closeup photography: what possibilities in med format?

you didn't specify the range of macro and closeup magnifications you need:

see http://medfmt.8k.com/mf/macro.html table at top highlights range of
magnification vs. type(s) of macro setups recommended (per Muir et al.)
in some cases, diopters will provide the coverage, in other cases, tubes
or bellows are needed, then more specialized setups in higher
magnifications...

in the $350-ish budget range, not many SLRs outside the Kiev60 ;-)

grins bobm

PS see mf/diopter.html on diopter lens options; these are excellent for
nature subjects where the center is critical subject area, not the corners
and yield higher resolution than many macro lenses which are optimized for
a flatter field response; Derek Fell in How to Photograph Flowers, Plants,
and Landscape (HP books) is one of the world's best selling flower/plant
photographers, and he uses a MF SLR with closeup lenses over more pricey
MF kits due to higher central resolution, something I didn't appreciate
until I saw tests at http://medfmt.8k.com/mf/diopter.html#beat This high
performance with 2 element closeup lenses is esp. impressive when you
compare it to actual macro lens performance at macro distances, which drop
significantly (as in 40-50%) over infinity, despite the general view that
these macro lenses are optimized for macro work (see charts on macro vs
magnification at http://medfmt.8k.com/mf/macro.html ).

PPS what's the best low cost MF SLR macro kit? IMHO it is the later
classic bronica S2A/ECTL series, which had a nifty tilt/shift bellows
($200+) which is great for placing available DOF where you need it, also
modest cost auto extension tubes ($50+), nikkor optics ($50-75+ normal
lens..)..

The older classic bronicas were unique in having removable helical lens
mounts, so the tilt/shift bellows could focus to infinity, making all the
lenses macro to infinity optics ;-) Other tilt/shift bellows in MF don't
preserve infinity focus AFAIK, and most MF bellows don't have tilt/shifts

Since it is a focal plane SLR, it is easy to convert lots of lenses to
work with the system in macro mode too ;-) I use a body cap drilled out to
mount a rear lens cap for nikkor 35mm lenses
(http://medfmt.8k.com/bronhb.html and
medfmt.8k.com/jpegs/bronbroc/bronnikon2.jpg for homebrew examples). The
57mm diameter by 1mm pitch threaded lens mount inside the bronica lens
mount makes it easy to create your own lens mounts too ;-) The ECTL even
has auto-exposure modes, or you can use metering prisms on S2A/EC series.



--
************************************************** *********************
* Robert Monaghan POB 752182 Southern Methodist Univ. Dallas Tx 75275 *
********************Standard Disclaimers Apply*************************

Bandicoot wrote:

"Stacey" wrote in message


They might even be surprised as how well the 80mm arsat works reversed on
a
bellows/ext tube. It's a sharp lens that works very well for close up
work but a macro/enlarging lens would be better.

The Rodenstock and Tominon macro lenses for the Polariod copy cameras are
fairly plentiful and make good macro lenses used like this. You can also
get them for not much more money with a leaf shutter, if you want the
lower vibration this offers.


Like this? :-)

http://miss_stephe.tripod.com/ysaron.html

--

Stacey

Bob and everybody who replied,
thank you all for your helpful answers and suggestions. I think the Kiev 60
seems to be the way to go. It is small, light (well compared to a c330...)
and cheap. Enough for now. Perhaps in the future, i will spring for a brand
name...

Bob, a very special thanks to you for the enormous detail and insight you
provide me with in your answers!
Sri

"Stacey" wrote in message
...
Bandicoot wrote:

"Stacey" wrote in message


They might even be surprised as how well the 80mm arsat works reversed
on
a
bellows/ext tube. It's a sharp lens that works very well for close up
work but a macro/enlarging lens would be better.

The Rodenstock and Tominon macro lenses for the Polariod copy cameras
are
fairly plentiful and make good macro lenses used like this. You can
also
get them for not much more money with a leaf shutter, if you want the
lower vibration this offers.


Like this? :-)

http://miss_stephe.tripod.com/ysaron.html


Uh, yeah, just like that...

:-)

Peter