Clandrel Posted December 18, 2009 Share #1 Posted December 18, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Recommendations? C Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 18, 2009 Posted December 18, 2009 Hi Clandrel, Take a look here Best close-up/macro lens for M8?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
cbretteville Posted December 18, 2009 Share #2 Posted December 18, 2009 90mm Macro-Elmar with eyes - unless you want to the Visoflex route. That said I do believe the best macro setup for any M is another system. RFs don't really do macro very well. Carl Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted December 18, 2009 Share #3 Posted December 18, 2009 If you do go the Visoflex route, which is a trifle awkward and ungainly but is capable of producing superb results, then my vote goes to the 135mm f/4 Elmar (the lens cell of the silver version with the 16472/OTSRO and 16471/OTRPO adaptors). The black (version 2) 65mm f3.5 Elmar is also very good but imo the 135 just edges it for results and easily for cost. Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
proenca Posted December 24, 2009 Share #4 Posted December 24, 2009 Recommendations? C Want the truth ? It's painfull and not very nice, Macro on a M. I love my Leicas and people know I tried to do Macro on my M8. Its just wrong, difficult to focus, big setup... oh well My recommendation ? Do what I did : Nikon D2h + Nikon 105 Macro lens, all for well under 350 pounds ( 450 euros ) . Costs half what a 90mm Macro Leica lens cost you and does the job 1000x better. Replace D2h with any older DSLR, for example a mate of mine bought a Canon 1D for 190 pounds for this purpose .. Or if megapixels interest you, for the same price of a D2h you can get a D1x... great cameras at steal prices. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzav Posted December 24, 2009 Share #5 Posted December 24, 2009 Having used a Visoflex III setup back in the M4 days and again with the M8, I can only say the issues of using it are overblown. Granted, for work I prefer using my Nikon 60mm Micro Nikkor on a dSLR, but I can achieve equally superb results with the M8/Visoflex setup with some extra effort. As for lenses, any top quality enlarging lens will rival most macro lenses (think about it, they are designed for flatness of field and high resolution at close-up distances). An added bonus is these lenses can be found for very resonable prices compared to their original cost. The standard mount for most enlarging lenses is the ubiquitous Leica thread mount or the smaller Schneider mount for which adapters to Leica thread are easy to find. You can add an LTM to M bayonet adapter (any one will do) on the enlarging lens if you happen to have the threaded mount adapter on the bellows. Unfortunately, I disposed of my original Visoflex III and Bellows II setup back around 2000 when I stopped shooting film and retired my M6TTL bodies. I had to re-aquire another setup when the M8 became a reality after years of Leica claiming a digital "M" was an impossibility. The good news was I still had a shelf full of top-of-the-line Rodenstock, Schneider, and El Nikkor enlarging lenses from 50mm to 150mm. My favorite is a 90mm Rodagon APO, which is almost always mounted on the Bellows II. The longer enlarging lenses (over 50mm) easily focus on infinity, though they are optimized for close distance focus in their optical formulas. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted December 24, 2009 Share #6 Posted December 24, 2009 Want the truth ? It's painfull and not very nice, Macro on a M. I love my Leicas and people know I tried to do Macro on my M8. Its just wrong, difficult to focus, big setup... oh well My recommendation ? Do what I did : Nikon D2h + Nikon 105 Macro lens, all for well under 350 pounds ( 450 euros ) . Costs half what a 90mm Macro Leica lens cost you and does the job 1000x better. Replace D2h with any older DSLR, for example a mate of mine bought a Canon 1D for 190 pounds for this purpose .. Or if megapixels interest you, for the same price of a D2h you can get a D1x... great cameras at steal prices. Your 'truth' perhaps but not mine. The OP has asked about macro lenses for the M8 and you've told him to look for a completely different camera system from another supplier supported by a wild exaggeration ("does the job 1000x better"). Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thirdwheel Posted December 24, 2009 Share #7 Posted December 24, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi I have the following views: 90mm F/4 Macro-Elmar-M Asph is probably easier to use. You need the viewfinder magnifier though. Here's a shot with the lens, but there is a limit to how far you can close in on the subject. This was shot with my MP. Results are not bad. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/107085-best-close-upmacro-lens-for-m8/?do=findComment&comment=1162555'>More sharing options...
