[barondla]

Over the past couple of weeks I was looking for a means of going macro with the 645z and the lenses I have and went through a couple of iterations. My goal was to find a combo that can take a decent macro from a sufficient distance that I do not scare away some critters and still give a realistic depth of field when stopped down to avoid or minimize focus stacking. I did not want to have to "stage" a scene but rather explore the micro world of wild-life and the final setup must be portable to take into the field with a tripod.

Here is what I found:

1. I started with the spacer rings #1,#2 & #3 on some of the lenses that I thought would have the most potential. These are FA 120mm Macro, FA 80-160, FA 150-300, FA 400mm, A* 600mm, P67 55-100mm.

2. Then I added the Helicoid ring and expanded it to the full.

3. Then I added the Pentax 2x teleconverter.

The results:
1. The FA 120mm macro gave better or matching magnification than any of the other combinations. The 600mm lens gave additional distance from the target, but not more magnification and at the cost of keeping it still enough and being less portable.

2. The full set on the FA 120mm macro gave +/- 5x magnification but with a depth of field of less than 1mm. Not usable in a realistic setting for me.

3. I removed the Helicoid ring and magnification dropped to +/- 3x with more depth of field at f16 on the FA 120mm Macro.

The weather this week is cold and overcast so the critters are hiding thus I was limited to testing on flowers outside.

Here are a couple of the test pictures:

Pic #1 & 2: These are from a label on a packet of biscuits and the letters "RSPO" are 1mm in height on the packet.

Pic #1 is the +/- 5x enlargement.

Pic #2 is the +/- 3x enlargement

Pic #3 is the inner part of a flower "two colour Jasmine" in the garden, un-staged at 3x magnification and is abt 1.5mm in diameter.

For a start this might be an option to keep me busy until we can travel again.

Excellent experiment. Macro is fun, and there is always something to shoot. The flower turned out nicely.

I've found shooting 3-5x in the field very difficult. Flash improves the chances for sharp pictures. If flash isn't desired, I've had better results stacking Raynox 150 & 250 multiple element closeup lenses. They don't lose light like extension. When using extension tubes with teleconverter, where they are mounted in the "stack" changes magnification and working distance.

Looking forward to seeing more photos,
barondla

[itshimitis]

A couple from this afternoon at Mumbles. The Pier and the old and new lifeboat stations...

Fuji GFX 100s GF 32 - 64

1.



2. The colours in the colour version are probably little funky - I kind of like them, but not necessarily lifelike... 10 stop K&F - I did have a glass grad too, but I dropped it while cleaning it...it isn't shatterproof...



3. The BW version

[RICHARD L.]

[itshimitis]

One from the side of the motorway yesterday evening:

GFX100s GF 23 f/4 4 minutes at f/14

[RICHARD L.]

[Aaron28]

smc takumar 6x7 165/f2.8.....pentax 6x7.....expired fujichrome 50D cross processed

[hausen]

Bucolic corner in a city

Attached Images

   

[LaHo]

Camera: Zenza Bronica S2a
Lens: Super-Komura 50mm f:3.5 (1A Skylight)
Exposure: 1/30 @ F/8
Film: Fuji Velvia 50 (exp. 2003) developed in Bellini E-6 chemistry in the Jobo ATL-1500 film processor

[LaHo]

The local stream



Camera: Zenza Bronica S2a
Lens: Super-Komura 50mm f:3.5 (1A Skylight)
Exposure: 1/125 @ F/8
Film: Fuji Velvia 50 (exp. 2003) developed in Bellini E-6 chemistry in the Jobo ATL-1500 film processor

[itshimitis]

Mumbles gets its name from a derivative of the french word for breasts. The two islets are the reason...

Mumbles Head at a moderately high tide this afternoon...

Fuji GFX 100s GF 32 - 64

[RICHARD L.]

---------- Post added 03-24-21 at 07:40 PM ----------

Mumbles gets its name from a derivative of the french word for breasts. The two islets are the reason...

You mean sailors started to "mumble" in awe when they saw them ... lol !
Regards

[Aaron28]

we rather enjoyed shooting around old downtown so we did it again this past saturday......
captured with my famous expired fujichrome 50D
cross processed.....pentax 6x7....smc tak 165/f2.8......epson v600 via silverfast8

[TDvN57]

2. The colours in the colour version are probably little funky - I kind of like them, but not necessarily lifelike... 10 stop K&F - I did have a glass grad too, but I dropped it while cleaning it...it isn't shatterproof...

I like the funky colors, makes for an interesting setting.

---------- Post added 2021-03-25 at 11:11 AM ----------




I rather like these small and detailed flowers. To get an appreciation each flower is about 10mm (0.5 inch) across. As a composition I would have preferred a bit more "breathing" room at the top.




I found this "head-on" picture less appealing, but interesting for all the details. The little bug at the 8 o'clock position is about 0.5 mm long (about 2 one hundredths of an inch). This is a focus stacked picture of 10 frames done in Camera Raw using HDR stacking. The fuzziness in the center at the deepest end of the flower is actually nectar, hence the fuzziness. I am trying to avoid focus stacking but the depth of field required for this shot was more than what I could get with stopping down aperture. I tried stacking in Photoshop with similar but not better results and other third-party software did not do well either.




The last picture is of the Two Colored Jasmine showing an interesting "landscape" complete with hills and valleys. Despite the "topography" I do find this one less appealing, but rather "interesting".


Comments and suggestions and opinions welcome....

PS none of these pictures are cropped.

[TonyW]

Mumbles gets its name from a derivative of the french word for breasts. The two islets are the reason...

Mumbles Head at a moderately high tide this afternoon...

Fuji GFX 100s GF 32 - 64

Very nice I am partial to a well executed B&W with lots of tonal values.

Quick question you seem to have quite a few images shot with the GF 32-64. As you may know I am waiting delivery of my GFX100S with the 45mm but GAS is beginning to take over my thoughts and thinking of my next purchase I am wondering which way to go and the 32-64 looks appealing as a general lens (walk around) with a modest zoom. If I could ask the question here what do you think of handling and IQ?

BTW: I did not know how the Mumbles got its name - now thats a fact I will never forget

[texandrews]

A couple from this afternoon at Mumbles. The Pier and the old and new lifeboat stations...

Fuji GFX 100s GF 32 - 64

1.



2. The colours in the colour version are probably little funky - I kind of like them, but not necessarily lifelike... 10 stop K&F - I did have a glass grad too, but I dropped it while cleaning it...it isn't shatterproof...



3. The BW version

So, this is an interesting example of a tossup. The B&W version has the obvious obvious aesthetic clarity, but the color version with its warm and cool tone divisions and the color contrasts between the odd green water color and the red-orange of the structure works very well imo. It has a nostalgic feel overall.

I'm guessing that you still don't have a proper raw color profile for your new camera? Still, with this image the color works beautifully.