Originally posted by RioRico 28mm is closest to 'normal' for APS-C (30mm is the diagonal of an APS-C frame) and should show no distortion from the distance at which you would be photographing shoes. Since sharpness is limited by diffraction and DOF, and the diffraction limit for APS-C is around f/8-11, then the greater DOF of a 28mm lens vs 35mm may be critical. Anything longer than 40mm may have DOF too thin for your needs without focus-stacking.
I like inexpensive approaches. A cheap approach would be an M42 bellows, with 28mm + 35mm + 50mm enlarger lenses, plus any needed cheap adapters. Some judicious eBaying should put that kit together for under US$75. I suggest that range of lenses because you could easily (and inexpensively) test to see what works best for you. At about US$10 each, 't'ain't no big thang, eh?
Well, bellows and enlarger lenses, hmm. If I’m not wrong, I‘ll have more DOF in focus.
On K20D, are they gonna work? The resolution etc, are gonna be what I’m looking for?
Anyone who has that equipment can post his experience?
Quote: I think, you did not consider the above posts seriously enough. Diffraction will set in somewhere between f/8 and f/11. If you use a smaller aperture, the resolution loss, due to diffraction will be more serious, than any gain in resolution the one or the other lens may provide.
Ben I consider the posts seriously, more than enough. Ok the f/11 is the limit, but if there are lenses which can produce very good results at smaller apertures, I want to know it.
Some days ago, I read an article where the DOF is thinner on lenses with longer focal length. I don’t know, maybe the differences are minimal.
Anyway, I still consider, as best focal length the range between 35mm (and 28mm?) and 50mm (55mm even 70mm?). This way you are in a good distance and have less distortion