BetterPhoto Q&A
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Close up shots of medicine bottles

1.what camera to use that is whether to use manual slr or compact or auto slr?

2. the lens in case of slr - whether Telephoto or standard?

3. whether close up lenses can be fixed over the prime lens and if so whether +1 or +2 would do the job?

Is it better to work with window daylight or should I use flash or work in open area?

whether the tube light(florescent) should be on or off while working indoors?

how to place the bottles and cases and how to use reflectors to avoid shadows? What is the best composition?

please guide me as I'm new to this kind of photography. whether auto compact camera would do the job?

I may add that I use Zenit 122m and Yaschica electro 35. I feel that these cameras won't serve the purpose?

Please advise

thanking again

yours sincerely

vkwadhawan

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March 22, 2001

It is possible to do macro-photographs with the Yashica Electro 35, but it is a rangefinder. You would have to work around the parallax between the viewfinder and taking lens when working this close to make the macros properly. This is a lot of work.

Your Zenit 122m is a much better camera for this task because it is an SLR. It doesn't have the parallax problem a rangefinder does because the viewing lens and taking lens are the same.

I recommend working by window daylight, or outdoors in open shade. If you use window daylight, do it when the sun is _not_ coming directly through the window. This is similar to open shade, but with the light coming from one general direction through the window. Either of these methods should prevent distinct shadows. See the answer and example image for indirect window daylight I uploaded for your previous question here:
http://www.betterphoto.com/forms/qnaDetail.php?threadID=1667

I recommend using a tripod with your camera. A modest telephoto between 90mm and 135mm usually works better for photographing small objects from a tripod. It allows you to move the camera farther away from the bottles.

If your Zenit lens has threads on the front ring for filters you can use "closeup" auxiliary lenses. You would have to experiment to find the correct diopter combination (+1, +2, +3, etc.). You can stack the diopters. To find the total magnification, add their diopters together: +1 on top of a +2 gives +3 diopters. If you stack two or three, put the strongest one on the lens first, and the weakest one on the lens last. I don't recommend stacking more than three.

There are two other methods for doing macro photographs. One is using an extension tube that goes between the lens and the camera body. This is optically better than using close-up lenses. There are several models of the Zenit 122. I believe yours has the M42 lens mount (the Zenit 122k has a Pentax K-mount). If Zenit does not have extension tubes, you should be able to find one for the lens mount from another manufacturer. Extension tubes usually come in several lengths, sometimes as a set of three. You can also stack extension tubes together between the camera body and lens. You would have to experiment with the combinations of extension tubes to find a total length that works for your lens and the focus distance you need.

Another method is using a "macro lens." These are specialized lenses which are similar to normal ones, but allow focusing much closer. These are very expensive. As with the extension tubes, if Zenit doesn't make a macro lens you should be able to find one in your lens mount from another manufacturer.

Hope this helps,
-- John

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March 22, 2001