Re: Mamiya 120mm Macro for portraits

["Laurie" <laurie@advancenet.net>]

Yes, good point with respect to the use of a macro. If the proponents of
macro lenses for portraiture would have given that as their reason it could
have ended right there.  Unfortunately, they tried to give all kinds of
quasi-technical reasons which confounded everything and turned the
miscommunications into a debate.

There are two lenses that are considered normal for an RB 67. The 90mm which
some have said tends to have a slight barrel effect like a wide angle and a
127mm.  There is no 120mm lenses for the RB.  Such a focal length exists for
the Mamyia 645 and would be a medium telephoto for that format.


----- Original Message -----
From: J. Arthur Davis <jarthurdavis@earthlink.net>
To: <epson-inkjet@leben.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 1999 5:32 PM
Subject: Re: Mamiya 120mm Macro for portraits


> Laurie:
> You are correct on all points. The only reason I could find for using a
> macro lens is that it is the only medium length lens this person owns.
> If it is on an RB67 it would be longer than normal which I believe is a
> 90 mm lens.
>
> Jim Davis
> mailto:jarthurdavis@earthlink.net
>
> Laurie wrote:
> >
> > I have tried to back out of this discussion; but I must note for the
record
> > that the original post mentioned something about using a 120mm macro
lens on
> > a Mamyia.  I responded that I did not understand why they would use a
macro
> > lens for portraiture.  I really did not question the choice of focal
length
> > at all except to ask which format Mamyia was it being used on.  This
> > question about why a macro lens was being used , unfortunately, is what
> > started this long off topic debate.
> >
> > I still do not think that I was ever given a good legitimate
justification
> > as to why a macro lens was used rather than a standard lens; but I do
> > apologize for starting this run away debate, which I have found to be
> > unpleasantly lacking in civility and politeness for the most part.  It
> > quickly went down hill when respondents resorted to name dropping and
name
> > calling.
> >
> > You say: You use the lens that gives you the effect you want to achieve.
It
> > doesn't matter if it is macro or not."  I agree that there is no fixed
rule
> > that says you must use any particular length or type of lens.  I just
> > questioned its use and what the user was attempting to achieve by using
it
> > as opposed to a standard lens.  In raising this question, I realized
that
> > there was some confusion about sharpness and close-upness ( to coin a
word)
> > and about what it takes to fill a frame with the subject.  What you say
> > about a longer versus a shorter focal length lens is correct; but the
focal
> > length of a lens should not be confused with its standard or macro
character
> > ( which I am not accusing you of doing but only pointing out) just as
soft
> > focus photography should not be confused with macro photography.  It is
> > entirely possible to have soft focus macro photography, although I do
not
> > know why one would want to do it.
> > I too have used wide angle lenses for portraits under particular
> > circumstances and with particular effects in mind.  The ones I have used
the
> > most in this capacity have been the 28mm and 35mm on a 35mm format; I
have
> > only used wide angle lenses on a medium format for portraiture when I
had to
> > shoot a group or an individual at closer range.  It is not my
preference;
> > but even here we are talking about different focal lengths and not
> > distinctions between macro lenses and standard lenses at those focal
> > lengths.
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: J. Arthur Davis <jarthurdavis@earthlink.net>
> > To: <epson-inkjet@leben.com>
> > Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 1999 7:46 AM
> > Subject: Re: Mamiya 120mm Macro for portraits
> >
> > > I've stayed out of this fray because it has been way off list, but now
I
> > > need to add my 2 cents. There is no rule that says you have to use any
> > > particular lens for portraiture. In the past I have made a very good
> > > living being a portrait/wedding photographer. I started with an old
> > > Yashika twin lens reflex camera, moved to Mamiya C3 - C330, RB67, and
> > > finally to a 645. I have used wide angle all the way to long 150/180
mm
> > > lenses.
> > >
> > > You use the lens that gives you the effect you want to achieve. It
> > > doesn't matter if it is macro or not. A longer lens gives you some
> > > breathing room between you and your subject. Sure makes the subject
feel
> > > better if you are breathing into their face.
> > >
> > > As for the shorter lenses flattening the subject, it is just the
> > > opposite. The short lenses moved to get the same size image on the
> > > screen as longer lenses will pronounce the parts closer to the lens.
> > > The rules says if your subject has a big nose and you want to make it
> > > smaller, use a longer lens and move back. This will cause the optics
to
> > > shorten and flatten.
> > >
> > > As for the 120mm lens, this is normally considered a 3/4 length lens
(on
> > > an RB67). There is no reason you can't use it for head and shoulders,
> > > but the subject may feel uncomfortable.
> > >
> > > I think this discussion started out by someone wanting to add a soft
> > > focus filter to soften up the subject. To get back to that original
> > > posting I found that by inserting a black mesh filter into the filter
> > > box on front of your lens (you do use a filter box don't you?) you can
> > > achieve this softening without degrading your overall image.
> > >
> > > So much for my 2 cents.
> > >
> > > Jim Davis
> > > mailto:jarthurdavis@earthlink.net
> > >
> > > "B.G." wrote:
> > > >
> > > > >         Is it the "as a rule" part of this post which gives me
pause
> > or is it
> > > > > the complete ignorance with which you speak about what 99.9% of
the
> > > > > world's best portrait photographers shoot with?
> > > > >         If the 120 mm is so good, why is it that nobody I've ever
> > heard of
> > > > > except for Mr. Leonard uses one? If we call up Annie Liebowitz
(who
> > uses
> > > > > Mamiya almost exclusively for her portraits), will she even admit
to
> > > > > owning a 120 mm? My guess would be probably not. Last time I spoke
to
> > > > > her, she wouldn't use a lens shorter than 140 mm, so ....
> > > > >
> > > > > Jan
> > > >
> > > > Using a short lens for a portrait is not against
> > > > the law!  And might even make a very dramatic photo.
> > > >
> > > > I'll refrain from any sarcasm.
> > > >
> > > > -bruce
> > > > -
> > > > ** Complimentary Subscription to Popular Photography Magazine  **
> > > > ***  Simply for writing a printer review! For details go to   ***
> > > > ****   http://www.pcphotoreview.com/contests/popular.htm     ****
> > > -
> > > *** Dygraphics Dec. Promo: 30% off all inks while supplies last! ***
> > > ***   Sale includes Fotonic Inks, MIS inks, Lysonic inks, dye    ***
> > > ***   sublimation inks. http://www.dygraphics.com 888-786-8832   ***
> > >
> >
> > -
> > *** Dygraphics Dec. Promo: 30% off all inks while supplies last! ***
> > ***   Sale includes Fotonic Inks, MIS inks, Lysonic inks, dye    ***
> > ***   sublimation inks. http://www.dygraphics.com 888-786-8832   ***
> -
> *** Dygraphics Dec. Promo: 30% off all inks while supplies last! ***
> ***   Sale includes Fotonic Inks, MIS inks, Lysonic inks, dye    ***
> ***   sublimation inks. http://www.dygraphics.com 888-786-8832   ***
>

-
*** Dygraphics Dec. Promo: 30% off all inks while supplies last! ***
***   Sale includes Fotonic Inks, MIS inks, Lysonic inks, dye    ***
***   sublimation inks. http://www.dygraphics.com 888-786-8832   ***