Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/10/20
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]trish ternahan wrote: >>> Would some kind and patient Lugger please explain the following items and how to use them? bellows APO extension 1.4 2X APO extender ROM macro adapters Right angeleviewers? anything else in this general category <<< Seeing as no kind and patient LUGgers have responded, I'll give it a go: APO extenters, both 1.4x and 2x, increase the effective focal length of the lens without changing the focussing range. If you were to use a 2x extender on the 60mm Macro, you'd effectively have a m120mm lens that focusses from infinity to Very Close. Since the 60 by itself focusses close enough for a 1:2 reproduction ratio, and the 2x extender doubles the magnification at any given distance, the 60+2x extender focuses close enough to give you a 1:1 reproduction ratio. The 1.4 extender would produce a lesser effect except for a peculiarity of its design: The front elements protrude beyond the lens mount, so only a few of the longer lenses may be used with this extender w/o damaging stuff. The 60 ain't one you can use with the 1.4x extender. Since ROM doesn't do anything on your R6 you choice between ROM and non-ROM would be based on the best deal you can get. A macro adapter is a fancy name for extension tube. It goes between the camera and lens, just like the extenders do, but the only think it does is change the focussing range. You lose infinity focus but gain an even closer minimum focus distance. How close depends on the length of the extension tube, the focal length of the lens and how close the lens can focus normally. In general a longer extension tube gets you closer, and given a particular extension tube, a shorter focal length lens will get you closer. The biggest problem with using shorter lenses for close-up photos is lighting. A bellows is a variable-length extension tube that IMHO is too fragile for my typical use outdoors. Right-angle viewers are handy when your camera is stuck to a copy stand and you want to see in the viewfinder without climbing on the table and squatting over the camera with your rear end threatening to knock yesterday's pizza and stale Jolt onto the persian carpet. The right-angle thingie allows one to maintain a civilized posture while focussing the camera. There are also ELPRO close-up lenses that screw into the filter threads of R lenses that have E55 filter threads. They're quite handy for the occasional close-up photo but unless you stop the lens down a few extra stops the image quality won't be as good as your 60 (marvelous lens, BTW) with extension tubes. Doug Herr Birdman of Sacramento http://www.wildlightphoto.com - -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ . - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html