2x Extender with 100mm Macro and Elpro?

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Leica Photography : One Thread

NATURE MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY:

I have the Leica 100mm APO Macro ROM and the Leica 1:1 Elpro matched for 100mm Macro, and am considering purchasing the 2x APO extender. What effect the 2x APO extender would have on:

1) Magnification (greater than 1:1)? 2) Depth of field? and 3) Quality of image?

Would the BR2 bellows be a better option than the 2x APO extender?

What about the Leica photar lenses with the BR2 bellows?

Any suggestions and experiences would be greatly appreciated.

As a pathologist, I have been involved in medical photomicroscopy for two decades, and am plunging into the world of nature macro photography.

Berle Stratton Berle Stratton Photography Email: berle.stratton@attbi.com

-- Berle Stratton (berle.stratton@attbi.com), February 07, 2002

Answers

Adding a 2x to a lens doubles the focal length without altering the minimum focusing distance, which in effect doubles the magnification. In fact the prescribed attachment for increasing the older 200mm Micro-Nikkor lenses from 1:2 to 1:1 was in fact the 2x.

The DOF will be equal to the DOF of a 200mm lens, which is to say, less than a 100mm lens at equal subject distances.

Image quality will be fine. In fact, the non-APO 2x works fine as a macro extender. Most of the time in macro you're well stopped-down, thus utilizing the central portion of the light path where less aberrations are generally found.

Using a 2x will decrease finder brightness to 1/4 that of the 100 lens by itself. The bellows will also cut the light. This makes focusing difficult in the field as well as calling for long exposures (vibration becomes an issue)or flash with moving subjects, and making flash look natural in macro work is tricky.

I do not have personal experience with the Photar lenses, but there are other high-mag macro lenses which can be adapted as well. Nikon and Zeiss are/were two manufacturers of these specific types.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), February 08, 2002.


Hello Berle. In relation to high mag. photography there are three Photars which in contrast to the 2X extender, require extremely close working distances and realistically speaking auxilliary flash lighting. The 1:2.4/12.5mm lens. 7.5:1 magnification with working distance to front element 8mm ..to 15.5:1 mag.

with w.dist. 7mm.

The 1:2 /25mm lens. 3:1 magnification with 22mm w. dist.to front element ..to 7:1 magnification with w.d.17mm.

The 1:4 /50mm lens. 1.2:1 magnification with w.d. 88mm .. 3.2:1 magnification with w.d.59mm. Regards.

-- Sheridan Zantis (albada60@hotmail.com), February 08, 2002.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