4x5 macro advice needed

[many]

I might have missed it in the quick read I gave through the length of the thread but a few things that might help.
1. If available look up the published object to lens distance as well as the bellows needed for different magnifications. I know Schneider sheets tend to list these as well as Rodenstock
2. A macro slider is helpful. It allows you to maintain bellows extension and alter object to lens distance, often at extraordinarily fine gradients.
3. Most macro work performs better at wider apertures, but there are some lenses which are optimized for ~f22. There are threads in the lens section which discuss the reasons wider apertures are often necessary.
4. Due to the bellows extension factor, film reciprocity is often a serious issue.

YMMV but I have had good luck shooting macro with both 4x5 and 8x10.

Thank you very much..

[John Layton]

Here's a larger than life-size photo I made many years ago - of tiny watch movement pieces gently floating on surface tension of water onto which I'd first sprinkled aluminum powder. For this I used an older 55mm f/3.5 Micro Nikkor-P (designed for 35mm), reversed on a homemade board mounted on a crown graphic. I'd also cut a hole in a Nikon rear lens cap and to this mounted a shutter: