Ricko of Fla
Established
I am looking to do some macro shots. Most Leica lens have a 3 meter range. Need a lens for close work.
So what lens are available, that are not over priced
So what lens are available, that are not over priced
greggebhardt
Well-known
Roger Hicks
Veteran
For serious close-ups, 65/3.5 Elmar on Visoflex. Silly-cheap, though a lot depends on your definition of 'overpriced'.
Not sure what you mean by '3 metre range'. The 75/2 Summicron goes down to 1/7 life size, the 90/4 Makro about 1/3 life size with the close-up gerät.
Cheers,
R.
Not sure what you mean by '3 metre range'. The 75/2 Summicron goes down to 1/7 life size, the 90/4 Makro about 1/3 life size with the close-up gerät.
Cheers,
R.
proenca
Proenca
Well very simple : you have two paths - either buy a Leica M 90mm Macro, which does 1:2 at best with the extra googles and the whole setup is expensive or get a Visioflex, which basically turns the M8 ( or any M ) into a SLR, by adding a reflex mirror.
Now from there you either : browse around for the Visoflex mounts and lenses ( which sometimes can be a bit tricky to find ) or get an adaptor for example, to a R lens and then get a Leica R Macro lens...
Either way, you going to spend a bit of money...
A Leica M 90mm Macro costs around 1500 pounds.... goggles 300-400 ( all this used ).
Visoflex, in good condition can be had for 200-300 pounds... lens and the rest for 100-150 pounds...
I'm a big fan of Macro work ( also tele ) and the problems I found with either option is :
1 - Macro Elmar is pricey : I dont have every Leica lens that I want and to spend this amount of money I prefer to spend in a lens that I use more often ; dont get me wrong, its a tack sharp, superb lens but...
2 - Visoflex does what it says in the tin but makes the M8 or M9 look like a whole frankencamera and its just unbalanced. Granted, when doing macro work you usually have your camera on tripod but...
So I did something quite different :
Found myself a used D2H and a Nikon 105mm Macro. 300 pounds. Done !
D2H for 190 pounds, in one of my favorite shops - ApertureUK. And 110 pounds for the Macro lens. Its a nice setup, allows me to do few things that I cant with the M8 :
more precise focus control
use of more advanced flash
use of long lens
I'm just thrilled with it - great camera that can be picked up for virtually nothing these days... And to be honest, if you really love macro , just swap a D2h for a D2x, which can be found around for 700 pounds or so...
I love Leica but... macro isnt really a camp where Leicas are confortable. Yes it can be done but with lot of ifs and buts.
Now from there you either : browse around for the Visoflex mounts and lenses ( which sometimes can be a bit tricky to find ) or get an adaptor for example, to a R lens and then get a Leica R Macro lens...
Either way, you going to spend a bit of money...
A Leica M 90mm Macro costs around 1500 pounds.... goggles 300-400 ( all this used ).
Visoflex, in good condition can be had for 200-300 pounds... lens and the rest for 100-150 pounds...
I'm a big fan of Macro work ( also tele ) and the problems I found with either option is :
1 - Macro Elmar is pricey : I dont have every Leica lens that I want and to spend this amount of money I prefer to spend in a lens that I use more often ; dont get me wrong, its a tack sharp, superb lens but...
2 - Visoflex does what it says in the tin but makes the M8 or M9 look like a whole frankencamera and its just unbalanced. Granted, when doing macro work you usually have your camera on tripod but...
So I did something quite different :
Found myself a used D2H and a Nikon 105mm Macro. 300 pounds. Done !
D2H for 190 pounds, in one of my favorite shops - ApertureUK. And 110 pounds for the Macro lens. Its a nice setup, allows me to do few things that I cant with the M8 :
more precise focus control
use of more advanced flash
use of long lens
I'm just thrilled with it - great camera that can be picked up for virtually nothing these days... And to be honest, if you really love macro , just swap a D2h for a D2x, which can be found around for 700 pounds or so...
I love Leica but... macro isnt really a camp where Leicas are confortable. Yes it can be done but with lot of ifs and buts.
1ScrewLoose
Member
Aw, c'mon. Get a Visoflex. All the cool kids are doing it. Anyone who doesn't is square. C'mon, it's fun. It feels great. If anyone tells you it's addictive -- don't listen. They're just squares too.
robklurfield
eclipse
if you go the visoflex route, make sure you buy a III prism as it's the only one that will fit.
aizan
Veteran
for the price of the 90mm macro elmar with the adapter and angle viewfinder, you can get a canon 5dmkii and the new 100/2.8L macro .
