Camera Macro Bellows
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Fotodiox Nikon Macro Extension Tube Set Kit for Extreme Close-up, Fits Nikon D1, D2, D3, D3x,D3s, D100, D200, D300, D300s, D700, D40, D40x, D50, D70s, D80, D90, D3000, D5000, D7000 $5.95 You can use the camera mount coupling adapter and lens mount coupling adapter alone or with combination of any or all three extension tubes for extreme Macro photography. Since there is no other optical components been added, the image preserve the original optical property of the lens. This is a much desired way to turn your existing lens into a MACRO LENS…. |
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Canon FD/FL Lens to Canon EOS EF Body Mount Adapter with Infinity Focus, made in Japan $35.00 Product Features Description This adapter allow to use CANON FD mount lenses and macro accessories on Canon EOS cameras. The lens distance scale can be used as well as the focusing to infinity .The adapter has correction lens inside…. |
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Canon EF 25 II Extension Tube for EOS Digital Cameras $139.95 Two Extension tubes, in the same 12mm and 25mm lengths as previously available, have been redesigned to accommodate the EF-S mount lenses and its extended rear elements. They’re perfectly compatible with all previous EF and TS-E lenses, and will work with any EOS film or Digital SLR. Exposure compensation is often required with cameras other than the EOS-1 Series…. |
Macro photography – bellows, extension tubes, etc.?
I’m looking to get into macro photography and would love to hear any advice regarding bellows, extension tubes, etc. I’m currently shooting with a Mamiya RB67, a 645 Pro-TL, a Nikon F4 and an FM2n. Any advice or recommendations (preferably specific to these camera systems) is greatly appreciated!
I would suggest building your system around your Nikon cameras – basically the F4 and FM2 will have the same lens mounts thus you can use either body, depending on which one is working best for you or which one has film in it, etc.
Here is the progression of magnification:
1) A dedicated macro lens. With something like a 50mm or 60mm lens, you can take very clear photos of small items, such as large bugs, flowers, etc. However, for really small things, the working distance becomes too close to be practical. This is why the longer lenses 105mm or even 200mm – so you don’t have to get so close for the magnification you need. This opens up the possibilities for different kinds of lighting.
2) Extension tubes are a nice way to mount your macro lenses so that you can focus even closer, while retaining the metering capability of the camera. Usually they come in sets so that you have something like an 8mm, a 15mm and a 21mm extension tube, or something similar. This is nice because you can use one at a time or in combination.
3) Bellows are often used with specialized lenses so that you can get really close: 1:1 or even more magnification. They also offer the greatest control over your magnification by allowing you to carefully adjust the extension.
I would personally start with a good macro lens and a set of extension tubes, because you’ll have plenty of creative possibilities and it won’t break the bank. In fact, that’s what I did some years ago with my Olympus OM4, and I had a great time photographing leaves, flowers, etc. and I learned a lot about lighting for macro subjects.
Raj Hundal Photography Portfolio – Night Time, Macro, Strobist, Bokeh
Old Fashioned High Resolution Photo Camera
Tired of trying to keep updated with the highest mega pixel resolution digital camera? Well even if one has tried to do that, most certainly he will soon find out that his few months old digital camera is outdated in terms of mega pixel resolution. It’s an ever changing kind of product that has become very hard to keep updated, unless one is willing to spend more money by making purchases every six to twelve months.
If the main intention of purchasing a photo camera is enlarging the image, then mega pixel resolution indeed will become the main factor. In this case one might consider a different option, which will keep his product updated for years to come. I’m talking about a used 4×5″ film photo camera, together with a high resolution flat bed film scanner. All of this for less than one thousand US dollars. With all of this, one will get over 100 mega pixels in fine detailed film resolution and fine scanned digital images that can be enlarged up to 30×40″ in size with professional quality. These 4×5″ film cameras have done a remarkable job in general personal and commercial photography such as wedding, portraiture, product, documentary, advertising and landscape for nearly a hundred years.
Where to find 4×5″ used film cameras? Since some of these cameras were mostly used in the past, until the 1960’s, it should be no problem in finding them in American auction web sites. Anyway, a good used 4×5″ camera with lens can be found for less than four hundred US dollars.
As for the flat bed film scanner, one can find brand new ones for less than five hundred US dollars. Just make sure the scanner is able to scan films.
Whenever purchasing a 4×5″ film camera, one should look for the following features: folds into a compact box, flexible bellows, lenses that can be easily interchanged, accepts sheet film, ground glass focusing screen, easily handheld and optical viewfinder accessory.
As for the lenses, there are four main categories: 1 – general purposes; 2 – wide field (mostly used for close up work and landscape); 3 – extreme wide angles lenses; 4 – special effects lenses (telephoto). However, one might use a general purpose 127 or 152mm lens for most of his photograph sessions. In cases where it requires special lenses, such as architecture or macro photography, one will still find lots of them available in auction sites. Used lenses for 4×5” cameras made after world word II have excellent performances comparable to today’s modern lenses.
Whenever making a purchase of a 4×5″ camera make sure that: 1 – the bellows have no light leaks, 2 – the lens shutter works accurate at all speeds; 4 – the lens elements have no fungus and scratches of any kind; 4 – the focus is working properly between the ground glass and the film.
The option of using a 4×5″ film camera, together with a flat bed film scanner, for enlarging images with professional quality is viable and accessible. Cheaper than top digital cameras, the 4×5″ film camera offers better image quality and will always be updated in the future, maintaining its original value.
For those who wishes the very most detailed image enlargement, one can always use the 8×10″ film camera. Four times the physical film size of the 4×5″, this option offers so much film resolution that it is considered by many as the ultimate step for photo image enlargement.
Sometimes analog products deliver better results that its digital counter parts. If you are doing the job of enlarging photo images, you should give it a try with a 4×5″ camera. You might just surprise yourself.
Roberto Sedycias
IT Consultant for PoloMercantil
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About the Author
This article can also be accessed in portuguese language from the News Articles section of page PoloMercantil.
Roberto Sedycias has a bachelor degree in Business Administration and over 20 years experience in systems analysis and computer programming. Currently working as IT consultant/chief software engineer for www.PoloMercantil.com.br.