Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 25

Thread: close focus lens for 4x5 ?

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Ellenwood, GA
    Posts
    242

    close focus lens for 4x5 ?

    Hello,
    What is a good close focus lens for 4x5 ?
    I am finding the Sinaron S 5.6 180mm MC is not that great for close focusing work.

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Ellenwood, GA
    Posts
    242

    Re: close focus lens for 4x5 ?

    I am now reading that this focusing limit is only a limit of the bellows.
    Hmm, I'll have to do more testing...

  3. #3

    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    20mins north of boston
    Posts
    499

    Re: close focus lens for 4x5 ?

    Quote Originally Posted by buggz View Post
    I am now reading that this focusing limit is only a limit of the bellows.
    Hmm, I'll have to do more testing...
    A lot depends on what type of 4x5 you have and what the bellows extension is on it and how small can your bellows collapse :
    I have a Field type 4x5 the smallest it will take is a 90mm W.A lens and the larges is 240mm That's it for my field camera
    Maybe one of the other folks here will chime and explain how to figure it out for your Camera
    Lauren MacIntosh

    Whats in back of you is the past and whats in front of you is the future now in the middle you have choices to make for yourself:

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Ellenwood, GA
    Posts
    242

    Re: close focus lens for 4x5 ?

    Thanks for the information. I'm a newbie, but learning...
    I have a Sinar f2.
    I have the normal bellows, and the wide bag type bellows.
    I have the regular length rail, and a 10" extension rail.

    Quote Originally Posted by seawolf66 View Post
    A lot depends on what type of 4x5 you have and what the bellows extension is on it and how small can your bellows collapse :
    I have a Field type 4x5 the smallest it will take is a 90mm W.A lens and the larges is 240mm That's it for my field camera
    Maybe one of the other folks here will chime and explain how to figure it out for your Camera

  5. #5
    Corran's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    North GA Mountains
    Posts
    8,924

    Re: close focus lens for 4x5 ?

    If you want to do macro in the usual 1:1 area (as in, the object is the same size as the projected image on the ground glass), the lens must be racked out to 2x the focal length. So for example, if you have a camera with 240mm of bellows, you need about a 120mm lens to get to 1:1. If you want to go past that, for really small objects that become bigger than "lifesize" on the ground glass, you need even more.

    Does that help? What's wrong with the 180, that it isn't sharp or that you can't get a close enough? It seems like with a 10" extension rail you'd be fine...

    I use a 150mm G-Claron myself for macro stuff. I don't do it much to really have a dedicated "macro" lens, I just enjoy it, but the Clarons are a good, cheaper alternative (I got mine for $75 in shutter but I think I got a steal).
    Bryan | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | Portfolio
    All comments and thoughtful critique welcome

  6. #6

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

    Re: close focus lens for 4x5 ?

    120 or 180mm Apo Macro Sironar for analog work and the 120 Apo Macro Digital if you are doing digital work.

    The lens that you are using is not corrected for close-up work. The above three lenses are not optimized for work beyond 1:5.

  7. #7
    8x10, 5x7, 4x5, et al Leigh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Maryland, USA
    Posts
    5,454

    Re: close focus lens for 4x5 ?

    Quote Originally Posted by Corran View Post
    If you want to do macro in the usual 1:1 area, the lens must be racked out to 2x the focal length.
    Not exactly correct, but close for lenses of moderate focal length.

    The actual distance from the film to the lensboard for 1:1 with a lens of any focal length
    = the flange focal length plus the optical focal length.

    The flange focal length can differ substantially from the optical focal length,
    particularly for lenses shorter or longer than "normal".

    - Leigh
    If you believe you can, or you believe you can't... you're right.

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    NJ
    Posts
    8,469

    Re: close focus lens for 4x5 ?

    Leigh wrote:

    The flange focal length can differ substantially from the optical focal length, particularly for lenses shorter or longer than "normal".
    Leigh, if you meant to say "retrofocus or telephoto lenses" you're fine. Otherwise I think you shed darkness, not light.

    The rule is, lens' rear node to film plane distance is f*(1 + m) where f is the lens' focal length and m is magnification. This is true regardless of focal length and the lens' design. At infinity, m = 0 and the rear node is f from the film plane. At 1:1, m = 1 and the rear node is 2f from the film plane.

    The one difficulty with reducing the handy magic formula to practice is knowing where the lens' rear node is relative to the diaphragm. Some modern wide angle lenses have the rear node a moderate distance in front of the diaphragm. See, e.g., https://www.schneideroptics.com/pdfs...xl_56_47_3.pdf Others don't, see, e.g., http://www.schneiderkreuznach.com/fo...ssic_68_90.pdf . It really depends on the lens so generalizations are dangerous.

    The more-or-less symmetrical lenses we use, as well as some asymmetrical ones, e.g., Tessar types, all have the rear node very close to the diaphragm.

  9. #9
    Mark Sawyer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Stuck inside of Tucson with the Neverland Blues again...
    Posts
    6,268

    Re: close focus lens for 4x5 ?

    Have you tried putting your enlarging lenses on your Sinar? Optimized for close up, and you probably have a range of focal lengths already... Do a search and you'll find lots of info:

    http://www.largeformatphotography.in...-taking-lenses

    http://www.largeformatphotography.in...ace-macro-lens
    "I love my Verito lens, but I always have to sharpen everything in Photoshop..."

  10. #10
    8x10, 5x7, 4x5, et al Leigh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Maryland, USA
    Posts
    5,454

    Re: close focus lens for 4x5 ?

    Dan,

    If all lenses "have the rear node very close to the diaphragm" there would be no reason to publish a Flange Focal Length
    spec on the datasheet, now would there???

    But all lens datasheets from all manufacturers carry that spec.

    My statement that the film-to-lensboard distance at 1:1 = FFL + OFL is absolutely correct for photographic lenses
    of all types. No need to conjure up special cases where your generalities work.

    While the difference between FFL and OFL may be much larger numerically for longer lenses,
    the difference at the short end can be substantial also.

    For example, the FFL for the 65mm Fujinon SWD is 73.4mm, which is 18% longer than the optical focal length.

    - Leigh
    Last edited by Leigh; 18-Mar-2012 at 14:56.
    If you believe you can, or you believe you can't... you're right.

Similar Threads

  1. close focus lens for 4x5 ?
    By buggz in forum Image Sharing (LF) & Discussion
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 17-Mar-2012, 18:17
  2. close focus fuji 125/5.6 CMW ?
    By mowbray in forum Lenses & Lens Accessories
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 16-Jan-2009, 02:23
  3. Depth of focus with close subjects
    By Jerry Fusselman in forum Style & Technique
    Replies: 19
    Last Post: 11-Jan-2006, 10:48
  4. Close Focus Distance(s) of Granview Camera
    By Eric Jones in forum Cameras & Camera Accessories
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 29-Sep-2004, 14:29
  5. Linhof Technika / 150mm lens - How close can I focus?
    By William D. Lester in forum Lenses & Lens Accessories
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 3-Mar-2001, 18:24

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
  •