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Monorail view camera is highly preferred for "macro" work. Far more ideal would be a modular mono rail camera system like Sinar as this system has a shutter option allowing virtually any lens to be used within what image recording device (film to digital small to large image recording device). Usable optics are limited to what can be mounted to the lens board. The entire camera set up can be mounted to a base board, or the object to be imaged set up on a camera standard with a board to support the object to be imaged. This same board can be altered/modified to support lighting needed achieve the image goals.
Any lens for 35mm can be made to cover 8x10 sheet film by reverse mounting the lens knowing the scene/image projected to the 35mm film or digital imager IS much larger than the image recording means (35mm film or similar). This is much a matter of moving in close enough to achieve the image reproduction ratios needed. As the image reproduction ratio approach 1:1 aka "life size" lens performance is likely going to suffer LOTs as these optics were never designed to be used this way. As for large apertures ala f1.4 and such.. the depth of focus becomes extremely thin with increasing magnification ala image reproduction ratios. This will impose very extreme requirements on film/imager flatness and camera/set up precision/accuracy. Think microscope and more.
The FAR better way is to apply proper macro-micro image making tools and lighting methods as needed. While ok and great to experiment, would the goal of all this to achieve a known image goal or simply experiment to experiment.. ? Yes, there can and will be learning that will happen from this, but it is far easier to
learn from the experience of others that have already done this decades ago then apply this recorded knowledge/experiences said experiment. Fully understanding the experiment must figure into this or the activity becomes aimless with no real or significant goal(s).
Bernice
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