Digital macro photography with
“classic analogue lenses” at bargain prices
Top of
the range analogue models from the 1980s and 1990s can be found at
bargain prices on the second hand market.
These
lenses perform especially well in macrophotography in combination
with modern digital SLR cameras.
The
one-time top of the range models are extremely well made and have
very good optical characteristics.
Many new
digital lenses appear inferior in comparison.
In
the extreme macro range, the auto focus is generally overtaxed and
has to be deactivated.
With
some subjects, the auto focus is unable to manage at all or is simply
too inconvenient.
Because
of the auto focus there is always a certain shutter lag, and in
extreme cases the camera completely refuses to release the shutter.
In nature photography, when photographing living insects, every
millimetre counts, and so when
using strong conversion lenses such as the LM macro lens in
particular, another exposure method should be used.
By
using the conversion lens, the working distance is reduced from one
metre to just a few centimetres.
The
focal plane is set through the working distance.
It is only here – plus or minus a few millimetres – that it will
be possible to clearly reproduce the object. The entire camera-lens
unit moves backwards and forwards until the object is in sharp focus.
.
When
using analogue lenses on digital SLRs it should be ensured that the
camera has fully automatic exposure control. Caution! Nikon’s
low priced beginners’ cameras (D40/D50/D60/D80/D90/D500) can only carry
out an exposure using digital lenses.
With
other manufacturers’ digital lenses or analogue lenses, it is
necessary to carry out a laborious manual exposure.
In
the case of other manufacturers such as Canon and Olympus, the low
price beginners’ cameras also have fully automatic exposure
control.
When testing
with our LM macro lenses we achieved very good results with the
classic analogue lenses.
There
was a high level of detail with optimum colour reproduction.
On the whole, new digital lenses do not produce better results,
although they
are lighter due to the use of plastics.
In
our tests we used the following lenses:
Leitz
Wetzlar Elmar-R 1:4 / 180 mm, Leitz Wetzlar Elmar-R 1:4 / 100 mm,
Leitz Wetzlar Macro Elmarit-R 1:2.8 / 60 mm
Conclusion:
In the extreme macro range, top of the range analogue models easily
keep pace with digital lenses, or are even superior, providing solid
handling and top quality at bargain prices!
Our
tip:
Buy
an expensive camera body and look around for a classic lens from a
dealer or on eBay.
Related Links
New LM Digital Adapter for: Canon EOS 1D X / Nikon D4 / Canon EOS 1D Mark IV / Canon EOS 60D / Canon EOS 600D / Sony NEX-5N / Nikon D3S / Canon EOS 5D Mark II / Canon EOS 7D / Canon EOS 550D / Rebel T2i / Kiss X4 Digital / Pentax K-5 / Sony Alpha 55 / Sony Alpha 580 / Sony NEX-C3 / Sony NEX-7 / Sony Alpha 65V / Sony Alpha 77V / Nikon D3x / Canon EOS 1100D / Nikon D7000 / Sony Alpha 33 / Sony NEX-5 / Sony NEX-3 / Sony Alpha 35 / Olympus E-5 / Pentax K-r / Canon EOS 1D Mark III / Nikon D5100 / Nikon D700 / Nikon D3 / Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 / Olympus E-30 / Olympus E-3 / Olympus E-620 / Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III / Canon EOS 500D / Digital Rebel T1i / Sony NEX VG10 / Olympus E-600 / Nikon D300S / Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 / Pentax K-x /
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