax K10D with Praktica M42 bellows and TT&H f6.3 six inch anastigmat.

[EdMak]

Going back bit. Ed.

[GrahamS]

Going back bit. Ed.

I have a black cloth for live viewing....

[MrB]

That's interesting, Graham.  Do you have a preferred setup, and do you have any examples to show which setup works best for you?

Cheers.
Philip

[GrahamS]

That's interesting, Graham.  Do you have a preferred setup, and do you have any examples to show which setup works best for you?

Cheers.
Philip

Philip, I am not into extreme macro. These setups are just examples of what is possible with a little thought. I prefer to use a macro lens alone, as here:
https://flic.kr/s/aHsjzf897N

[MrB]

Wonderful examples on Flickr, Graham. Thank you for your link.

Cheers.
Philip

[EdMak]

Graham, I have 2 10 x 8 Plate cameras you could use the cloth for! Ed.

[GrahamS]

Graham, I have 2 10 x 8 Plate cameras you could use the cloth for! Ed.

Thanks, Ed. I wonder if I could use them in tandem for 3D stereoscopic images in 8x10?

[EdMak]

Never thought of that.
Used them for Commercial work in the 50's, there is an art working under a cloth
About 5/6 years ago, shop dumped the 10 x 8 Kodak auto focus enlarger, big beast, bought in the 30's, even the foot switch was heavy.
Had a bellows attachment for it, could make a 3" x 2" print from a half plate, 4.75" x 6.5", neg or plate.
Came with its own floor stand, whole thing was massive. Ed.

[GrahamS]

Those were the days. The older I get, the better I was......

[randybk]

Graham, I was thinking of toying with a bit of macro..extension tubes or bellows? My gear is Sony/Minolta with a good count of Minolta 'legacy' glass. I plan on being mobile with the kit.

[GrahamS]

Graham, I was thinking of toying with a bit of macro..extension tubes or bellows? My gear is Sony/Minolta with a good count of Minolta 'legacy' glass. I plan on being mobile with the kit.

If you want to be mobile, and you want a greater magnification than 1:1, tubes are the way to go. A good macro lens may be easier, depending on your budget.

[randybk]

Graham, I found a set of Minolta Extension Tubes, and bought them. The lens is what I have trouble with now. I would like to stay with the older manual focus Minolta's if I can. I have a choice of Sony A7  (FF) or A77 (APS-C) I have several 50mm, 55mm, 58mm, 135mm, but no dedicated 'Macro' lenses. ( I have 2 zooms that have a macro setting..35-70 and 28-85 but I don't think 1:1 is possible with them) I have seen a set of bellows with a dedicated bellows lens (100mm f4) for $160cad that is in reach. I just don't know where to start, my first adventure with a piece of popcorn (liberated from grand daughter under much protest) a 58mm f1.4 and the three tubes was dismal at best.

[EdMak]

Define dismal? Ed.

[randybk]

I'll admit I did not have the time needed to to do a proper assessment, (grandchildren are more fun when your on the floor with them). The images were blah, no colour, or definition. Image was a piece of popcorn,on blue bench, with 3 ext. tubes (max) A7,with Minolta 58mm f1.4. No I did not save image-should have in hindsight. I'll do another this afternoon, and if I can figure out how to load it I will.

[GrahamS]

I have seen a set of bellows with a dedicated bellows lens (100mm f4) for $160cad that is in reach.

If the lens is a Minolta or other premium brand I would grab this. Don't forget that you will have very little depth of field (depth of focus) with a full set of tubes and a 55mm f1.4 lens. I would start off using just one tube (25mm) and an aperture of F11. You will need an ISO that is as high as you can go without introducing objectionable noise so that you can use a fast shutter speed, and a tripod to begin with. Mirror up shutter actuation with a remote. You can progress to hand-held once you have some practise. Add more tubes (increase the magnification) and you will definitely need a solid tripod or other support . I don't know how the Sony camera's metering behaves when set to shutter priority with a manual non-coupled lens but I would use manual settings anyhow.