thirdwheel Posted December 24, 2009 Share #8 Posted December 24, 2009 I also use the Visoflex II with my 65mm Elmar with the 16464, and 16471 mounts/adaptors. Effect is also not bad, but it is a bit harder to use. However, it allows you to get closer to the subject. A shot taken with the Visoflex II with MP. Oops I just realised that this is a discussion pertaining to M8. Hope moderators are ok with me responding here. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/107085-best-close-upmacro-lens-for-m8/?do=findComment&comment=1162571'>More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted December 24, 2009 Share #9 Posted December 24, 2009 To do strong macro with Viso+Bellows, probably a dedicated lens is the best (like the enlarging above quoted... even the once costly Schneider Componons are available for cheap, now); for more normal tasks (flowers etc...) I have two lenses with removable lenshead, which are very appreciable also in standard configuration : the Tele Elmar 135 and the Elmar 90 3-elements version, both really excellent, and easy to use with Viso. This was taken with the Elmar 90 : Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/107085-best-close-upmacro-lens-for-m8/?do=findComment&comment=1162755'>More sharing options...
lgreig Posted June 7, 2010 Share #10 Posted June 7, 2010 The focal point is off-set in the range finder when using my Elmar 90mm with the Macro adapter. That's normal, right? Are there tricks to focusing besides bracketing and practice? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Jensen Posted June 8, 2010 Share #11 Posted June 8, 2010 thirdweel, I'm very impressed with your Panerai collection. Very nice! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 8, 2010 Share #12 Posted June 8, 2010 Want the truth ? It's painfull and not very nice, Macro on a M. I love my Leicas and people know I tried to do Macro on my M8. Its just wrong, difficult to focus, big setup... oh well My recommendation ? Do what I did : Nikon D2h + Nikon 105 Macro lens, all for well under 350 pounds ( 450 euros ) . Costs half what a 90mm Macro Leica lens cost you and does the job 1000x better. Replace D2h with any older DSLR, for example a mate of mine bought a Canon 1D for 190 pounds for this purpose .. Or if megapixels interest you, for the same price of a D2h you can get a D1x... great cameras at steal prices. Uhh:confused: I guess that is true - if focussing manually is not your thing. And as mentioned - a Visoflex, which does fine macro with just the 4.0/135 mounted, no bellows even, will cost you even less and take less space and weight than all those fat DSLRs, carrying those is supposed to compete with the "big setup" of a Macro-Elmar sizewise?. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wstotler Posted June 8, 2010 Share #13 Posted June 8, 2010 If you're looking to shoot macro shots "casually" with your M8, a good-condition Visoflex III will do the trick out of the box. I've used it with almost all of my lenses, including the "why would you do that?!" test with my Super-Elmar-M 18mm. An old (cheap) 135 works best to get hand-holdable macro in full sunlight, stopped down. Have a look: Visoflex on M8 - a set on Flickr Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 8, 2010 Share #14 Posted June 8, 2010 Did the Elmar clear the mirror? Not all lenses do. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wstotler Posted June 8, 2010 Share #15 Posted June 8, 2010 Jaapv: Nope. I locked up the Visoflex and chimped with the M8 to use it. Also had to remove the filter. Subject was almost touching the lens front element. Strictly a "why not?" test. I mean, it's an 18mm lens. LOL. Nothing special to report in terms of results. . . . Nothing special in the subject matter. . . . But, why not? Shot with the 18mm Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Shot with a Summicron 50mm *through* the front of the 18mm I was skeptical about the Visoflex for macro work until I got one and played with it. Mine was a little less than $300 and it was all but mint when it arrived. I've used it personally and for work with good results. Cheers! Will Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Shot with a Summicron 50mm *through* the front of the 18mm I was skeptical about the Visoflex for macro work until I got one and played with it. Mine was a little less than $300 and it was all but mint when it arrived. I've used it personally and for work with good results. Cheers! Will ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/107085-best-close-upmacro-lens-for-m8/?do=findComment&comment=1346761'>More sharing options...
