Bellows and Sony E mount

Paul Howell

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I have a good range of Miranda lens, extension tubes and an adaptor for my Sony A 3000, and similar set up for M42. So far I have used 50mm, 100, 135 and 80 to 230 zoom with so-so results. Wondering if it is the expense to get a Miranda or Pentax M42 bellows. I see Miranda bellows for around $25 to $50 on various sites. I recall that Miranda made a short barrel 100 which I don't have so would have to use the 50 1.4 or 100 2.8. I can also save up for a Minolta 100 Macro and use my A700 or full frame 900. Anyone use a bellows?
 

shutterfinger

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If you're doing Macro and not getting good results with extension tubes or bellows its the lens that is not preforming well not the extension medium. The lens may preform better with the lens focus set to infinity or its closest distance for macro work.
I have a Nikon 60mm f2.8 macro and it has a slight edge over the 35-135mm f3.5-4.5 zoom with extension tube on both my F4 and D300.
 
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Paul Howell

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The zoom is 60s vintage, so I know it is soft even at F8, the 50mm is much sharper. The zoom is easy to use, working distance is longer, the 50mm and other primes have a much closer focus and finding the sweet spot is harder. Thought maybe a bellows would give some the ease of working with the zoom with sharpness of a prime.
 

shutterfinger

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Nikon D300 aperture priority f11 60 f2.8 macro, 20mm extension tube + 18-55 VR zoom kit lens at 55mm and 35-135 f3.5-f4.5 Nikkor zoom at approximately 60mm. All hand held.
Recorded in raw, converted in Capture NF-D, levels adjusted on the 60mm macro exposure in Capture NF-D.
 
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Paul Howell

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Found a M42 Pentax bellows at a Goodwill, paid $14.00 for it. Could not upload the image, file is too large taken with A900 full frame, will retake with older camera with few MPs.
 

MattKing

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Paul Howell said:
Found a M42 Pentax bellows at a Goodwill, paid $14.00 for it. Could not upload the image, file is too large taken with A900 full frame, will retake with older camera with few MPs.
Click to expand...
Use an image re-sizer - Fast Stone Image Viewer is an excellent free/by donation Windows program with a very powerful and flexible re-sizing tool.
 
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Paul Howell

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Just saw your post will use next time, just reshoot with very old Sigma SD9. Here is an image of the set up, so far I like using the Pentax ST 200 F4 best. The little Sony does a reasonable job, 20MP and color is good, I don't see any color fringing. Next need to go to the woods.
 

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  • Macro set up, A3000 with bellows .jpg
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  • Macro set up test shot 1.jpg
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  • Macro set up test shoot 2.jpg
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