[LargeFormat] Macro photography and movements

[Mike Finley]

On Sat, 31 Jan 2004 14:57:10 -0800, "Paul Butzi" <photo@butzi.net>
wrote:

>> Is there any difference in these difficult working situations between
>> movements pivoting on the lens axis and one with movements pivoted =
from
>> the
>> base/rail?  Quite apart from this, macro work is made more tricky when
>> focussing at the front standard, as  this changes simultaneously the =
film
>> to
>> lens distance and the lens to subject distance. Focussing movements at=
 the
>> rear standard (like a Sinar) leave lens to subject distance unaltered.
>> This
>> feels easier. Any experts out there like to advise please?
>
>I'm with you and Jim.  When working at close distances, it's a whole =
heck of
>a lot easier to either use rear focus (keep the lens to subject distance
>constant) or else set the camera to the magnification (set the lens to =
film
>distance) and then move the camera back and forth to get the focus where=
 you
>want it.
>
>And I find it a whole heck of a lot easier to use rear swing and tilt, =
too,
>since unless your lens is mounted so that the pivot axis runs exactly
>through the rear nodal point of the lens, using front movements will =
move
>the image around in unpleasant ways.  Using a front base tilt would =
probably
>make you a candidate for the looney bin in a very short time.
>
>-Paul
>

=46ortunately, the Cambo SC2N I'm using has axial (ish) tilt and swing,
so I'm spared that problem!

I'd focussed on the middle of the subject and then tried to use tilt
at the rear to get front and back in focus, and couldn't. I then tried
front tilt, and hit the coverage problem. It wasn't until I gave up,
and went to have a cup of coffee that I realised I was very close to
the 1:1 ratio, which started me wondering.

I don't have any reference books for large format, but don't recall
discussions of the Scheimpflug rule covering the macro case.

mike
Mike Finley, http://www.efikim.co.uk