Originally Posted by
Dan Fromm
Using a 50/1.4 lens for a 35 mm camera as a macro lens is stupid unless the magnification is enormous and the lens is reversed. Even then its not a good idea. This because 50/1.4 lenses for 35 mm cameras aren't that good.
Macro lenses made for 35 mm cameras are another story. I occasionally use a reversed 55/2.8 MicroNikkor AIS on 2x3. Superb lens. Reversing it, getting timed exposures, and using it with flash are easy. I paid SKGrimes to make a ring threaded M52x0.75 (fits the Nikkor's filter thread) on one side and M40x0.75 (fits the front of a #1 shutter) on the other. No need to screw around with hats ... This lens is best at f/4, gets worse as it is stopped down beyond f/4.
I gather that you're concerned about focusing with a small effective aperture. Try it before you give up on it.
If you're going to shoot above 1:1 you should reverse the lens you use unless it is a very nearly (or, sometimes, exactly) symmetrical process lens. In general, reversing a lens designed for working at normal distances when using it above 1:1 preserves its corrections. Using it above 1:1 facing normally just throws them away.
Before you do anything really stupid or expensive, buy a book. Lester Lefkowitz' The Manual of Closeup Photography. And read it. Available from sellers who can be found through any number of services, including but not limited to abebooks.com, alibris.com, and amazon.com.
The idea that lenses made for LF are inherently worse than lenses made for smaller formats has to be stamped out. Don't tell me that it stands to reason, test. Focal length for focal length, there's not much difference. But, other things equal, a short lens can be better than a long one.
Good luck, have fun,
Dan
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