Macro Bellows
Macro photography - bellows, extension tubes, etc.?
I'm looking to get into macro photography and would love to hear any advice regarding bellows, extension tubes, etc. I'm currently shooting with a Mamiya RB67, a 645 Pro-TL, a Nikon F4 and an FM2n. Any advice or recommendations (preferably specific to these camera systems) is greatly appreciated!
I would suggest building your system around your Nikon cameras - basically the F4 and FM2 will have the same lens mounts thus you can use either body, depending on which one is working best for you or which one has film in it, etc.
Here is the progression of magnification:
1) A dedicated macro lens. With something like a 50mm or 60mm lens, you can take very clear photos of small items, such as large bugs, flowers, etc. However, for really small things, the working distance becomes too close to be practical. This is why the longer lenses 105mm or even 200mm - so you don't have to get so close for the magnification you need. This opens up the possibilities for different kinds of lighting.
2) Extension tubes are a nice way to mount your macro lenses so that you can focus even closer, while retaining the metering capability of the camera. Usually they come in sets so that you have something like an 8mm, a 15mm and a 21mm extension tube, or something similar. This is nice because you can use one at a time or in combination.
3) Bellows are often used with specialized lenses so that you can get really close: 1:1 or even more magnification. They also offer the greatest control over your magnification by allowing you to carefully adjust the extension.
I would personally start with a good macro lens and a set of extension tubes, because you'll have plenty of creative possibilities and it won't break the bank. In fact, that's what I did some years ago with my Olympus OM4, and I had a great time photographing leaves, flowers, etc. and I learned a lot about lighting for macro subjects.
Guide to BPM Bellows
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Hasselblad Automatic Bellows Extension & Macro Planar 135mm f5.6 T* Lens In Box $1,799.95 |
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Hasselblad Automatic Bellows Extension & Macro Planar 135mm f5.6 T* Lens In Box $1,774.95 |
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Hasselblad Automatic Bellows Extension & Macro Planar 135mm f5.6 T* Lens EXC++ $1,749.95 |
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Hasselblad 135mm Macro Makro-Planar CF f5.6 Lens Automatic Bellows Shade 135 mm $1,689.00 |
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*Mint* Hasselblad Zeiss C S-Planar T* 135mm f/5.6 macro Bellow lens, 135 f5.6 $1,330.00 |
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LEICA M9 MACRO BELLOWS CLOSE FOCUS CAMERA KIT VISOFLEX $999.00 |
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Olympus OM Bellow Plus OM 80mm F4 Macro Lens Mint+ $799.95 |
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HASSELBLAD 500 CM CAMERA MACRO CLOSE UP MINT BELLOWS SET CABLE BOX MANUAL KIT NR $699.00 |
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LEICA MACRO CLOSE UP BELLOWS M9 M3 CAMERTA VISOFLEX NR $699.00 |
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LEICA 100mm MACRO–ELMAR-R LENS & FOCUSING BELLOWS–R $649.00 |
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Pentax macro bellows 6X7 67 asahi mint boxed $588.99 |
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KERN PAILLARDS BELLOWS EXTENSION MACRO LENS-16MM BOLEX $499.99 |
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TOP MINT OLYMPUS OM-System Zuiko MC Macro 1:1 80mm F/4 Bellows lens FREE Post $489.00 |
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Leica R Macro Elmar 4/100 Focusing Bellows R + Canon EOS Adapter Ring $480.00 |
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Canon 35mm f/2.8 Macro Lens For Use With Bellows Or Close-Up Accessory $479.00 |
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Olympus OM 135/4.5 Macro Auto Bellow Lens #110601..MINT $465.00 |
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Nikon PB-6E Bellows Extension Rail for the PB-6 Macro Bellows "Extremely Rare" $454.99 |
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Olympus OM 135/4.5 MC Macro Auto Bellow 101640....MINT $450.00 |
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LEITZ LEICA MACRO ELMAR 100mm 4.0 lens for LEICA R WITH BELLOWS EXC+++++++++ $440.68 |
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Leica R 100mm f4 Short Mount Macro Lens & Bellows Fits SL SL2 $440.00 |
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Minolta MD 1:3,5/50 mm Macro Rokkor f. Bellows $436.00 |
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Olympus OM Zuiko Short Mount Auto 1:1 Macro 80mm f/4 Bellows Lens $429.00 |
