Leica macro

oldoc

oldoc

oldoc
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Perhaps a not-very-often broached topic here is macro photography, especially nature macro.
What would be your best recommendation for a macro lens/filter set-up for an M2/M8 Leica photographer who loves macro and wants to add it after ridding himself of all things Nikon?:angel:
 
Visoflex III with any lens over 50 mm, although I prefer the 135/4.0 Tele-Elmarit. No bellows, no rings, just click it onto the Visoflex. :)

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Simply invert the lens on the camera body. There's a bit of a trick to knowing when things are in focus and in frame. But, that's what makes it an adventure!

No macro lens required. Just invert the lens, hold it against the lens mount and guess where the plane of focus is. I tested it out with some parchment paper and an open film gate (no film, of course) some time back. The optimum focus for the 35 summicron is between 9 cm and 10 cm. Still, it is very much hit and miss. The first was shot at f/16.

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Agree on a 90 (or better, 135) lens straight to a Visoflex. OUFRO extension tubes can be found pretty cheap and stacked behind the lens for closer reach if desired. Step-up rings and 52mm Nikon achromat (2-element) closeup diopters are not bad either. I've never been a real fan of bellows myself, mostly because it's impractical carrying one around just in case a macro shot presents itself.
 
One easy way to do macro shots with your Leica M kit is to add the Panasonic G1 with closeup lenses.

Stephen
 
oldoc said:
I have an older Elmar 135/4.0 already. Would that work with visoflex?Jaapv?
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yes that lens head will unscrew and mount on the Visoflex,

but you will also need the right combination of Leica Viso adapters and the correct Viso focusing helical for that lens head, to mount it on the Visoflex.

Stephen
 
CameraQuest said:
yes that lens head will unscrew and mount on the Visoflex,

but you will also need the right combination of Leica Viso adapters and the correct Viso focusing helical for that lens head, to mount it on the Visoflex.

Stephen
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That is if you want to be able to focus to infinity on the Visoflex with the 135.There is no need, however, to go to that length. The basic way is to just mount the lens on the Visoflex bajonet, which is simply an M mount. The Visoflex itself works as a macro extension ring. Later, if one wants to go sophisticated, things like rings and bellows come into play. But for my examples they were not used. So the unscrewing etc. is not needed for elementary but effective macro. Just click the lens onto the VisoflexIII.
Take care with lenses shorter than 50 mm for this. They are likely to block the mirror when focussed to infinity.
 
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there's a visoflex III and 90mm macro lens for sale in the classifieds here on this forum. works great with M-mount cameras.
 
Alternatively Viso III and 65mm Elmar and focussing mount, which is the shortest focal length that gives you infinty. Then add any sort extension device to your hearts desire.

65 Elmar has pre-sets and is a great bit of kit

Michael
 
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Am I the only one using the 90mm Macro with eyes? I enjoy it, partly because it looks so funky, but also because it works pretty well. The attached are from the Carmel Market in Tel Aviv.
 

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Without any rings, taking lens heads off focus mounts, etc., the visoflex will add 40.00 mm to your focal length, and the usual formulas apply to calculate repro ratio. So any lens that doesn't collide with the mirror should work.

There is also a true Visoflex macro lens, the 65mm Elmar.

And then there is the non-Viso 90mm Macro Elmar, that doesn't go very close, however (77cm without, 50cm with adapter).

Roland.
 
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eef said:
Am I the only one using the 90mm Macro with eyes? I enjoy it, partly because it looks so funky, but also because it works pretty well. The attached are from the Carmel Market in Tel Aviv.
Click to expand...

I would love to hear more from those with experience of the 90 Macro Elmar + Adapter too. How is the setup in regard to paralax compensation? What do you think of the quality of the lens?

Many thanks,
 
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