Now retired from commercial (mostly product) photography, I have been searching for an amusing subject to photograph just for fun in my golden amateur years.

It seems to me that air travel with large format is becoming more problematic than it is worth (for pleasure). The weather here in the Northeast is impossible this time of year, especially for my rear-wheel-drive Grand Marquis. And my old knees no longer lend themselves to hiking, especially with a LF kit.

So I’ve been thinking about setting up a small tabletop studio in my home and returning to what I know best.

My question involves the wisdom of using a macro lens, such as a Nikkor Apo-Macro 210mm f5.6, for these small subjects.

In all the years I shot small products and food, I never used nor knew anyone who used a macro lens on his view camera. And I note that these babies run about twice the cost of their equivalent “normal” lenses.

Anyone ever use one of these? And is the difference remarkable or only marginal? Worth the cost?

Many thanks.