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Olympus OM135/4.5 MC Macro Auto Bellow Len 105554 Minty $415.00 |
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Nikon PB 5 Macro Bellows and PS 4 Slide Copy Attachment $389.99 |
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HASSELBLAD MACRO BELLOWS EXCELLENT @ $375.00 |
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Hasselblad C Macro Camera Bellows $325.00 |
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TOP OFFER BOXED MINT- OLYMPUS OM-System Zuiko Macro 1:1 80mm F 4 Bellows lens $319.00 |
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CANON SLR CAMERA AUTO FOCUSSING BELLOWS MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY EXCELLENT LIGHT TIGHT $299.00 |
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Minolta Rokkor-X 100mm F4.0 Auto Bellows Macro Lens $286.00 |
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MINOLTA ROKKOR-TC 135mm F4 MACRO BELLOW LENS M39 MOUNT $249.00 |
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Pentax Honeywell Repronar 35mm Bellows Macro Spotmatic Screw Mount SLR $219.95 |
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Uncommon Topcon 58mm F3.5 Macro Topcor for Bellows or Helical Mount $199.99 |
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Vintage Minolta Auto Bellows Rokkor 100mm F/4 Macro Lens Used Exc++ $199.99 |
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1970s VINTAGE GERMAN PENTACON MACRO BELLOWS CLOSE UP 90 $199.99 |
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Nikon PB-5 Macro Bellows Almost Mint Works Great $199.00 |
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SUPER Macro BELLOWS+Zeiss Lens Canon Nikon D/SLR Sold 8 $197.42 |
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Canon Macro Bellows FL with FD Mount "Beautiful Condition" $179.00 |
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Olympus-Pen F Macro Bellows w/Slide Copy Attachment. $179.00 |
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NIKON BELLOWS PB-6 & SLIDE COPYING ADAPTER PS-6 SONY RING VAD S70 MACRO RAIL VTG $175.00 |
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Honeywell Pentax macro bellows II Boxed T mount M42 $170.99 |
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Nikon Bellows II Macro Focusing Attachment "Mint" $169.00 |
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MACRO BELLOWS SET for NIKON DSLR CAMERA +EL NIKKOR 50mm LENS+VERTICAL STAND $166.50 |
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AUTHENTIC CANON BRAND MACRO BELLOWS SET+50mm LENS for EOS DSLR DIGITAL CAMERA $157.50 |
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Hasselblad Macro close up bellows. $156.37 |
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Topcon Model 3 Double Rails Bellows for Macro Works $149.99 |
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Konica 2D Bellows for Macro Works on Konica 35mm SLR $149.99 |
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LEICA CAMERA MACRO EXTENSION BELLOWS ELAMR 5cm MOUNT NR $149.00 |
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50mm f2.8 Macro Extenar Lens & Original Exakta Bellows $145.00 |
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Genuine macro bellows Nikon F Nippon Kogaku Tokyo II $142.49 |
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Pentax macro Bellows genuine Asahi M42 screw mount $142.49 |
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MACRO BELLOWS SET+50mm LENS for SONY ALPHA DSLR SLR SLT DIGITAL CAMERA $139.50 |
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LEICA MACRO NOFLEXAR 1:4/60 NOVOFLEX BELLOWS LENS $135.00 |
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Complete Macro Kit - Asahi Pentax K1000 with bellows, lenses, hard case & more $125.00 |
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Genuine Macro Bellows Nikon F Nippon Kogaku Tokyo Mint $119.99 |
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LOMO OF184m Russian reproduction, large format lens with Macro Bellows m42 $119.50 |
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INDUSTAR 55u 140mm lens with Macro Bellows m42 $119.50 |
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STEINHEIL MUNCHEN CASSAR 105mm 4.5 LENS/KOPIL MACRO BELLOWS FOR EXACTA EXCELLENT $115.00 |
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CANON MACRO BELLOWS FL NEAR MINT CONDITION ( FD MOUNT ) $99.99 |
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Nice NIKON PB-6 Macro Bellows Focusing Attachment - N/R $99.99 |
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Minolta Bellows 1 for Close-Ups & Macro Works for Minolta X, XE, XD, XG, XM, SRt $99.99 |
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MINOLTA FOCUSING RAIL WITH MACRO STAND FOR MINOLTA SLR CAMERAS W/ MANUAL BELLOWS $99.99 |
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Minolta Macro Focusing Bellows III for SR Cameras BIN 148263 $99.95 |
