Macro

Hi,

I shoot macro with the nikkor 60 and 105 behind a normal macroport using autofocus. Currently I have no manual focus and switching gears on my lenses.

Now I want to beef up my lenses by increasing the reproduction ratios. I checked out various possibilities and got confused quickly.

A particular disadvantage for me is that my Nikon Dealer here in Saudi Arabia seems to be incompetend and has no equipments ready for testing.

The statements of Nikon (website+customer support) and other advisors are mostly contradictory.

I hope you may help me with some good advise.

What is the best choice to increase the reproduction ratio without dropping image quality too much and without taking other major disadvantages?

Converter, close up attachment lenses, wet-lens or extension rings?

What are the advantages and disadvantages?

Customer support told me if just increasing the focal length (by converter), the close focusing distance will change in the same ratio and the scale remains the same. They say, the only way to increase reproduction ratio is by extension rings.

The website claims for for their 2x converters

"The reproduction ratio is double that of lens in use"

"Doubles the effective focal length of your Nikon lens, without increasing closest focusing distance"

I do not exactly know how the different parameters change when attaching converters, diopters or ext. rings.

Ok, for sure I loose up to 2 f-stops, the depth of field decreases and the close focusing distance increases somehow.

May somebody give me a lesson on that topic? What is your favourite solution?

For the moment my favourite is a Kenko AF 2x converter.

Does anybody have experience with that one underwater?

According to Kenko, the "Pro 300 AF 2x" is not recommended with less than 100mm focal length. Another choice is the Kenko "AF 2x Teleplus MC7"

Who knows the difference?

The 2x converter double your focal lenght and retain your mininum focus distance from the film/CCD plane, in essence your 105mm become a 210mm with the same minimum focus. the optical formula of a pro 300 AF 2x is optimised for long telephoto, use the MC7

Extension tube will take over when you cannot focus closer, when you focus to minimum distance you probably noticed that your lens front moves away from the camera (getting longer), so when you cannot get it to go anymore, you insert a spacer between the camera and lens to take over. these very often come in kit of three different lenght, the longer one allows the closest focusing and they can be stacked if the need ever arise. a shorter lens like the 60mm will need less extension than lets say a 105mm to attain the same magnification. you by the way will loose the capabillity to focus to infinity.

Close up lenses or diopter/dioptre are basically the same, the wet one as the convenience to be removed underwater. They really are magnifier and vary in quality and design, bad one will really mess up your shot. Canon and Nikon supplies two elements version and B&W has some decent one also. as with the extension tube you forfeit the infinity, with the exception of the Wet one since its removable.

One thing I found different subject will require different approach and different photographer use different aproach with the same subject.

I might invest either in a close up lens (minimum investment) or a wet lens for starter, Considering the line up you use, buying the extensions tubes, teleconverter and close up lens will still be a minor financial ding in your current system, different strokes for different folks, I personnaly value extension tubes, but some great shots have been taken with converters and close-up lenses. At one point a technique that you are comfortable using with will far out weigth on paper theorical performance.

Cheers.