Macro Adapter on M lenses

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So I just purchased the macro adapter for my 90 Macro Elmar lens and was able to reduce the minimum focusing distance to about 20 cm with the lens and the adapter extended fully, and the lens focus ring at the minimum distance.  I had expected I would be able to focus much closer than at 20 cm ... which I am able to do with the macro adapter and my 28 Elmarit (able to focus at about 4-5cm).  Am I missing a trick with how to use the 90 Macro Elmar with the adapter?

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[wattsy]

No, there's no trick you are missing. I'm not sure you can even get as close as 20cm. The maximum reproduction of the 90 with the latest (non-goggles) version of the adapter is, I think,  1:2. You can get physically closer with shorter focal length lenses but these lenses are not designed for macro use (though can be perfectly adequate) and you lose massively on focal range flexibility.

Edited November 28, 2020 by wattsy

[lct]

+1. The wider the closer . Between 20cm and 30cm from the front element with the 90/4 macro i would say. The macro adapter v1 (with goggles) is made for the 90/4 macro and so is the macro adapter v2 but the latter can be used at closer distances with a lot of wider lenses with no significant (to me) limitation. Here at about 20cm with a 50/2.8 that can be used up to about 1 metre with the "tube" retracted.

 

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20cm should give you close to 1:2 with a 90mm, 1:2 is in the macro range. Not being sure if the macro adapter is optical or an extension tube. The old formula is:

1:2 distance = 2x focal length losing 1 stop

1:1 distance = focal length losing 2 stops

This also has to do with the lens to sensor arrangement. So an adapter made for the 90 would give you more magnification with shorter lenses. Better have an EVF to handle this. 

Modern lens designs convert this some what by optically changing the focal length as you get closer. Not sure if the 90 does this.