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Olympus OM Zuiko Macro lens bellow in excellent condition $99.00 |
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Macro Foucus Slide Rail + Macro Lens Fold Bellows For Canon EOS 7D 5DII 550D 60D $99.00 |
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Macro Foucus Slide Rail + Macro Lens Fold Bellows For Nikon D700 D80 D300 D5000 $99.00 |
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Macro Foucus Slide Rail Macro Lens Fold Bellows For Pentax K-x K-m K-7 K20D K100 $99.00 |
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Macro Extension Bellow For Canon EOS EF Camera+Macro Focusing Rail Slider 4-way $99.00 |
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Macro Extension Bellow For Nikon AI F Cameras +Macro Focusing Rail Slider 4-way $99.00 |
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Macro Extension Bellow For Pentax PK Camera +Macro Focusing Rail Slider 4-way $99.00 |
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Canon Mount Macro Extension Bellows + Macro Focusing Rail Slider 4-way 550D 450D $99.00 |
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Nikon F Mount Macro Extension Bellows + Macro Focusing Rail Slider 4-way D7000 $99.00 |
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Pentax Mount Macro Extension Bellows + Macro Focusing Rail Slider 4-way K-5 K-r $99.00 |
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Canon EOS EF Mount Macro Extension Bellows + Macro Focusing Rail Slider 550D 60D $99.00 |
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Nikon F Mount Macro Extension Bellows + Macro Focusing Rail Slider D5100 D3100 $99.00 |
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Pentax K Mount Macro Extension Bellows + Macro Focusing Rail Slider K-r K-m K-7 $99.00 |
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Camera Macro Focus Slide Rail & Bellows for Nikon D80 D90 D60 D40 D300 D2Xs K3O $95.96 |
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4 way Macro Focusing Slide Rail Lens Bellows K2O Canon 5D 400D 350D 35mm Film $95.96 |
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4-way Macro Focus Focusing Slide Rail Lens Bellows Tripod fr Canon 20D 400D K2O $92.79 |
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FOR CANON FD MACRO AUTO M.A.B. MII BELLOWS.FREE WW SHIPP. EXC+. $89.00 |
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NIKON BR-3 MACRO DAPTER RING BELLOW ATTACHMENT MODEL 2 $89.00 |
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4-way Macro Focusing Slide Rail Lens Bellows K2O Canon $88.09 |
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Macro Focus Slide Rail & Bellows for Nikon D80 D40 K3O $88.09 |
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Macro Focusing Slide Rail & Lens Bellows for Canon K2O $88.09 |
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Macro Extension Bellows for Nikon + Focusing Slide Rail $85.99 |
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Macro Extension Bellows for Canon + Focusing Slide Rail $85.99 |
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Macro Focusing Slide Rail And Lens Bellow For Canon Kit $81.84 |
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Macro Focusing Slide Rail And Lens Bellow For Nikon Kit $81.84 |
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Lens Bellows For Canon and Macro Focusing Slide Rail $81.44 |
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Lens Bellows For Nikon and Macro Focusing Slide Rail $81.44 |
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4-way Macro Focusing Rail & Lens Bellows for Canon EOS 5D 400D 35mm Film K2O $81.29 |
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4-way Macro Focusing Slide Rail Lens Bellows K2O Canon $81.29 |
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Macro Close Up Extension Bellow For Nikon SLR Camera $80.46 |
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EMF CANON EOS EF Mount Macro Extension Bellows 550D 60D $79.90 |
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Macro Close Up Bellows for Canon EOS 20D 30D 40D 50D $79.79 |
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Macro Close Up Extension Bellows for Nikon FE FM FE2 FM2 F3 F4S $79.79 |
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Macro Close Up Bellows for Nikon D3 D60 D90 D300 D700 $79.79 |
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Macro Close Up Bellows for Canon Digital Rebel T1i T2i $79.79 |
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EMF CANON EOS EF Mount Macro Extension Bellows 450D 50D $79.50 |
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EMF AF Confirm Macro Fold Bellows for Canon EOS EF $79.50 |
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EMF AF Confirm Macro Extension Bellows Canon 5D 1000D $79.50 |