Macro ring gives a new perspective on an old lens

[Fumesucker]

I shot these with my 200mm f/4 Yashinon telephoto with a 16mm macro spacer ring, they are all wide open on the lens, NEX C3 at ISO 3200.

[ManiacJoe]

1. Nicely done!

Hand held or tripod?

[Fumesucker]

4. Handheld, that's why the ISO is high

You really have to keep about 1/300 or faster at that focal length handheld or almost all your shots get blurry.

Thanks...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Beautiful, my dear Fumesucker!

Can you briefly explain what you posted means?

Esp. this: NEX C3 at ISO 3200.

The pictures are just gorgeous!

[Fumesucker]

5. I'm using a spacer ring that lets the lens focus closer than normal

Sony NEX C3 is my camera, ISO 3200 means I have it set to a high(ish) sensitivity, with a long lens like I'm using here and handheld if you don't have a fast shutter speed your shots are blurry from hand shaking so I set the ISO to high in order to use a fast shutter speed to freeze the shaking.

Thank you..

[postatomic]

3. All nice, but.....

The last one is great. Color, composition, bokeh, and all that other stuff.

[Fumesucker]

6. Thanks, I like the long prime lens for macro I think

It's awkward to use and shaky but the results look great full screen on my 24" monitor.

[Solly Mack]

7. Love the 2nd and 5th ones.

[Blue_In_AK]

8. Very nice, Fumesucker.

I love these kinds of toys.

[alfredo]

9. You inspired me to pull out my 135mm and extension tubes. The last one is my favorite

[Fumesucker]

10. Mine too, I saved it for last

Oddly enough I just this morning bought a manual focus Nikkor 135 3.5 in a lot with some other camera stuff at the Casbah. I'd like to try that with the extension, I think it might be better than the Yashica which is a bit too long.

So I'm off to Amazon to order a Nikon adapter, already have a Nikkor 50 1.8 so I can use that too.

[alfredo]

11. On my Micro 4/3, my 135mm becomes 270. That allows me to stand off far enough not to scare

off insects.

I have a Suntar 135mm 2.8.

I've been spoiled by the AF extension tubes I use with my 40~150mm.

[sir pball]

12. If you get the adapter, scrounge around for a Micro-Nikkor 55/2.8

I inherited one from my grandfather and while it is one of my go-to film lenses ever since I had his Nikkormat body restored, it still routinely finds a place on my D5100. It focuses down to a 1:2 ratio, about 9", while remaining literally the sharpest lens I have ever used - shoot at f/4 and Smart Sharpen in Photoshop turns out no visible effect, at any focus distance! Plus it's dead-flat, like, enlarger flat...a piece of graph paper shot at 12" won't distort. Add a Nikon macro tube and you get a 1:1; with a good 16MP+ camera that's almost microscopic resolution.

The close-focus is actually the least of the things this glass is good for, the slightly slow max aperture isn't an issue with a good digital sensor, or with fast film...I pretty much only shoot Superia 1600 pushed two stops, the effect is amazing. Other than that, it's arguably one of the greatest lenses ever made, no compromises in any way. If you have a good manual-focus system (I got a split-prism screen for my 5100 a couple months ago, omg) it's an absolute must-have.

[alfredo]

13. That's a good looking lens. I will probably go with the Sigma 60mm and auto extension tubes.