Question for Hasselblad users

Hi,

I'm thinking about renting a Hasselblad kit with an 80mm Planar lens from my local camera store. Also available for rent are extension tubes, identified as "10, 21 or 55" for a given price each.

My question: with the 80mm lens, what kinds of focusing distances and subject magnification are available with these tubes? I don't even know what the numbers by which they are referred to mean, let alone what is possible with each. Anything you can share would be appreciated. Thank you.

The number refer to the additional extension offered. These are extension tubes. They are only usefulfor close up photography. The 10mm tube would allow you to reach 1/8 life size and to photograph a area about 17" square, the 21mm tube about 9 inches square, the 55mm tube about 3 " inches square, The 10+21 about 5.5 inches square, the 10+55 about 2.7 inches square and the 20+55 about 2.5 inches square, the 10+21+55 about 2 inches square. If you are not doing closeup work then there is no reason to rent then. If you are going to do closeup work then a tripod is highly
recommended. The tubes also require adding additional exposure. from about 25% more for the 10mm tube to 200% for the 10+21+55mm tubes.

The camera without the tubes will focus to about 3.3 feet.

Hasselblad provide a useful PDF on using these tubes;
Dead Link Removed

Don't forget that the 80 is kinda wide for close ups and especially with people you will get a bit of distortion. The tubes are more natural with telephotos.

Check this one also!

http://www.clearsightusa.com/extubecomp.html

Cheers

André

Thanks, folks. Claire, I should have mentioned that I would be using the tubes for close-ups. That much I knew!

Thanks again.