Re: [Leica] Re: Macro work

[Mark Rabiner <mrabiner@concentric.net>]

Eno o/c Del wrote:
> 
> In LUG Vol. 8 #33:
> > I would like to add macro capability to my R system but I don't think
> > I will be doing it enough to justify the expense of the 100/2.8 APO
> > Macro lens.  I have a 90/2.8 Elmarit-R (final version) and I'd like
> > some recommendations on what accessories to use.  I'm looking at the
> > ELPRO and Macro-Adapter-R.  Any one with experience in this area?
> As was stated, macro stuff is addicting.  At one point I came to the
> decision that
> the world "out there" was monotonous compared to what could be explored and
> created at the microcosmic level.
> And there is some truth to that of course.
> I have uses the 100/2.8 APO many times.  It is ...very nice.  I do believe
> that the essential benefits of this lens lie in its uniform sharpness and
> excellent optical performance which is there at f/2.8 and f/22.  Great lens.
> When 'macro' comes to mind, so does tripod.  I hate tripods.  They are a
> pain in the ass and can be very frustrating - I keep my M far away...   I
> did much macro work with R7 60/2.8 Macro, and have had excellent results.
> It's also a cheap lens (-er).  I have so many great macro shots, but they
> are all tainted with a degree of blur that is unwanted.
> The DOF is exacting, so I was shooting everything at around f/16 just to get
> the other half of the lady bug in focus (actually I've never shot a lady
> bug, but I would.)
> Tripod and consistent positive results are compliments of each other, at
> least as a general rule.  Of course it's up to the variables of light and
> how close in you want to get.  I rarely use my 60/2.8, but it's there and
> serves its purpose in this respect well enough.

A common setup for macro people like yourself (no offence) who hate
tripods are those double strobe brackets which hold a little strobe at
each side of your lens. Pictures taken with this setup can look
remarkably unflashlike and the strobe duration gives you an effective
shutterspeed of 1/billionth or somesuch of a second so you can freeze
those little bug wings and certainly not worry about camera shake. It
also helps takes care of depth of field problems as you can stop down to
22 and get a whole inch in focus.
Beats ringlight. 
Sprayglue some black velvet to a grey card and use it as a backdrop or a
side light sucker.
Mark Rabiner