Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/10/20

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Subject: RE: [Leica] dumb question
From: "telyt@earthlink.net" <telyt@earthlink.net>
Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2001 21:16:00 -0400

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

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