Macro photography with an RB67?

[Woodsy]

Hi guys and girls!

Right. So, instead of buying a macro lens for the D700, I'd like to get a lens that can do as near to 1:1 as possible.

Currently I have a 65mm Sekor C and at full bellows extension it can get pretty close, however the wideness of the lens doesn't really work for close up work imho. I tried some close up work with the 90mm Sekor C when I had it, but again, it was quite wide.

So, I have been considering the 180mm Sekor C lens. Does anyone know if this lens (at full extension) will focus close enough to get nearish 1:1 reproduction?

I don't really want to get a dedicated macro for this body as they are more expensive than me simply getting a macro lens for the D700.

Any help muchos appreciated!

 

[Ceejay]

When I had a RB67 I used to use a 140mm macro lens and was well pleased with the results, sometimes with ext tubes as well.
Ffordes have a couple of used ones at £199 but don't know how that compares with Nikon ones. Must admit never used a 180mm lens, jumped straight from 140mm to 250mm.
C

 

[Ambermile]

... err. What body?

 

[Woodsy]

RB67, Says in the title

Thanks for the info Ceejay. My problem really distills down to this... The 180mm is the longest lens I can afford really, and so I need to know whether it can focus close enough to reproduce at 1:1.

If I had the money though, I'd take your advice and go for the 140mm Ceejay. Will see what others come back with. If not, I'll save for the 140mm macro.

 

[excalibur2]

Well I got my beast out with 180 lens and at minimum focus with bellows fully extended......the object fills about half the frame in the viewer. But the 180 is a great portrait lens.

 

[Woodsy]

Gotcha. Ok, so essentially it's not going to be the best lens for close up work? I'm not really one for portraits, so I guess I'll have to save for the 140mm Macro.

 

[excalibur2]

Gotcha. Ok, so essentially it's not going to be the best lens for close up work? I'm not really one for portraits, so I guess I'll have to save for the 140mm Macro.

Well I haven't used mine for macro but don't you use extension tubes with the lenses...in my instruction manual it says:- life size close-ups can be obtained with tube no1 with 90mm and tube no2 for 127mm

 

[Ambermile]

Oops, sorry. Got thrown by the D word

 

[Woodsy]

Well I haven't used mine for macro but don't you use extension tubes with the lenses...in my instruction manual it says:- life size close-ups can be obtained with tube no1 with 90mm and tube no2 for 127mm

Ahh right, ok. I don't use tubes, no. And looking at the price of them, I might as well buy a dedicated macro. Anyone care to gimme £200?! :nuts:

 

[excalibur2]

Ahh right, ok. I don't use tubes, no. And looking at the price of them, I might as well buy a dedicated macro. Anyone care to gimme £200?! :nuts:

Well what about a manual focus lens for your D700...one of the cheaper ones is a Vivitar 55mm macro.....I got mine for under £10 last year because no one wanted a Minolta MD mount .

 

[CT]

Ahh right, ok. I don't use tubes, no. And looking at the price of them, I might as well buy a dedicated macro. Anyone care to gimme £200?! :nuts:

A few RB67 extension tubes HERE