[w2ck]

Hi,

All right. I'm up. No giant fruit, though. Just some Gourd Arch shots. Yeah. Y'all will get tired of that subject! But, there it is in the back yard. I got done with my morning farm chores, so already hot and sweaty. So, before I head into the farmhouse and clean up, grab the camera and tripod and the A 120 macro that showed up late yesterday afternoon.

First, here is the entire Arch, again, showing the mid morning light on it. Just so you know what in heck that was like when I wander inside the thing.



Taken with the FA 80-160 @ 160mm. It loses something with the reduction to 1280 pixels on the long side.

But, now for the macro shots.

Here is a Loofah flower with two bees in it.



This is the project they are working on. Another one of these:



So, this is going to be a great addition to my 645 lens bag.

I have been shooting many shots around the farm this year. The idea is a 'how it's grown' webpage for the gourd folks. I began with fallow ground and a one-bottom plow and every step involved. Mostly taken with a 16 MP Nikon Df (and my wife taking some with her 24 MP camera), so not medium format. But, now I have this 645D and they are going to find a few 40 MP shots mixed in there.

Stan

[RICHARD L.]

Picture taken with an overall extension of 90 mm and a 1.2X magnification factor, necessitating a 4X exposure compensation (2 stops). The lens was set at f/5.6, so exposure was 1/80 sec @ f/11 set automatically by the 645Z in Av mode. There is almost no Depth of Field and the result seems more "abstract" than "descriptive" (dreamy almost).

[RICHARD L.]

[w2ck]

Hi,

Mmmm, Strawberries. I have some frozen from back in the spring. I oughta make some shortcake and....take a pic. Quickly, of course. Once made, it won't hang around long!

Stan

[RICHARD L.]

Pentax 645Z + 645 Bellows + 645 A 120 mm f/4 MACRO @ f/16, ISO 800. Late afternoon slant sunshine light, exposure 0,5 sec @ God knows what aperture (most probably an effective f/45). Total extension was 180 mm, the lens was set at infinity, magnification should be about 1.5X with an exposure factor of 8 (3 stops). Subject is barely recognizable, as the fruit was not washed under running water, the visible "dust" may be either dirt coming from the field or pesticides. Better always wash them before ingesting ...

[RICHARD L.]

This lens peaks at f/8. Only problem is that you need to stop down to gain some depth of field. The blackberries were thoroughly washed under running water to remove the dust covering them and I prepared them for picture-taking by leaving them in a little water to add reflections and highlights to the images. The day was very dark and rainy, so the exposure was 1 second @ f/8 in window light and correct focus was difficult to attain. I tried exposures at f/16 (4 sec) and f/32 (16 sec) but I learned f/8 was the optimum aperture of this lens. The lens almost doubles in length at 1:1 magnification.

[RICHARD L.]

Raindrops saying Hello! this morning.

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[barondla]

Raindrops saying Hello! this morning.

Excellent image. Water beads are so sharp they pop out from the background. Proof there's always something to photograph. Well done.

Thanks for sharing,
barondla

[RICHARD L.]

Best image of the day, diffuse light coming from a window on an overcast day, tripod-mounted 645Z, 645 A 120 mm f/4, 800 ISO. I had this lens hidden in a drawer for several years and I'm just discovering its potential now. Better late than never ! It is perfectly balanced when mounted on the 645Z and could be used for portraiture too (but maybe too sharp...). A sweet lens indeed.

[w2ck]

Hi,

Sweet, indeed. Once again, my spoon is bouncing off the screen....

Stan

[RICHARD L.]

[RICHARD L.]

[RICHARD L.]

[ivanvernon]

Hi,

So, I have been looking for a 120 macro for my 645D. Figuring on the manual focus A series as I usually work macro manually anyway. I see where I can spend about the same money on a 120 A for the 645 or a 100 with 645 adapter and life size converter from the 67.

I am tempted to get the 67 lens as I now have a 6x7 that I might just use with film once again. That last is my idea of a winter project, making up a darkroom once again. But, you see my thinking here. Start picking up lenses that work on both systems.

But, I have zero knowledge of how well the 100 macro from the 67 works either straight or with the LSC.

Stan

Most of what should have been said has already been said. I particularly agree with remarks of Richard L. The 645-A 120 manual version is maybe the best medium format macro bargain available, and is easy to use without fiddling around with reversing rings, extension tubes, etc. I have the FA version, but would be equally happy with the A version as I only use manual focus with macro shots. I also have the 67-100mm with life-size converter for 1:1 macro. I use it on the K-1 and the 645D/Z with suitable adapters. It is a fantastic lens, one of the sharpest medium format lenses I have ever used. However, it generally costs 2 or 3 times as much as an A version of the 645 lens, and has some difficulties of use because of shorter focal length. I am a better collector than macro photographer, I admit it, and would not be without both these lenses. (There is one other fantastic medium format lens out there, the Mamiya 645 C 120 f 4.0, but it is usable only on K-mount, not P645 because of incompatible registry distances, and of course it needs an adapter.) For 1:1 macro use in an indoor environment, using the life-size converter, the 67 100 would be a great choice--otherwise get the 645-120mm and don't look back. The 67-100m with converter is just too fiddly and too short for convenient outdoor use for bugs and flowers and stuff, best inside in a controlled tripod environment.

[gofour3]

For 1:1 macro use in an indoor environment, using the life-size converter, the 67 100 would be a great choice--otherwise get the 645-120mm and don't look back. The 67-100m with converter is just too fiddly and too short for convenient outdoor use for bugs and flowers and stuff, best inside in a controlled tripod environment.

Exactly! That's when I wish there was a 67 M*400/4 ED 1:1 Macro, unfortunately there isn't so I usually just use the 67 135/4 Macro for outdoor macro work.

Phil.