Leica M (Typ 240): Close-Up Experiences - Part 5: Samples I

Introduction | Close-up Lenses | Extension Tubes | Extension Bellows | Summary | References

Archive

This page presents first sample close-up shots with my close-up equipment for the Leica M (Typ 240) to be used in live view mode. See also pages Close-Up Options (Live View) - Part 6: Samples II and Close-Up Options (Live View) - Part 7: Samples III for further sample close-up photos with the Leica M (Typ 240).

See also page Close-Up Options (Live View) - Part 1: Overview for an overview of the options that you have for close-up shots when using the Leica M (Type 240) in live view mode, pages Close-Up Options (Live View) - Part 2: Practice I and Close-Up Options (Live View) - Part 3: Practice II, and Close-Up Options (Live View) - Part 4: Practice III for my practical experiences in this area.

Note: Page Close-Up Behavior of the M-Mount Lenses describes the close-up characteristics of the lenses when used without any close-up options.

 

Introduction

On this page, I present a few sample close-up images that I took with some of my lenses using the various options for close-up photography with the Leica M (Typ 240) in Live View mode.

Overview Lenses/Extension Tubes

The following table shows the, for me, most relevant close-up options for the Quenox Extension Tube for Leica M and one or two Marumi +5 achromats:

Lens / Distance
Quenox Extension Tube for Leica M
Marumi +5
Achromats
Yes 
No
Object Width
Magnification
Object Width
Magnification # Diopters
Minolta M-Rokkor 28mm f/2.8
Infinity - 0.8 m (closest)
103 - 94 mm
1:3 - 1:2.5
---
---
0
0
71 - 66 mm
1:2 - 1.18
---
---
1
+5
57 - 54 mm
1:1.6 - 1:1.5
---
---
2
+10
Zeiss Biogon 35mm f/2.8
Infinity - 0.7 m (closest)
122 - 102 mm 1:3.5 - 1:3 --- --- 0 0
72 - 64 mm 1:2 - 1:1.8 180 - 139 mm 1:5 - 1:4 1 +5
52 - 48 mm 1:1.5 - 1:1.3 90 - 79 mm 1:2.5 - 1:2.2 2 +10
Zeiss Sonnar 50mm f/1.5
Infinity - 0.9 m (closest)
181 - 137 mm 1:5 - 1:4 --- --- 0 0
72 - 63 mm 1:2 - 1:1.75 130 - 104 mm 1:3.6 - 1:3 1 +5
46 - 42 mm 1:1.3 - 1:1.2 67 - 58 mm 1:1.9 - 1:1.6 2 +10
Voigtländer Color Heliar 75mm f/2.5
Infinity - 1.0 m (closest)
263 - 159 mm 1:7 - 1:4.5 444 - 391 mm 1:12 - 1:10.9* 0 0
64 - 54 mm 1:1.8 - 1:1.5 92 - 72mm 1:2.5 - 1:2 1 +5
37 - 33 mm 1:1 - 1:0.9 47 - 40 mm 1:1.25 - 1:1.1 2 +10

Table: Overview of achievable magnifications for the lenses that are most relevant for close-up photography with tools (lenses, tubes)

*) italic: Magnification with the lens alone; blue: in summary list below

I list ranges for object widths and magnifications, corresponding to the closest and farthest distance setting of the lenses. For the photos below, I did not control the distance setting, it may be anywhere between infinity and closest distance...

For each of the cells, a sample photo is provided below. Please note that the photos are primarily meant to provide an impression of the achievable magnification, not of the image quality. Therefore, original files are not provided.

 

Close-up Lenses

The following photos were taken with one or two Marumi +5 achromats. The B+W +5 close-up lens would deliver similar results.

Marumi +5 Achromat

Zeiss Biogon 35mm f/2.8

   

One Marumi +5 achromat

 

Two Marumi +5 achromats (+10 diopters)

Zeiss Biogon 50mm f/1.5

   

One Marumi +5 achromat

 

Two Marumi +5 achromats (+10 diopters)

Voigtländer Color Heliar 75mm f/2.5

   

One Marumi +5 achromat

 

Two Marumi +5 achromats (+10 diopters) (distance set to infinity)

 

 

 

 

Two Marumi +5 achromats (+10 diopters) (distance set to closest value)

 

Extension Tubes

The following photos were taken with the Quenox Extension Tube for Leica M (1 cm extension).

