Macro w/ a Bessa

[DHu]

Just curious, is it possible to shoot macro with a Bessa or any rangefinder? I don't recall seeing any macro shot with a rangefinder before.

Also I've heard you can couple a reverse long lens to a normal lens on the SLRs. Any suggestions?

 

[Doug]

The problem with macro shots with a rangefinder camera is that you can't see through the lens, which is what you need to do to check focus and framing. The RF viewfinder just can't handle that. SLRs do that just fine, making them suitable for macro work. It IS possible to convert a Leica RF camera or other Leica-mount camera into an SLR by adding the Leica "Visoflex" housing.

You could have some fun trying different other approaches, of course. 🙂

 

[kabkos]

You can shoot macro with a rangefinder camera if you put a mirror box on it or if you use one of the Auto Up close up adapters (they came in +1 and +2 diopter). Of course there was also the 50f/2 Summicron Dual Range that basically operated similar to the Auto Up. You can focus the Auto Up and the Dual Range via the rangefinder/viewfinder as they both compensated for parallax.
But the SLR reigns supreme for macro shots!

 

[nwcanonman]

Macro and LONG lenses are what SLR's are for.
All else belongs to our friend the RF ~ ; - )
For what it would cost to make an RF do macro, you could buy 2 or 3 SLR set-ups.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Visos fit on Bessa-Ts too....

Roger (www.rogerandfrances.com)

 

[stephen_lumsden]

FYI
The Contax Contax/Kiev cameras have a option called a contameter and a macro lens called a contaprox. which I am curious about myself. Anyone tried this?

 

[DHu]

The problem with macro shots with a rangefinder camera is that you can't see through the lens, which is what you need to do to check focus and framing. The RF viewfinder just can't handle that. SLRs do that just fine, making them suitable for macro work. It IS possible to convert a Leica RF camera or other Leica-mount camera into an SLR by adding the Leica "Visoflex" housing.

You could have some fun trying different other approaches, of course. 🙂

It all makes sense to me now. Basically, I'll need another camera for macros...wonder if my wife would buy it 🙂