On Tue, 8 Apr 2003 01:52:29 +0200, "Q.G. de Bakker" <qnu@worldonline.nl> wrote:

>Neuman - Ruether wrote:

>> >Yes. But don't expect mch quality out of a auxillary lens plus extender

>> >combination.

>>

>> Depending on stop and lens, the results can be excellent

>> when combining TC, achromat, *and* tube - [...]

>

>Indeed. But you left out one important factor: depending on (un)critical

>expectations, i.e. your personal definition of what "excellent" actually

>means...

Uh, yes - but other items (like the lens reviews at:

www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/articles.html, and the Nikkor

evaluation list at www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/slemn.html)

on the web page just might indicate that I'm a bit of

a "sharpness-nut" - and kinda know the difference

between "sharp" and "not-quite-sharp"...;-) While the

images at www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/phun.html, "Bugs",

are too small to see the difference, they really ARE

sharp(!)...;-) BTW, I've owned a LOT of macro lenses

and macro accessories, and have tried MANY combinations

of these, and have come up with some favorites (these

are noted in SLEMN with the particular lenses), but the

best for around 3X turned out to be the Nikkor 200mm f4

NON-macro compact-version, plus either TC14A or TC200/201,

plus Sigma achromat from their 90mm, with tubes added

or not, to taste, all used at the lens-marked f8-11,

with a TTL flash mounted with end at the lens front

at an angle away from center, pointed at the focus

point. The images shot with this combination are

hard-edged and "wiry" (the orange fly is one) in the

original slide, with plenty of fine detail showing...

(and, BTW, they were shot "as-found", "hand-held"...;-).