Hasselblad 120mm vs 135mm for Nature Macro

[larry_menzin]

Is there any advantage to using the Zeiss 135mm Makro Planar lens

with bellows or extension tubse versus using the 120mm Makro with

tubes? I don't think I need to get to 1:1 but perhaps 1:2. I have

seen and read very little about the 135mm lens, but am wondering

whether it is worth getting to supplement my 120mm Makro. Has anyone

used the 135mm?

[leicaglow]

I've used the 135 on bellows, and own the 120. They're both great lenses, but bellows add a lot of time and weight to the process. Both are razor sharp lenses, but I believe the 120 is a bit more versatile, and for most nature shots, it focuses pretty close. For the rest, a single extension tube would do most of what you probably want.

 

Another interesting contraption I've seen is on eBay. It's a $299 helicoil that fits between lens and body and is like a variable length extension tube. I haven't looked into it enough, but I doubt it would let you focus back to infinity.

[larry_menzin]

I did buy (but have not yet received) the Hassy variable extension tube. It would basically turn the 135mm into a clone of the 120mm with infinity focus and 21mm of extension. Using this outfit, I would add another tube (56) for closer focus. Or I could just use the variable tube with the 120mm for closer focus. The only advantage would be a little extra reach with the 135mm. My take on this is that the 120mm and 135mm with variable tube are duplicative. Am I wrong?

[Ed_Ingold]

The discontinued 135 Makro lens will focus to infinity on certain bellows, whereas with a lens with a conventional mount, like the CF120/4 Makro, sees a minimum 60mm extension. Because it has no focusing mount (and has a longer focal length), the same extension has less effect with the 135 than the 120.

 

If you need 1:1 magnification with a 120 Makro, then the bellows is probably the way to go, or the variable extension tube. In my experience, 1:1 is seldom needed in nature photography, but YMMV. I find a set of extension tubes is sufficient, and much easier to handle in the field than bellows.

[paul_neuthaler]

Have you ever looked closely at the natural world through an 80mm Planar + 55mm Extension Tube?