At 08:04 AM 12/5/2002 -0500, you wrote:
From an optical point of view, you are right on. However there is another consideration that tends to get overlooked in these discussions: practicality. Extension tubes are great when you are working in the studio. In the field they are close to useless. By the time you get the right combination of tubes mounted between your lens and your camera, whatever little creepy-crawly you wanted to photograph has long since vanished. Of course flower photographers wouldn't have to concern themselves with disappearing subjects.My preference for macro work is, in decreasing order of preference and optical quality, but increasing order of convenience and versatility: A true macro lens Extension tubes Achromatic (2-element) close-up attachment
Accessory lenses are a little better since you don't have to remove the lens from the camera.
A real macro lens if your best choice and the Vivitar 100mm/3.5 lens is very good for its price, especially when you consider the price of extension tubes.
Gary J Sibio
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http://home.earthlink.net/~garysibio/
Time flies like an arrow.
Fruit flies like bananas.