Guest BigSplash Posted June 12, 2010 Share #16 Posted June 12, 2010 The answer is 90mm f4 Macro Elmar as I am not aware of any other lens for macro work currently in the line up. That said I really do NOT see why anyone would buy this for macro usage due to difficulties of focussing and framing on a rangefinder camera without LiveView (EVIL) and then add to those drawbacks "guaging the depth of field." The best way is to go out and buy a new DSLR camera with the appropriate lens (es) and bellows for that camera as sugested above. However I would personally go with the following: Visoflex III (probably retro fitted with an old screen from a Nikon SLR camera...Wilson Laidlaw kindly organised one of these for me and it is much better than the Leica original...He knows a camera repairman that likes taking old Nikons apart!) Bellows II Lens adapters for the Bellows (depens which lenses you feel that you need) Some lens heads (The older Leica lenses had in many cases a lens head that screws from the main lens barrel and then the head screws into the adapter) A low profile hot shoe flash connector that can fit into the M8 hot shoe and still allows the Viso prism to slide on. I bought one of these and helped Michael with exact measurements which he now has and used to provide an item that actually fits easily! (www.michaelbassdesigns.com) In my view if you wish to take images of a postage stamp or something even smaller a 50mm Summicron head is good. If it is to photograph a shoe box then a 90mm f2 Summicron head works very well and offers depth of field. If it is to take something larger then the 280mm Telyt head is very good and again offers depth of field. The 135mm Tele Elmar head is also good for this kind of work as is the 65mm, which is purpose built for the Visoflex. Frankly so many people have been negative about the need for a Visoflex or an equivalent device (EVIL adapter) over the last months and usually these same people have the luxury of a nice Nikon or Canon DSLR for macro usage, which obviously is a better bet. However if you only do macro 10 to 20% of the time I think the Viso is the way to go, and personally buying a new camera system just for macro seems to me to be over the top. However using a 90mm Macro Elmar is unlikely in my view to give the capabilities outlined above based on the Visoflex. Finally anyone who does macro work will soon find that lighting is key and that means a way to connect a flash is an issue. The michael bass product will help in this regard. I contacted Stefan Daniel at Leica sometime ago and he assured me that the internal circuitry of the M8 is well protected and suitable for old flash guns and studio lighting setups. I have taken him at his word and it does work without damaging the camera at least for my M8. Actually I see this as a clear differentiator towards Japanese DSLR's that apparently damage easily ......yet Leica does not mention it in their literature! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DES Posted June 12, 2010 Share #17 Posted June 12, 2010 I guess you do what feels good. No doubt modern SLRs with maco/modern lenses do a fantastic, quicker and easier job than a Leica set up. That is fact, but that route just aint for me. I love working,taking time,and generally handling leica gear and the results can be surprising and for me...a lot of fun. M8 90mm Elmar Viso111 SF58 Flash Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/107085-best-close-upmacro-lens-for-m8/?do=findComment&comment=1350110'>More sharing options...
peapodesque Posted June 15, 2010 Share #18 Posted June 15, 2010 thats a great shot!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
parigby Posted June 15, 2010 Share #19 Posted June 15, 2010 great shot + 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted June 15, 2010 Share #20 Posted June 15, 2010 That's great, DES ! Shadow of Edgerton... . As a side thought on the dozen of capabilities with Viso... I wonder if anyone has ever tried the old "compact" Macro Elmar 100 for R mounted on Viso+Bellows with M to R adapter... I think it could be a fine combo for ratios around 1:1. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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