[Leica] technical question

[len-1 at comcast.net (Leonard Taupier)]

Philippe,

Part of the problem in answering your question is we don't know what  
basic equipment you have now (Canon, Nikon, Leica), and how much  
money you want to put into this project. How many photos will you be  
taking to make an investment worth while? If you have a Canon system  
then the Macro MP-E 65mm might work. But that lens costs $800.

Most of the suggestions here describe a bellows, a lens head or  
enlarging lens or even a lens mounted in reverse to get more  
magnification and quality. If you look to the used market, the best  
choices would be Nikon. Canon does not make a bellows for their EOS  
bodies but EOS to NF adapters would allow just about anything you can  
mount on a Nikon on the Canon.

Ring lights are nice, but not cheap.  Sigma makes one for Canon and  
Nikon. I have one but have not had really good results on extreme  
closeups.  My preference is the Nikon R1C1 wireless system which is  
both a ringlight and the two bulbs can be removed from the lens mount  
and placed on their little feet just about anywhere. If you get the  
CSI Miami TV shows that's what they use on their Nikon cameras. Of  
course you can always rent lighting.

As for lenses, Henning's suggestions are very good.  Again finding  
the Photars might be a trick but enlarging lenses and the 55mm macros  
are pretty cheap used. Reverse adapters are also very inexpensive new  
if you go generic brand. But again I recommend a Nikon bellows and  
working from there.

Good Luck, and as Ed says, it can be fun.
Len



On Sep 16, 2007, at 7:42 AM, Philippe Orlent wrote:

> Does anybody have experience with extreme close-up work?
>
> I looking for a practical solution to shoot (non detachable) 0,2 by  
> 0,2 inch surfaces in such a way that they can be blown up to 40 by  
> 40 inch prints.
> Meaning shot out of hand or on a simple tripot setting.
> I guess that would include some kind of a flash system.
>
> What kind of lens? Would a 200mm macro lens be sufficient?
> What kind of flash system (ring or similar?)
>
> I have no experience with macro, nor with this kind of flashes, so  
> I'm a bit ignorant about this.
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Philippe
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information