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Re: [OM] Macro capabilities of long zooms

Subject: Re: [OM] Macro capabilities of long zooms
From: Gary Reese <pcacala@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2001 17:19:07 -0800
Mike L. asks:

<< Is this a feature at the expense of overall performance? >>

Not likely.

<< Are the results any good? >>

"Acceptable" in the best of cases, as per years of Popular and Modern
Photography reviews.

<< Seems like they are too slow/dark viewfinder to focus accurately. >>

Let say it this way: "the ability to focus precisely declines."

<< Why would you want a 300 macro? >>

The manufacturer's have to offer it because John Q. Public saw it in a
competing lens and thinks it is a must have feature to any lens they
buy.

<< Seems like 135 would be plenty. >>

Pretty much so. 200mm is useful for the most skittish of smaller
creatures. But for skittish creatures, most biologist/photographers
would cool down the ctitter before photographing it.  It puts cold
blooded creatures in a state of suspended animation. With that technique
you could photograph an Africanized honey bee with a 50mm  :-)

<< Wouldn't a 50 macro+tube or 85/2+tube, etc. be better? Or even a tube
on any close focusing lens. >>

Primes optimized for 1:10 (like the Zuiko macros) or floating element
primes like all but version 1 of the 85mm f/2 are significantly better
at close focus performance than infinity designed primes and hands down
better than zooms, with the exception of zooms intended for macro
photography (the new Nikkor and the old Vivitar Series 1 90-180mm). I
once extensioned tubed a 350mm Zuiko to get Desert tortoise shots. Kept
me far enough away that I didn't spook the tortoise back into its shell.
Buy a 300mm macro for those rare occasions?  Not hardly worth it.

<< Maybe I ought to experiment with the 35-70/3.5-4.5 >>

All anyone ever had to do was add an extension tube to a zoom that
didn't have a close enough focusing distance. I'd say it is a rare zoom,
indeed, which has optical compensation for close focus.

Gary Reese
Las Vegas, NV


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