Page 1 of 4 123 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 38

Thread: Macro versus Process Lenses ?

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Massachusetts USA
    Posts
    8,476

    Macro versus Process Lenses ?

    We know that Process lenses were made for process cameras, not LF cameras. We know that Macro lenses for LF are mounted in shutter, have more elements, and open wider than Process lenses. The diaphragms are different, because of whatever the shutter provides versus whatever barrel-lenses give - which is usually more blades. Coverage may differ also.

    However, sweeping all of that aside, is there a qualitative difference in resolution or image quality ? In other words, if we shoot close to 1:1, and stop both lenses down to say f/16, will we see much of a difference in image quality ?

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Sep 1998
    Location
    Loganville , GA
    Posts
    14,409

    Re: Macro versus Process Lenses ?

    Of two dimensional or three dimensional objects?

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Massachusetts USA
    Posts
    8,476

    Re: Macro versus Process Lenses ?

    Thanks Bob: 3-dimensional subjects. Pumpkins, tulips, dishes, etc.

    I hadn't considered that

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Sep 1998
    Location
    Loganville , GA
    Posts
    14,409

    Re: Macro versus Process Lenses ?

    Then a macro lens will easily outperform a process lens, especially away from the center of the format.

    And process lenses, 600mm or shorter, were designed to be only used at f22 for their optimal results. A macro lens will perfom optimally over a range of aperture to f22, including f16.

    Also, if preserving the shape of the originals a long macro lens like a 300mm is required to reduce foreshortening.

  5. #5
    Moderator
    Join Date
    Jan 2001
    Posts
    8,640

    Re: Macro versus Process Lenses ?

    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Salomon - HP Marketing View Post
    Then a macro lens will easily outperform a process lens
    In what ways?

  6. #6
    Mark Sawyer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Stuck inside of Tucson with the Neverland Blues again...
    Posts
    6,268

    Re: Macro versus Process Lenses ?

    Bob, could you please expound a bit about how a process lens would have less performance with three-dimensional objects? I would think the depth of field would be similar at identical f/stops.

    Also, weren't process lenses designed to take a variety of aperture shapes and sizes, hence the Apo-Ronars that close to f/260 and has a slot for Waterhouse stops?

    I'm quite curious, as I've always used prcess lenses for my close-up work with very good results.
    "I love my Verito lens, but I always have to sharpen everything in Photoshop..."

  7. #7
    Mark Sawyer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Stuck inside of Tucson with the Neverland Blues again...
    Posts
    6,268

    Re: Macro versus Process Lenses ?

    Incidentally, here's my understanding of the differences between "general-purpose/macro/process" lens types:

    A "general purpose" lens is optimized for use from infinity to near 1:1 at the film plane, and is well-corrected for all aberrations.

    A "macro" lens is optimized for use at 1:1 and greater magnifications, and is well-corrected for all aberrations.

    A "copy/process/graphic arts" lens is optimized for "close distances" (usually about 4:1 to 1:4), and is especially well-corrected for geometrically-distorting aberrations such as pin-cushion and barrel distortion so that "artwork" is not distorted when rephotographed for the printed page. Special attention is paid to making them as apochromatic as possible, though in modern lenses, all are apochromatic for nearly all practical purposes. Keeping the lens to these specifications usually means a smaller maximum aperture.

    And I believe (someone correct me if I'm wrong) that eliminating focus shift is also a prime concern in making process lenses.

    Any other differences I don't know of that someone can chime in on?
    __________________
    "I love my Verito lens, but I always have to sharpen everything in Photoshop..."

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Sep 1998
    Location
    Loganville , GA
    Posts
    14,409

    Re: Macro versus Process Lenses ?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mark Sawyer View Post
    Bob, could you please expound a bit about how a process lens would have less performance with three-dimensional objects? I would think the depth of field would be similar at identical f/stops.

    Also, weren't process lenses designed to take a variety of aperture shapes and sizes, hence the Apo-Ronars that close to f/260 and has a slot for Waterhouse stops?

    I'm quite curious, as I've always used prcess lenses for my close-up work with very good results.
    I can quote from specific examples. The May Company set up a super studio in St Louis for their catalog photography. After extensive testing with process lenses and macro lenses (all matched for performance at the factory in Germany) they found that best results were delivered by macro lenses when using 3-dimensional objects and the the results were simply more pleasing for reproduction in a catalog, where they were offering products for sale. Especially better were the reproduction of delicate, detailed items, like jewelry, at the edges and corners when the subject was not confined to the center of the field. It was not a matter of depth of field, it was how the subject was reproduced.

