Plus diopter lenses can be used for macro with any large format lenses successfully and they are not expensive at B&H.
Plus diopter lenses can be used for macro with any large format lenses successfully and they are not expensive at B&H.
Normally not a problem. Unfortunately, there are some great enlarging lenses that don't have a front thread, so a little improvisation might be needed.
And since many (most?) enlarging lenses are symmetrical, reversing them accomplishes nothing. It's best to check your lens' design before you go to any unnecessary trouble.
I photographed stamps and coins for a large national company on 4X5 and 6X9 with a monorail view camera and 90mm and 65mm Super Angulon lenses. I don't think I could have done any better with special macro lenses and the client was very happy.
Polaroid marketed a copy camera and stand called the Polaroid MP-4. For lenses it used Tominion optics mounted in a self cocking Copal shutter. They actually were quite fine optics to be had at very reasonable prices back then. I believe they came in focal lengths of 17mm, 35mm, 50mm, 75mm, 105mm and 135mm. For Photomicrography they all covered the 4x5 format at different close ranges. Have only owned and used the 75mm and the 105mm lenses (back when) to copy hand drawn line graphs on Kodalith 2566 film and they never let me down. You can find them on the BIG auction site for very little money. I have bought a few for around $25 just for the shutters to be used with LF and ULF pinhole cameras.
WhenI started out in LF I was on a shoe string. My outfit was based on a Burk and James 5x7 with a reducing back.I shot some macro set-ups with a lens salvaged from an oscilloscope camera (75mm f/1.9). This is not a recommended lens, but I got it for under $50 and f/1.9 allowed me to see the subjecton the GG when at max extension. I focused wide open but stopped down to get some (any) DOF. Using a couple of Vivitar strobes some exposures took 7 to 10 "pops".
It was fun to do and like I said . . .a frayed shoe string!
Drew Bedo
www.quietlightphoto.com
http://www.artsyhome.com/author/drew-bedo
There are only three types of mounting flanges; too big, too small and wrong thread!
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