Garfink
Antfarm Photography
aizan: Not quite, I don't think the 90 Macro is quite that expensive, but I would recommend the Canon 5D2 for macro any day over a Leica M! Just an aside: I wouldn't get the EF 100 Macro, get the Sigma 150 Macro, more working distance, cheaper and better in every other way.
1ScrewLoose
Member
That's sound, rational advice. As much as I've enjoyed visoflexdom, to be honest if you're going to carry that around in your bag you may as well carry some kind of SLR. And certainly from a practical perspective, something with a few more flash options would be helpful. If digital isn't mandatory, then the OM system would be a very attractive option... if you must shoot digital, and the budget allows it, then buying into the 5d system might be the smartest route.
On the other hand, if you're only after a few macro shots from time to time, wouldn't feel compelled to carry the gear everywhere, are a compulsive fiddler, and don't mind resembling a mad scientist when you are using it, a Visoflex and 65mm Elmar is just the ticket at a tiny fraction of the investment. You will have enough left over for a nice white lab coat, a crazy disheveled hair wig (if needed), and maybe a Tesla coil or two to complete the look.
On the other hand, if you're only after a few macro shots from time to time, wouldn't feel compelled to carry the gear everywhere, are a compulsive fiddler, and don't mind resembling a mad scientist when you are using it, a Visoflex and 65mm Elmar is just the ticket at a tiny fraction of the investment. You will have enough left over for a nice white lab coat, a crazy disheveled hair wig (if needed), and maybe a Tesla coil or two to complete the look.
> You will have enough left over for a nice white lab coat, a crazy disheveled hair wig (if
> needed), and maybe a Tesla coil or two to complete the look.
I have a lab coat, don't need a wig, and have high-power voltage supplies.
But I use a D1x with 70~200 Zoom-Micro-Nikkor for the macro work.
> needed), and maybe a Tesla coil or two to complete the look.
I have a lab coat, don't need a wig, and have high-power voltage supplies.
But I use a D1x with 70~200 Zoom-Micro-Nikkor for the macro work.
tribleyl
Newbie
Here are my biased thoughts. I’m not sure about the Visoflex solution. It’s kind of an “eccentric” solution to adapt macro to a rangefinder.
When I picked up my black M3 years ago, I had a chance to purchase a Visoflex package with it, but declined. My 35 mm solution was a Nikon F3 and 120/4 Medical Nikkor. It includes a built-in ringlight and modeling light. Sweet combo and fantastic results. A lot of macro requires supplemental lighting including reflectors. A benefit of the F is that the prism is removable providing you additional flexibility. If you’ve never used a camera with a removable prism you’re missing out (attached eyepiece finders don’t do it when your down and dirty). In conjunction with a Gitzo Explorer tripod you’re be amazed the new shooting angles (and vision) you can achieve – along with flexing your bod in ways you never thought possible!
As an aside, for medium format macro, I used a Rollie SL66. It’s built-in bellows and limited view camera movements provided me a different approach to macro along with the benefits of medium format quality (it was my light weight solution to hauling 4x5 into the mountains). Unfortunately the body and backs were not particularly reliable.
Anyway, another 35 mm film solution you might consider if you’re do not interested in digital.
When I picked up my black M3 years ago, I had a chance to purchase a Visoflex package with it, but declined. My 35 mm solution was a Nikon F3 and 120/4 Medical Nikkor. It includes a built-in ringlight and modeling light. Sweet combo and fantastic results. A lot of macro requires supplemental lighting including reflectors. A benefit of the F is that the prism is removable providing you additional flexibility. If you’ve never used a camera with a removable prism you’re missing out (attached eyepiece finders don’t do it when your down and dirty). In conjunction with a Gitzo Explorer tripod you’re be amazed the new shooting angles (and vision) you can achieve – along with flexing your bod in ways you never thought possible!
As an aside, for medium format macro, I used a Rollie SL66. It’s built-in bellows and limited view camera movements provided me a different approach to macro along with the benefits of medium format quality (it was my light weight solution to hauling 4x5 into the mountains). Unfortunately the body and backs were not particularly reliable.
Anyway, another 35 mm film solution you might consider if you’re do not interested in digital.