Auto-Up vs. any Macro lens

[nervetonic]

I've been looking for an auto-up lens for awhile and it just seems like when it comes up on Ebay, it goes for $25-$35 which I believe is too much. I just want to be able to shoot closer than 2.6 feet at times. Do you think any 55mm macro lens will work just as well? For the rate the auto-up goes on ebay, I could get a whole macro lens set 1x, 2x and 4x!

If you think so, then what are some suggestions from use that will help me shoot something with desired results?

Thanks
Brian

 

[owlsplace]

You will have to check the focus with a ground glass to determine the subject to film plane distance for the close-up lens you are using and then have a tape measure handy when you shoot. You will also need to guesstimate where the subject will appear in the viewfinder to compensate for parallax error...Roger

 

[ully]

What's this,

What's this,

never heard of auto-up. What is it./

thanks

 

[bsdunek]

Auto-Up is a close-up system made for Yashica rangefinders. It consists of about a +2 lens with a viewing lens attached. This more or less compensates for parallax at close distances.
I have one, and it works pretty well - it just doesn't get very close. It's good for flowers, portraits, etc. 😎

 

[spyder2000]

Interesting that Yashica re-used the name "Auto Up". I have one for my Canon RF (LSM copy) made in the 50's. No, they don't get too close.

These things are really just diopters with parallax correction lenses for the VF. To use one effectively on a TLR, you'd need to view and compose with all attachments on the viewing lens, then move them to the taking lens and raise the camera by an amount equal to the distance between the lens centers. Mamiya made the Paramender just for this (and their camera.)

 

[VinceC]

Auto-Up was the common name for RF-coupled close-focus diopter lenses. I've never been able to figure out where the name came from. They have to be matched to a specific camera/lens combo. Mine is an Auto-Up II for Nikon, and focuses a 50mm lens from 14 inches to 20 inches.