Close up lens for Lumix GF1

[squishy]

The raynox alters the minimum focus distance.

I can't tell you how it works because I don't really know myself.

Try moving it a lot closer. The MFD of my lens is roughly one metre at the focal length I use the raynox, and when I mount the raynox, that focuses about 15-20cm away.

Since the raynox changes the focusing, you can't focus on an object then put the raynox on, you have to focus with the raynox on.

Changing the focus on the lens will move the focus point, but only within a fixed distance, you can't focus further away than a certain point (that is the 20cm distance I refer to). An object 1 metre away will be out of the range you can focus on.

[DragonLady138]

Hi squishy,
I tried the Raynox again today with no luck. May be I don't know how to set the manual focus to infinity. I can't find any manual focus lock on my 2 lenses (Panasonic Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm f/2.8 & Panasonic Lumix G VARIO 45-200mm F4-5.6 ASPH Mega O.I.S lens. There is a manual focus ring at the front, with nothing written on the ring. Just turn the ring to left and right. I don't know which side (left and right) is the infinity side.
May be my 2 lenses won't work with Raynox? Or it won't work with Micro 4/3 system ?
Best wishes
DragonLady138(Asa.)

[Lancashire Lad]

Hi Dragonlady138,

There is no reason why the Raynox wouldn't work with your lens, it's just a matter of learning how to get the thing in focus with your particular camera lens combination.

I've just downloaded the GF1 user manual in order to see where the problem may lie.

Firstly, you need to set manual focus by pressing the AF/MF button on the back of the camera body.

Initially, (using your zoom lens), leave the Raynox lens off, and turn the MF ring on the lens until you are focussed on some very distant (infinity) object. Then mark that position on the MF ring so that you know where infinity focus is.

Apparently, the default setting for the camera, (when in MF mode), has what is described as "MF Assist" switched on, and this magnifies the lcd screen view by 5x, (supposedly to assist focussing when using manual focus). I suspect that the manual focus assist (magnification of the lcd screen) in this particular instance, may be affecting your ability to see when the Raynox is actually in focus).

I think that turning "MF Assist" off, will help, as the screen will remain at normal magnification, showing only the magnification that the Raynox sees, (and not artificially magnified by a further 5x). - You can always turn it back on later, to see if it does help, once you have sorted out the focussing of the Raynox.

MF Assist is in the Custom Menu, and instructions for turning MF Assist off, are shown on page 127 of the user manual.

Once you have turned MF Assist off, add the Raynox lens to the now infinity focussed lens, place the camera on a table, with a suitable subject about 30cm in front of the lens (use the 45-200 zoom lens, and make sure it is initially zoomed out to the full 200mm).

Then very slowly, move the subject towards the lens, whilst carefully looking through the viewfinder (or at the lcd screen) until the subject comes into focus. You will then have a good idea of the approximate distance that your subjects will need to be in front of the lens. NB: depth of field with the Raynox will be quite shallow, so you need to move the subject by very small increments.

Hope this helps. Just keep at it. Once you hit the best method that suits your combo, I'm sure you will quickly become accustomed to the necessary settings.

It's worth perservering, as the Raynox will allow you to get some great close-up macro shots.

Regards,
Mike.

[squishy]

It doesn't matter where the focus ring is set.

The manual focusing will just determine where in a set range the focus point will be.

Find a suitable object (with obvious fine detail), attach the raynox, then just slowly move closer until something is in focus. When you get the object reasonably sharp, you can then make fine adjustments with the focus ring. But if you are too far away from the object, you will be able to get nothing in focus.

[DragonLady138]

Hi Mark & Squishy,
I GOT IT working now !!!!

Mark, Thank you so much for your time in downloading and studying the GF1 user manual and your detailed step by step instructions.
You are right to point out the "MF Assist" on the manual focus mode. This is the main reason I couldn't get any object focused because of the 5x magnification on the LCD. When the "MF Assist" is on, every time I touch the manual focus ring the 5x magnification comes on.

Squishy, Thanks again for your help. The range I get is about 12cm.

I did some testing shots today on a 5mm spider. As I am new on super Marco shooting and the result is not bad.

I tried the Raynox on my dedicated Marco lens (45mm Marco). The magnification outcome is the same with or without the Raynox. Don't know why.

I will try to post my testing photos of using the Raynox and using the dedicated Marco lens but need to learn about uploading here.
Best wishes,
DragonLady138, Asa.

[squishy]

The effect of the raynox gets greater at greater magnifications, so on a 45mm it won't do that much.

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally Posted by DragonLady138

....I will try to post my testing photos of using the Raynox and using the dedicated Marco lens but need to learn about uploading here....

Hi Dragonlady138,

I'm pleased that you managed to sort out the problem, and look forward to seeing some of your macro shots.

If you carefully you follow the advice on this post: -
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/fo...tml#post546421

You should be able to upload your photos without problems.

If they are for forum use, or for identification etc., (i.e. where you don't have all the necessary species names etc.), make sure that you upload them to the Image Library, as detailed in the link above, and not the Gallery.

If you have some good quality, fully identified shots that you want to upload, you might want to put them into the actual Gallery - but please note that the conditions for acceptance into the Gallery must be upheld to the letter of the law, otherwise your pics would be rejected by the Gallery Editors/Moderators. (This is to ensure quality and uniformity throughout the Gallery, which is WAB's main showcase for wildlife photos).

Details of how to upload to the main Gallery are given here: -
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/fo...tml#post541977

Once you have successfully uploaded your photos, the details of how to copy your photos from either the Image Library, or the Gallery, into your forum posts, are given towards the bottom of each of the two links above.

Good luck with the uploading.

Regards,
Mike.