Macro Photography

[Camera Obscura]

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I am getting more and more interested in macro photography. Any recommendations on whether to use a dedicated macro lense or a macro adapter. I guess the options would be the 60mm macro or since I only have a 90mm lense a macro adapter on the 90mm. What are the differences?

 

I have an M6 and a R8, but don't think there is a macro lense for the M series, so guess I would have to opt for the R version.

 

Thanks for any input.

[jaapv]

Welcome; The M has the 90 mm Macro as current lens and of course a full range of macro options using the Visoflex, which quite a number of forum members do.

[gvaliquette]

If you are really getting serious about macrophotography, go the R8 route, with the bellows (second generation Leica bellows or the Novoflex bellows; both maintain automatic diaphram function). The 60mm Macro-Elmarit-R is an obvious choice, but also consider looking for a 2nd generation Elmarit-R 90mm f2.8 lens (only available used); you will get a greater working distance for the same reproduction ratio than with the 60mm Elmarit and the lens is remarkably sharp at all distances.

 

Have fun!

 

Guy

[Guest Motivfindender]

Go for the R-System with Apo 2,8/100 - the best Macro-Lens ever made. Absolutely unbeatable with the already mentioned Leica- oder Novoflex-bellow. For Makros you need the most control you can get - so an SLR ist a better choice.

 

If there is any doubt, have a look here:

 

http://www.makrofotografie.eu/

 

or look at thomas_böders photos in the german forum. Or those of macos or elanger. All of them are made with the Apo-100.

 

With the 100mm, you can still have more distance to shy animals and you are mor comfortable than with the 60mm lens. Furthermore, there is more space for the flashlight to arrive at the point of Interest.

If you want to do digital photography: Go for a used Olympus E1 as Body : Crop 2.0 ---> will double DOF ---> very important in Macrophotography. Thomas and Elangers Photos are made with this combination. There is a Novoflex and a Leica Adapter available to marriage a E-1 with an Apo 100.

 

Apo 100: 800-1000 Euro used

Oly E1: 500-600 Euro used

Adopter: 120 Euro new

 

 

Dirk

[cwf]

There is an article in the new issue of LFI on the Visoflex that might be useful to you.

[Camera Obscura]

Thanks guys...useful hints indeed. I will still remain with film and scan, but SLR option and 100mm looks interesting.

 

Thanks again!

[Guest rubidium]

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Without a doubt, the 100/2.8 Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R is one of the finest lenses Leica has ever made. After several years of ownership, the image quality I get with this lens still strikes me as "stunning." It will extend to 1:2 reproduction, and with the Elpro attachment give 1:1. Beyond that, I would recommend the bellows with this lens as your next purchase. If you care to venture still further beyond that, then consider the Photar series (essentially microscope objectives) and the adapter for these to the bellows. Beware that the miniscule DOF one gets with the latter is not for the weak of heart.

 

Another worthwhile purchase for macro work with your R8 is the uniform ground glass focusing screen.

Jim

[DavidStone]

I am getting more and more interested in macro photography. Any recommendations on whether to use a dedicated macro lense or a macro adapter. I guess the options would be the 60mm macro or since I only have a 90mm lense a macro adapter on the 90mm. What are the differences?

 

I have an M6 and a R8, but don't think there is a macro lense for the M series, so guess I would have to opt for the R version.

 

Thanks for any input.

 

Having M-series cameras already, I went the Visoflex & bellows route. If you do this, you don't need to spend a lot on lenses, in my opinion. I'm using good-quality enlarging lenses, which can now be bought quite cheaply used. Excellent results. But the Visoflex seems to have a new lease of life due to M8 users. And of course the article in LFI will just raise prices even further.

 

David

[jaapv]

This thread may be of interest:

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/20043-m8-macro-thread.html

[dhsimmonds]

John - If as you say you are really serious about macro photography and as you already have an R8, there really is only one real way for you to go in my opinion.

 

The F2.8 APO Macro 100mm is a very serious macro lens. The simple addition of it's Elpro will give you 1/1, but even without it you have 1/2 capability. The lens is beautifully constructed and in macro mode very well marked out on the barrel and so easy to use and focus.

 

The image quality is superb as you would expect from a specialist Leica lens. However this lens is also a very useful length for quality portraits and other medium focus subjects.

[Joop van Heijgen]

I use these lenses for many years on my Leicaflex cameras.

 

The Macro-Elmarit 2.8/60 and the F2.8 APO Macro 100mm belong to the best lenses Leica has ever made for the reflex cameras!

 

The strong point of these lenses is their beautiful depth of field which is very important with Macro-photography because the depth of field is considerably shallower than with shorter focal lengths!