Close Up Photography

[alantochterman]

I have been following this forum even before I purchased my R-D1 over a year ago. I thoroughly love this camera because of its "feel" and because of the low noise it reproduces even at high ISOs. With Genuine Fractals I can make enlargements that are far superior to my 10mp DSLR.

Just for fun, I decided to photograpy some lillys in my neighbor's yard last weekend. I was able to enlarge these to A3 size (11.5 x 16.5) with beautiful results. So I decided to share them.

All images were shot RAW, processed in Adobe CameraRaw and then reduced to JPG for posting here.

I used a Visoflex I rather then a II or III because I prefer the 45 degree finder. With a Lieca Bellows 1 ANY LENS CAN BE A MACRO LENS. The following pictrures were shot with my Viso I, a bellows 1, a double cable release, a 200mm Telyt f4 and lots of patience. The telyt produces a very sharp, but somwhat low contrast image that makes for lovely floral images.

Since this is my first post, I hope I was able to make the attachements work properly.

Later I will forward a picture of my Viso 1/telyt set up. I am waiting to get the adapter for my Hektor. From my reading, it is an excellent close-up lens.

 

[Ezzie]

I think your efforts deserve some feedback. I've not yet wandered much in the realms of macro photography. I was planning on kitting out my D2x for that task, but you may have convinced me otherwise. Good show.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Nice work Alan!, and further proof that in good hands - 6mp. can be quite sufficient for exellent pictures!. A 6mp. Nikon D40 serves my digital requirements very well.
Cheers, Dave.

 

[kermaier]

No, no, no! Just when I though I was done buying gear, you show me another cool thing to do with the R-D1....:bang:
::Ari

 

[payasam]

These pictures are excellent. Which Hektor do you have, the 135?

 

[andreas.pichler]

Alan,

ditto, wonderful pictures. I own a Hektor from the mid-50ies right now and love.
Maybe you have seen my spider picture:

And here is a try with Visoflex II and chimney finder:

And the last one is "Hektor pure" without any Visoflexes, but it comes near macro:

The Hektor adaptor for the Visoflex Bellows allows you to use pre war Elmar 135/4,5 as well - I found it very interesting and exciting to use nearly 80 year old lenses together with digital film...it seems that some things are made to last and to be used forever.

Cheers,

Andreas

PS: For all guys out there who are looking to complete their gear (special greetings to Ari), take a look at this quite interesting link:
http://elshaw.tripod.com/Visoflex/Visoflex.html

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

I have been interested in finding ways to use my leica for macro photography and thanks for giving me ideas! The images are gorgeous. As you say telyt gives dreamy look!

 

[andreas.pichler]

...and a crosslink to another thread, shot from todays morning, Elmar 135/4.5 from the early 30ies with Visoflex I and bellows (and without tripod!)

 

[Ezzie]

How does one solve the dual release? A Leica cable won't fit the R-D1, and any other dual release cable will not fit the visoflex. Seriously considering the visoflex, I must say.

 

[andreas.pichler]

Dear Ezzie,

when using Visoflex II, I take one of the double cable releases which are availably at known sources (the bay and others).

When using Visoflex I, I am using this special release known as "little finger" and "index finger", a well proven add on to the cameras standard user interface known as "human being".

...sorry, I dont have a better workaround. But until now, it works.

And to be honest: When using an Elmar 90 or an Hektor 135, I do not use the Visoflex any more. Then I try to estimate the FOV, aperture 11 and point and shoot..and it works lke the 80/20 rule.

Cheers,

Andreas

 

[Ezzie]

As long as you raise the mirror before the R-D1 shutter and lower t afterwards you're OK, is that the correct interpretation?

 

[andreas.pichler]

Dear Ezzie,

when using a double cable, you normally can adjust the cables with screws, its a question of try outs.

In my opinion, to arrive on the save side, you loose maybee a quarter of a second, when the Visoflex is mechanically in order. But then you are in the middle of the discussion why the rangefinder philosophy is superior on the SLR one.

A rangefinder plus Visoflewx is just a workaround - perfect for close, but ridicouloues for action photography. For this , take a Leica R9 with digital back ;-)

Cheers, Andreas

When using fingers, its just feeling...🙂

Cheers,

Andreas

 

[alantochterman]

Dear Ezzie and Andreas:

In the old days there was a different thread for a cable release. The Viso 1 uses that thread. There is an adapter which will allow a double cable release to work on the Viso 1. I manually lift the mirror to meter then release it and use the double release. I prefer not to use the two finger method as my hand creates shake. The Viso 1 can be riased independently of the cable release and locked. I have a photo of the cable release and the adapter, but am not sure how to up load it so that it will be large enough to view. Once I learn how to do it. I will show it to you.

Alan

 

[Ezzie]

Thanks Alan, would appreciate it. The easy route would be to buy a 1:1 micro/macro for the D2X, probably cheaper too. But who said easy was fun?

There's a Visoflex II on the Classifieds at the moment, complete with lens and adaptors, but not release cable(s), very tempting