We've covered this before but for closeup work I prefer the dedicated classic macro designs over the pseudo-zoom types which are really general purpose lenses. I use normal (infintity optimized) lenses for landscape and dedicated macros for closeup not a single pseudo-zoom type lens that does both.
Regarding "working distance", how is that defined? I always thought of it as distance from front of lens barrel to subject which Is NOT 4X focal length at 1:1. Front of lens barrel to subject is less than 2X focal length at 1:1. Film plane to subject is 4X focal length at 1:1. JCO -----Original Message----- From: Arnold Stark [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2004 9:01 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: 50 or 100 mm At 1:1 magnification, the F/FA100/f2.8 as well as the new DFA100/f2.8 all are near 75mm lenses. You can see that from the working distance which, at 1:1, is roughly four times the focal length. For the FA/F100/f2.8, at 1:1, the working distance is 310 millimters, thus the focal length at 1:1 is near 310mm/4=77,5mm. For the DFA100/f2.8, at 1:1, the working distance is 300 millimters, thus the focal length at 1:1 is near 300mm/4=75mm. The focal length of all these lenses varies due to the FREE (fixed rear element extension) design. Arnold J. C. O'Connell schrieb: >If I had to go with only one macro lens it would be about a 75mm but >nobody makes one! I do use 75mm/80mm macro lenses on a bellows but with >a bellows the maximum focus distance is very limited and often too >close. JCO > >
