Originally posted by CTR01 Was wondering is there a way to extend the working distance of the 250? The closest I would like to be to some subjects is about 1 (American/USA) foot. Any other thoughts? Otherwise, it looks like I just might have to go with the 150 for the working distance.
In the CHEAP MACRO article is a table of working distances for closeup adapters. The DCR-150 is +4.8dpt (almost +5); the DCR-250 is +8dpt. Whether using those, or stacked cheap meniscus adapters, on any host lens, the effect at specific +dioptre levels is the same: +5dpt has a working distance around 6.5-8 inches, +8dpt has a working distance around 5 inches. This can't be finessed.
There *are* ways to shoot macro at greater working distance. You can spend US$5-8k on an FA*200/4. Right. Or somewhat less on its Sigma counterpart. Still pretty costly. Or for much less, you can put a long tele lens on LOTS of extension (bellows AND tubes). There are a couple of approaches here:
* I have Wollensack 182/4.5 and Eastman 190/4.5 enlarger lenses (edge-to-edge flatfield sharpness) that cost me about ten bucks each. I put them on about 150mm of cheap PK tubes (three sets) and a bellows that extends to 140mm. These let me reach about 1:1.5 magnification at about 8 inches.
* I have a few 200/3.5 camera lenses -- the Focal (Cimko) only cost US$8. I can put it on the same tubes and bellows and reach about 1.25:1 magnification, also at 8 inches. Not as sharp, a bit heavier, a little brighter -- and it leads to this:
* Back in the day, I had an Olympus Pen-FT, a half-frame SLR (images about the same size at APS-C). I had bellows, and tubes, and a TC, and a Spiratone 400/6.3 (and I still have one, cost just US$15 shipped last year). On the Oly I mounted the TC, then about 300mm of extension, then the lens, and supported all that on a shoulder-stock rig. It looked rather like a grenade launcher. Good thing I was in the Army then! Anyway, I'd use that on bright days to shoot closeups of live rattlesnakes in the field, from a safe distance, like about 3-4 yards. I should post a shot of that rig, eh?
My point is, macro-shooting works within certain limitations. Macro usually means getting close. People spend big bucks on longer macro lenses so they CAN work further away. Closeup adapters obey the laws of optics -- put a +8dpt adapter on a 24mm or 50mm or 100mm or 200mm or 300mm lens, the focal length doesn't matter -- its working distance is still about 5 inches. And that's the long answer to your question.