Quenox Extension Tube for Leica M

   

Minolta M-Rokkor 28mm f/2.8

 

Zeiss Biogon 35mm f/2.8

   

Zeiss Sonnar 50mm f/1.5

   

 

Combining Extension Tubes and Achromat(s)

The following photos were taken with the Quenox Extension Tube for Leica M (1 cm extension) and no, one, or two Marumi +5 achromats.

Minolta M-Rokkor 28mm f/2.8

   

No achromat

 

One Marumi +5 achromat

Quenox Extension Tube for Leica M used for all photos  

 

 

Two Marumi +5 achromats (+10 diopters)

Zeiss Biogon 35mm f/2.8

   

No achromat

 

One Marumi +5 achromat

Quenox Extension Tube for Leica M
used for all photos

 

 

 

Two Marumi +5 achromats (+10 diopters)

Zeiss Sonnar 50mm f/1.5

   

No achromat

 

One Marumi +5 achromat

Quenox Extension Tube for Leica M
used for all photos

 

 

 

Two Marumi +5 achromats (+10 diopters)

Voigtländer Color Heliar 75mm f/2.5

   

No achromat

 

One Marumi +5 achromat

Quenox Extension Tube for Leica M
used for all photos

 

 

 

Two Marumi +5 achromats (+10 diopters)

 

Extension Bellows

The following photos were taken with the Leitz Bellows II and the Quenox Extension Tube for Leica M to adapt the bellows to the camera. On the lens side, an adapter for M39 lenses (16590) was used.

   

EL-NIKKOR 50mm f/4 - nearly smallest extension

 

EL-NIKKOR 50mm f/4 - nearly largest extension

 

Voigtländer Color Heliar 75mm f/2.5 - nearly smallest extension

 

Voigtländer Color Heliar 75mm f/2.5 - nearly largest extension

 

Summary

Overview of the Largest Magnifications for the Respective Close-Up Options

Achromats Alone

   

Zeiss Biogon 35mm f/2.8 - Two Marumi +5 achromats (+10 diopters)

 

Zeiss Sonnar 50mm f/1.5 - Two Marumi +5 achromats (+10 diopters)

   

Voigtländer Color Heliar 75mm f/2.5 - One Marumi +5 achromat

 

Voigtländer Color Heliar 75mm f/2.5 - Two Marumi +5 achromats (+10 diopters) (distance set to infinity)

   

 

 

Voigtländer Color Heliar 75mm f/2.5 - Two Marumi +5 achromats (+10 diopters) (distance set to closest value)

Quenox Extension Tube for Leica M Alone

   

Minolta M-Rokkor 28mm f/2.8 - Quenox Extension Tube for Leica M

   

Quenox Extension Tube for Leica M and Marumi Achromat Combined

   

Minolta M-Rokkor 28mm f/2.8 - Quenox Extension Tube for Leica M and one Marumi +5 achromat

 

Minolta M-Rokkor 28mm f/2.8 - Quenox Extension Tube for Leica M and two Marumi +5 achromats (+10 diopters)

 

Zeiss Biogon 35mm f/2.8 - Quenox Extension Tube for Leica M and one Marumi +5 achromat

 

Zeiss Biogon 35mm f/2.8 - Quenox Extension Tube for Leica M and two Marumi +5 achromats (+10 diopters)

 

Zeiss Sonnar 50mm f/1.5 - Quenox Extension Tube for Leica M and one Marumi +5 achromat

 

Zeiss Sonnar 50mm f/1.5 - Quenox Extension Tube for Leica M and two Marumi +5 achromats (+10 diopters)

 

Voigtländer Color Heliar 75mm f/2.5/ - Quenox Extension Tube for Leica M and one Marumi +5 achromat

 

Voigtländer Color Heliar 75mm f/2.5 - Quenox Extension Tube for Leica M and two Marumi +5 achromats (+10 diopters)

Bellows II (with Quenox Extension Tube for Leica M)

 

EL-NIKKOR 50mm f/4 - nearly largest extension

 

Voigtländer Color Heliar 75mm f/2.5 - nearly largest extension

Really large magnifications can only be achieved with an extension bellows such as the Leitz Bellows II. Image quality may nevertheless not be top-notch, though, depending on the lens used. Moreover, bellows are typically used with tripods and thus, restricted to non moving objects. The light loss caused by the extension also requires good lighting conditions.

 

References

Extension Tubes

Extension Bellows

 

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04.07.2024