Macro photography with the Mamiya RB67

I'm considering options for getting into macro photography, and

though getting a 35mm outfit - like the Olympus OM-1 which has some

good macro lenses, easy-to-get bellows etc - for such work, and

would also make a decent backup camera for other stuff, I've got

used to MF quality pictures after using my Mamiya 7II for a few

years now, and don't really like the idea of going 35mm for serious

work.<p>

At the same time, there seems to be lots of RB67 equipment in good

condition on the second-hand market these days as pros sell off

their gear when going digital, and I understand that it has bellows

focusing which will allow macro work to be done with the regular

lenses, although macro lenses would have the ultimate in sharpness

for critical copy work, for instance.<p>

My question is, what kind of magnification rating would it be

possible to get with the most common lenses of between 90mm and

110mm? How are the results with the regular lenses as opposed to

with the dedicated macro lenses for the RB system?<p>

<a href="http://www.hakonsoreide.com/Photos">www.hakonsoreide.com</a>

<p>

Yes, I'm curious about this, too. Mamiya makes two different sizes of extension tubes and

there's a 140mm Macro lens but according to KEH[1], you still need an extention tube +

the macro lens to get 1:1.</p>

<p>

But, if it helps, Hakon, here's a shot on my RB67 w/ a 90mm and the bellows fully open.

It's close but not exactly "macro".</p>

<p>

<a href="http://www.fiveoclockheroes.com/20041008_ggp_800.jpg">flower</a> (159

KB

image)</p>

<p>

[1] http://www.keh.com/shop/SHOWPRODUCT.CFM?

CRID=9860840&SKID=RB06000600004N5&SID=newused&BID=RB&CID=06&SOID=N&cur

pic=0&dpsp=0</p>

You don't <i>need</i> the macro lens for 1:1. Thanks to the bellows all lenses focus pretty close. On my RZ67 I used the Mamiya-Sekor Z 65mm f/4 W wide angle lens with the Auto Extension Tube No.2 and got about 2:1 magnification with the bellows fully extended. The <b><a href="http://www.mamiya.com/products2.asp?id=1&id2=15&id3=40&id4=429&id5=431">close-up tables by Mamiya</a></b> will give you the magnification details for most lenses and extension ring combinations.

Thank you, Bueh, you just saved my two- to three-hundred dollars on purchasing a used

Macro lens!

Uh, you're welcome!