Who actually carries a tape measure to do closeup work ...

eli griggs

Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2005
Messages
3,852
Location
NC
Format
Multi Format
... with extension tubes, magnifying 'filters' and bellows?
 

Steve Goldstein

Subscriber
Joined
Jul 8, 2007
Messages
1,756
Location
Northeastern US
Format
Multi Format
I just use my hand - full span is approximately 9" and I interpolate/estimate smaller distances. It's close enough for large-format black-and-white bellows compensation, probably not for chromes.
 

GRHazelton

Subscriber
Joined
May 26, 2006
Messages
2,248
Location
Jonesboro, G
Format
Multi Format
Back in the day my Father did excellent close-up and macro work with an AsahiFlex IIa with tubes and bellows. Since the 'Flex had no TTL metering he calculated the exposure factor based on the distance of the extension, measured usually with the sum of the markings on the tubes or bellows, then used a pocket slide rule for the computation. IIRC he sometimes found a tape measure quicker, expecially with the bellows.
 

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,369
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format
Not a problem. Use reflex cameras and what you see is what you get. [WYSIWYG]
 

abruzzi

Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2018
Messages
3,066
Location
New Mexico, USA
Format
Large Format
Never for MF, but there is always a tape measure in my LF kit for calculting bellows factor. The larger the format, the sooner you need to use it, even if you're not doing macro shooting. (i.e 1:1 on 35 is just someone's eye filling the whole frame, whereas 1:1 on 8x10 is a close headshot.)
 

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,369
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format
For LF I printed out a guide and glued it to the rails of my Pacemaker Speed Graphic.
 

Bronson Dugnutt

Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2018
Messages
982
Location
USA
Format
Traditional
In practice I use tubes / bellows (in combination with a right-angle finder) on ILC SLR systems. Close-up filters for fixed-focus / viewfinder / non-ILC cameras are pretty much the only option and I typically use them with a dedicated measuring chain (e.g. Minolta 16) or guesstimates based on finger span, reach, etc based upon the correction factor of the filter in use.

I picked up a set of Polaroid-branded close-up filters some months back at the local antique mall whose case contains a built-in tape measure demarcated with field size, camera focus, and and close-up filter settings. While not particularly useful for how I use the filters, its still a very useful piece of kit that adds versatility to an otherwise crippled camera.

 

DREW WILEY

Member
Joined
Jul 14, 2011
Messages
13,949
Format
8x10 Format
I did it with a very narrow metric tape rule at one time, with my own supplemental marking on it. Strictly view camera bellows applications for close-ups. Then I switched over to the Calumet magnification target, which made life a lot easier. With MF or Nikon close up ext ring copy stand applications, I use TTL metering and a gray card.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…