    We had a similar situation with Dixie Cups studio in PA where they had to reproduce the cups and plates that they produced for various companies like MacDonalds and needed the most realistic reproduction and detail at 1:1 of the product for record shots.

    BTW, macro lenses, like the Rodenstock Macro Sironar (discontinued) Apo Macro Sironar and Apo Macro Digital Sironars are not optimized for 1:1. They are optimized for a range of reproductio. The Macro Sironar was corrrected for 1:3 to 3:1 (depending on the orientation of the elements). The current macro lenses are corrected for 1:5 to 2:1 without changing the orientation of the elements.

    A general purpose lens like the Apo Sironar S is corrected for 1:10 giving a working range of 1:5 to infinity. The Apo Sironar N, and similar lenses from other manufacturers, is corrected for 1:20 for ratios from 1:10 to infinity.

    Neither type is corrected for "near 1:1".

  9. #9

    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Nuremberg Germany
    Posts
    1,048

    Re: Macro versus Process Lenses ?

    Every lens shows only a two-dimensional plane with optimum performance - depth of field is only an optical illusion - so there is no difference between two-dimensional and three-dimensional subjects for a certain image scale the lens is made for.

    Macro-lenses have compared to process-lenses a bigger angle of view and a larger aperture, so more lenses are needed to get, more or less, the same performance as with a process-lens f/9.

    The apochromatic correction used with process-lenses is needed to get the same image-dimension also with blue, green and red filtered images but it helps also to get more saturated colors without filters.

    The small f-stops like f/264 and also the different aperture shapes are used to influence the shape of the typographical point by diffraction.

    Peter

    BTW to show a pumpkin at 1:1 one needs at least ULF.

  10. #10

    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    NJ
    Posts
    8,469

    Re: Macro versus Process Lenses ?

    Mark, not all of y'r definitions are generally accepted.

    General purpose lenses are usually made to be used at magnifications of 1:10 and lower. In my book, 1:10 isn't very near to 1:1.

    Macro lenses are made to be used in the range 1:1 to sometwhat lower often 1:10, when mounted normally. But there are macro lenses made to be used over a considerable range, e.g., the 100/6.3 Luminar; per Zeiss' propaganda it should be used from 1:8 to 8:1.

    That said, there's no consistently-applied naming convention that's applied to lenses made for close-up photograph (1:1 to 1:10) and photomacrography (1:1 and higher). Each maker has his own way ...

    Many process lenses are symmetrical (front cell identical to rear), so are best at 1:1 by construction. Some types, e.g., dialytes hold their corrections very all at low magnifications. At one time Rodenstock's propaganda asserted that Apo Ronars were better at infinity than telephoto lenses. This isn't true of modern teles.

    But and however, there are some asymmetrical process lenses, e.g., TTH Apotals and "Copying Lenses," which are f/9 tessar types. Mine are very good at all distances. From which I conclude that reasoning from theory is nice but measurement is necessary too.

    Ken, to address what I think you really want to know, in my lens trials macro lenses made for use around 1:1 were better than anything else at that magnification. The only exception I found was an enlarging lens, the 4"/5.6 Enlarging Pro Raptar. It came out roughly equal to a known good 100/6.3 Luminar from 1:4 to 4:1, both lenses wide open. Stopping down made them worse. If nothing else, process lenses are handicapped by their small maximum apertures. I've tried only one process lens seriously around 1:1, a 55/8 Repro Claron, and the comparable real macro lenses I tried were visibly better.

    I haven't had the chance to play with Rodenstock's, Nikon's, or Leica's 100 mm +/- macro lenses so can't comment. I do know that shorter Macro Nikkors are better than the equivalent Luminar.

    I also think that agonizing about image quality in the plane of best focus when shooting around 1:1 is silly. Regardless of the lens used here's not enough, and there isn't enough depth of field either.

    Cheers,

    Dan

Similar Threads

  1. Process lenses vs made for landscape lenses
    By Herb Cunningham in forum Lenses & Lens Accessories
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: 17-Feb-2008, 21:37
  2. nikkor macro 120 am - versus - fujinon CMW 125
    By Matus Kalisky in forum Lenses & Lens Accessories
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 17-Jan-2007, 11:04
  3. Macro lenses in the field...
    By Jack Davis in forum Lenses & Lens Accessories
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 17-Mar-2005, 04:59
  4. Who Has Info on Nikkor LF and Process Lenses
    By Paul van der Hoof in forum Lenses & Lens Accessories
    Replies: 15
    Last Post: 9-Mar-2002, 23:26
  5. Eskofot process lenses
    By Tom Johnston in forum Lenses & Lens Accessories
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 4-Apr-1999, 07:30

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •