CL and TL- the MACRO Image Thread

[dkCambridgeshire]

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Need some help please: during my fifteen years on this forum I have posted a few hundred “macro” photographs. I did this wit the D-1, Digilux 2, ten assorted Pan-Leicas, and one on this thread with my new CL. All of these were created by zooming in a bit with my Apple iMAC.

 

Now that I have a very fine camera, CL kit 18-56, I wonder why I should change my ways. I might be able to afford the new 52 adapter but not a new lens.

 

It seems that my “macros” are fake news because of the processing. What’s the word??

 

 

You'd likely find that the E52 is too powerful for your purposes. All you need for relatively effortless close-up imaging with your CL and TL 18-56mm lens is one of the older and fairly commonly available Leitz Elpro 1  (2.51 diopters) , Elpro 2 (4.92 diopters) or Elpro 3 (1.66 diopters) achromatic close-up lenses … each of which has a 55mm filter thread … thus will require a 52mm to 55mm step-up ring https://www.amazon.com/Fotga-Black-52mm-52mm-55mm-Filter/dp/B009T1DA8A/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1535299370&sr=8-3&keywords=52mm+to+55mm+step+up+ring    to fit your lens' 52mm filter thread. The older Leitz Elpro close-up lenses can usually be sourced fairly easily for $50 or less. Keep looking on Ebay and and in B&H used stocks. I guarantee if you source and buy any or all of these Elpro lenses plus the stepping ring, you'll discover that macro imaging with your TL 18-56mm will be a revelation and a pleasure. Use the TL 18-56mm lens at the longer end of the zoom with the Elpro lenses for close-up imaging 

 

dunk 

Edited August 26, 2018 by dkCambridgeshire

[albert]

Got it, finally....thanx again Dunk.

[Boojay]

my only thought is how good value my marumi's are at 1/3 the price ....... 

 

Yes, and they come in 52mm thread, straight onto the 18-56 which would suit Albert perfectly,  and stack! 

 

 

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Edited August 26, 2018 by Boojay

[dkCambridgeshire]

Got it, finally....thanx again Dunk.

 

 

 

This s/h Canon 250D 4 diopter strength achromat would also work with your TL 18-56mm and will screw straight into the filter thread without an adapter https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/87479-REG/Canon_2819A001_52mm_250D_Close_up_Lens.html   … check the reviews in the link

 

dunk 

Edited August 26, 2018 by dkCambridgeshire

[albert]

I’m about to pull the trigger, thanks to you guys. Sorry to be such a pain in the ass. Mucho thanks.

[jbripley]

This s/h Canon 250D 4 diopter strength achromat would also work with your TL 18-56mm and will screw straight into the filter thread without an adapter https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/87479-REG/Canon_2819A001_52mm_250D_Close_up_Lens.html   … check the reviews in the link

 

dunk

 

I’ve thinking of doing macro shots of my mechanical watches and looking at buying the TL 60mm for that purpose, but it feels like a big investment for a narrow range of my shooting. From what I read of the specs of the Canon, it suggest being useful for lenses down to 38mm. Does that mean it would not work on my T 23mm f2 and I should be looking at something else? Maybe the Marumi mentioned earlier?

[HeinzX]

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I use a Marumi 5 diop. together with the 18-56. Works well and for ths diameter no adapter is needed -  they are available in 52 mm. By the way I use a Marumi with 77 mm diameter together with a step down ring too on  my 2 Varios for the SL  - when I have not my Canon Macro lenses with me, which can be used together with a Novoflex adapter on the SL - unfortunately not possible with the CL. The Marumis are cheap and perform well on these lenses.  They are really worth a try.

Edited August 27, 2018 by HeinzX

[dkCambridgeshire]

I’ve thinking of doing macro shots of my mechanical watches and looking at buying the TL 60mm for that purpose, but it feels like a big investment for a narrow range of my shooting. From what I read of the specs of the Canon, it suggest being useful for lenses down to 38mm. Does that mean it would not work on my T 23mm f2 and I should be looking at something else? Maybe the Marumi mentioned earlier?

 

 

Bothe the 52mm Canon 250D and any of the Marumi achromats should work fine with your TL 23mm … your TL 23mm has the same field of view as a full frame 35mm lens. Of equal importance to the lens for photographing watches is the lighting and background and subject / camera support. 

 

dunk 

[albert]

I use a Marumi 5 diop. together with the 18-56. Works well and for ths diameter no adapter is needed - they are available in 52 mm. By the way I use a Marumi with 77 mm diameter together with a step down ring too on my 2 Varios for the SL - when I have not my Canon Macro lenses with me, which can be used together with a Novoflex adapter on the SL - unfortunately not possible with the CL. The Marumis are cheap and perform well on these lenses. They are really worth a try.

[albert]

HeinzX,

 

I’m starting to see my 18-56 CL macros as very good to excellent. Does an adapter REALLY make much of a difference. If you have time would you please show me the difference?

[jbripley]

Bothe the 52mm Canon 250D and any of the Marumi achromats should work fine with your TL 23mm … your TL 23mm has the same field of view as a full frame 35mm lens. Of equal importance to the lens for photographing watches is the lighting and background and subject / camera support. 

 

dunk 

 

 

Yes, I imagine a lightbox of some kind will be useful for watch photography and I'll need to experiment a bit with that. Should I have any preference between the Canon and the Marumi? The Canon seems easily available here in Sweden and the Marumi a bit less so. Price looks to be about the same from what I can tell.

 

One upside of the Marumi is the option of buying the 62mm, making it fit both the 52mm thread of the T-23mm and the 60mm thread of the TL-35mm lens, with the downside of requiring step up rings.

Edited August 27, 2018 by jbripley

[dkCambridgeshire]

Yes, I imagine a lightbox of some kind will be useful for watch photography and I'll need to experiment a bit with that. Should I have any preference between the Canon and the Marumi? The Canon seems easily available here in Sweden and the Marumi a bit less so. Price looks to be about the same from what I can tell.

 

One upside of the Marumi is the option of buying the 62mm, making it fit both the 52mm thread of the T-23mm and the 60mm thread of the TL-35mm lens, with the downside of requiring step up rings.

 

 

Although any supplementary c/u achromat will enable close focus with your TL 23mm lens or TL 35mm lens, for close-up watch photography the 23mm lens fitted with a c/u lens will be only 2 to 3 cm from the watch dial or movement for a frame filling image … which could create problems with illumination and composition . If you can manage manual focus rather than depend on autofocus, a more practical solution for watch photography would be to consider any legacy 100mm or 90mm macro lens … preferably with its extension tube if it does not have a native 1:1 magnification. You've hinted at the possibility of using the TL 60mm lens which will suit your requirements but there are many legacy manual focus macro lenses available which would do the job for less than (and often a lot less than) €400 e.g. the Leica R 100/4 Elmar http://www.leicashop.com/vintage_en/leica/leica-r-lenses/macro-elmar-r-4-100mm.html  ** ... but would require an R to TL/SL adapter   … or the Canon FD 100mm  macrohttp://www.leicashop.com/vintage_en/canon/35mm-slr-lenses-fd-fl/canon-fd-100-4-macro-sku25425-3.html    …  which would need a Canon FD to TL/SL adapter e.g.   https://c7adapters.com/en/products

see Leica L Mount page 2

 

However, there is a lot more to watch photography than just obtaining the close focus lens. I give demonstrations of watch and jewellery photography and one indispensable 'tool' is a copy stand. You might find these links useful

 

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/250454-camera-club-close-up-photography-demo/?hl=brooch

 

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/212584-coins-with-x-vario-and-leitz-elpros/?p=2488064

 

Although Leitz Elpro achromatic c/u lenses were used for these images, the Elpros were screwed onto the X Vario's lens at the FF equivalent 70mm zoom setting … which enables a good lens to subject distance … something not possible with the TL 23mm lens. The TL 35mm lens (52mm FF equivalent) would enable a longer lens to subject distance but still not a 'comfortable' working distance for watch imaging. 

 

Regarding 'preference' between Canon and Marumi, I doubt if there is any difference in the quality … and there are also Kenko and Polaroid achromats available but not to be confused with their single element c/u lens offerings. Kenko appear to be the most €reasonably priced.

 

dunk 

 

** Leica Shop Vienna is part owned by Leica Camera AG 

Edited August 27, 2018 by dkCambridgeshire

[Boojay]

Not liking this camera bug much... CL 18-56, couple of Marumi filters stacked

 

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[albert]

Boojay,

 

Very close and educational

[bherman01545]

What about any of the Hoya, B+W or Heliopan Close-up lenses (filters) available at B+H for the 18-56? I haven't seen any of the older Le=itz Elpro lenses available in 52mm anywhere.

 

-Brad

[bherman01545]

There is also the Nikon 3T or 4T and the Canon 250 or 500D Achromats. These seem to be the best options.

 

Any comments? 

 

-Brad

[dkCambridgeshire]

What about any of the Hoya, B+W or Heliopan Close-up lenses (filters) available at B+H for the 18-56? I haven't seen any of the older Le=itz Elpro lenses available in 52mm anywhere.

 

-Brad

 

 

None of the achromatic Leitz Elpros or Macrotars were manufactured with 52mm thread mounts; they were only available in Leitz Series VI (M44 x 0.75), Leitz Series VII (M54 x0.75), and 55mm. I had a 44mm to 49mm stepping ring specially made  by SRB and also made several stepping rings myself by epoxying scrap filter mounts onto the Leitz series achromats.

 

dunk 

[HeinzX]

@Albert

 

an adapter makes sense - depending on  the lens used and if you have already the macro lenses. I.e. with a 180 mm Canon you get much a bigger focal length (@Fullframe), and therefore a much bigger distance to the subject is possible, which makes it much easier to use additional light if necessary and to take pictures of insects and other animals. In addition it is possible to focus up to infinity and to use the lens like a ordinary one. With this kind of lenses you are not restricted to a relativly small range of sharpness like with an achromat.

 

 

But if you are thinking to buy one and you have not already a Canon lens. you might be better off with a macro lens of Nikon and the right Novoflex adapter for the CL. That is, because you can adapt only with one adapter the Nikon lenses to the CL, provided the lenses are usable with this adapter. Information regarding adapters and compatible lenses you find on the website of Novoflex - which I think exists in English too. Not every Nikon lens can be used with this kind of adapter. As far as I know, they should have a aperture ring. But you will find all necessary details on the website of Novoflex.

Edited August 30, 2018 by HeinzX

[albert]

HeinzX,

 

Thank you for taking the time to educate me. I understand much better than before your explanation.

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[gfweir]

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Butterfly Bush, CL with 60 mm macro elmarit

In my makeshift garden studio; white canvas on top, diffusion screens on sides and black velvet backdrop