articles/Nature/macrocloseuplook-page2

Macro Photography - A close-up look - part 2 of 1 2 3

Published 01/12/2008

The reversing ring allows you to mount a lens directly onto a camera or extension tubes or bellows, but in reverse. If you consider a standard lens for example, the design of the lens is to take a scene smaller to fit on film or sensor; however, in reverse it will magnify the scene.

Although it's an affordable way to get macro shots, it's a bit difficult to control in the field, and there are coupling issues to contend with due to the loss of your automatic diaphragm.

Macro Lenses

Macro lenses allow you to focus closer to the object either by increasing the lens to film/sensor distance physically or by achieving this using clever optical design. They usually give life size magnification that is 1:1 magnification

These lenses are highly corrected, using new technologies with internal focusing and floating lens elements. In short this gives you sharp images without the need for additional lens extension using tubes.

Bellows

Bellows can achieve large magnifications, because they work like a large, but fully adjustable, extension rings or tubes. They are, however, very awkward, fragile and slow to operate and really should only be used in the studio. Earlier ones also lost automation and would need Z rings and double cable releases for ease of use. However, to achieve really large magnification ratios between 2:1 and 10:1 then they come into their own.

Shown here are some Nikon bellows with bellow extension.

Stacking Lenses

This was a practice used to get high magnification ratios over a decade and a half ago. It involves mounting two lenses together using special mounting rings. The images using this method sometimes suffered from distortions and vignette but the better combinations actually performed quite well. But it was an affordable way to get good magnifications ratios and the reversed lens acted like a dioptre close-up lens.

Focusing Rails and Tripods

There can be a problem when you are working at high magnifications and you focus with the focus ring - what you are actually doing is changing the magnification. This will in turn change your overall composition. One way around this is to fix your camera on rails and set your magnification. Then to get a sharp image you move the whole lens and camera combination. This is a very accurate way to focus.

As far as tripods are concerned, in my opinion anyway, always use them no matter what. I know Nikon have redesigned the Micro 105mm with VR technology but at high magnifications the tripod is a real benefit.

I personally like using three-way pan heads on tripods and with few and very secure linkages. I will talk more on this topic at the Convention.

• Macro Photography - A close-up look page 1
  
• Macro Photography - A close-up look page 2
  
• Macro Photography - A close-up look page 3
  

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