Using LC1 with Marumi close up filter

[Jon Schick]

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As the LC1 is not my primary camera, I can't really justify the price of the original Leica and Panasonic close up lenses for it (even though I do love it to bits).

 

 

But I thought I'd give a cheaper lens a go - in my case a Marumi filter in 72mm thread, using a step up ring.

 

 

I've been quietly impressed, and it's a nice cheap accessory to stick in your pocket when you want a bit more macro than the Digilux 2 or LC1 can normally give (macro not being its strongest point).

 

 

Some of my first attempts:

 

 

 

 

Don't know if anyone else has been wondering about these lenses, but I think they do quite a good job - and address one of the camera's weaker spots (close up is not really its forte).

 

Best wishes,

 

Jon

[AlbertoDeRoma]

Thanks Jon,

 

as the Digilux 2 is my main camera, I will definitely check the Marumi out because your pictures are quite convincing.

 

Alberto

[daveleo]

very nice shots ..... you should post some over on the photo sub-forum.

any postprocessing used here?

did you shoot RAW ? or JPG ?

 

thanks for the tip on the Marumi.

[Jon Schick]

Hi Dave,

 

The middle shot was ISO200 and RAW, and is actually my first ever attempt at using CS4 so I couldn't resist a fiddle!

 

The others were ISO100 and JPEG, with only minor PP using Photoshop Elements (pretty much restricted to slight boost to contrast plus some USM).

 

With the LC1 I tend to keep to JPEG at ISO100 as there seems to be little to be gained from shooting RAW.

 

I think the tables turn at higher ISOs, and especially ISO400 where there is definitely some improvement to be had from shooting RAW and dealing with the noise on the computer rather than in the camera. That said, I rarely use the camera at ISO400 other than for the occasional black and white.

 

It's amazing how this digital dinosaur can still turn out shots that surprise people with much more modern and supposedly capable cameras! A lot to do with the lens, which is far superior to almost anything most people stick on the front of their SLRs, but the design and handling of the camera is just about perfect for me - there's nothing that you don't need, no silly scene modes and no unnecessary clutter: and the camera operates in such a way that it makes you just take a breath, slow down a little, and take care before you press the shutter (at least that's what it does to me).

 

The fact that the images usually require only minimal PP and take up far less space than the monster files from the latest generation of 12-14MP cameras is a bonus!

 

Cheers,

 

Jon