Photomacrography
with the MP-4
Exposure Guide
Selecting the right lens for photomacrography
Basic Focusing Steps
Magnification Tables
MP4/MP4+ Exposure Guide
How to determine recommended shutter speed:
Table A: Find the number that applies to the speed of the film you are using.
Table B: Measure the length of the material being copied and the length of its focused image on the ground glass (to
determine the reproduction scale). Find the corresponding number in the table.
Table C: Decide which lens f-stop you wish to use. Find the number that corresponds to that f-stop.
Table D: Add the numbers you get from Tables A, B, and C. Find that number in Table D, and see the suggested shutter
speed.
If your total has a 1/2 in it, use the next higher full number from Table D.
1
Table A
Film Speed
ISO3000/36°............. 1
ISO800/30°............... 3
ISO400/27°............... 4
ISO200/24°............... 5
ISO100/21°............... 6
ISO80/20° ................. 6 1/2
ISO50/18° ................. 7
ISO25/15° ................. 8
ISO3/6° ..................... 11
With color films, adjust the
speed to compensate for filter
factors.
Table B
Reproduction Scale
1:10 to 1:5 ...............1
1:4 to 1:2 .................2
1:1 ...........................3
1.5X .........................3 1/2
2X ............................4
3X ............................5
4X ............................5 1/2
5X ............................6
6X ............................6 1/2
7X, 8X......................7
9X, 10X....................8
Measure the length of the original
and its length on the ground glass
to determine the reproduction
scale.
Table D
(Total of A + B + C)
Shutter Speed
(exposure time)* Shutter Speed
7 ............................................................... 1/125 sec.
8 .................................................................... 1/60
9 .................................................................... 1/30
10 .................................................................... 1/15
11...................................................................... 1/8
12 ..................................................................... 1/4
13 ..................................................................... 1/2
14 ...................................................................1 sec.
15 ...................................................................... 2
16 ..................................................................... 6**
17 .................................................................... 15**
18 .................................................................... 40**
19 ............................................................... 1 ½ min.**
20 ................................................................. 4 min.**
*Filtration will be necessary for Polacolor films. See the
current film instructions for specific details.
**Includes compensation for low light-level reciprocity
failure. This compensation is an average for Polaroid
instant films in general, and thus a rough guide only. Note
that color films will require filtration in addition to a longer
exposure.
For information or technical assistance:
From within the U.S., call toll-free 1-800-343-5000,
Monday-Friday, 8 AM to 8 PM (Eastern Time).
If outside the U.S., contact the nearest Polaroid office.
Table C
Lens Aperture
f/4.5 ....................... 1/2
f/5.6 ....................... 1
f/8 .......................... 2
f/11......................... 3
f/16 ........................ 4
f/22 ........................ 5
f/32 ........................ 6
When setting the lens
between two f-stops, use half
numbers. Thus, for f/11-f/16
use 3½.
1
This is intended as a guide, not a precise exposure
indicator. You may have to compensate for unpredictable
variables which affect exposure, such as brightness of
window or room lighting, differences in color or contrast of
the subject material, voltage fluctuations, or the age of the
lamps
.
Selecting the right lens for photomacrography
The table below shows the range of magnifications you can achieve with each of the MP-4 lenses. Note
that you have several lens options for achieving various magnifications. For example, to enlarge an
object five times, you can use a 75mm lens with two macro extensions, a 50mm lens with one macro
extension, or a 35mm lens by itself.
If you have a choice between two or more lenses, always use the lens with the longer focal length. The
longer the focal length, the more space you have between the subject and the lens. For example, with the
75mm lens at full bellows extension (about 3x), the space between the lens and the object would be about
4 inches (10 cm). T o achieve the same magnification with the 50mm lens, the space between the lens
and object would be a relatively cramped 1.5 inches (4 cm).
Approximate Magnification Ranges
Lens 1:1 1:5x 2x 3x 4x 5x 6x 7x 8x 9x 10x 12x 14x
135mm
105mm
75mm (min.=2x)
50mm (min.=2x)
35mm (min.=5x)
Lens 8x 10x 12x 14x 16x 1 8x 20x 22x 24x 26x 2 8x 30x 32x
17mm (min.=10x)
Code:
camera alone
with one
macro extension
with two
macro extensions
Basic Focusing Steps
To focus, set the lens aperture at its largest opening (smallest f-number). Then
follow these basic steps.
With the magnification tables:
1. Select the appropriate table according to the MP-4 camera head you are
using.
2. Find the lens-to-film distance (bellows extension) to give the desired
magnification.
3. Adjust the camera bellows until the lens-to-film distance appears.
4. Move the camera head as close as possible to the object. Then raise the
head slowly until the image appears sharp.
5. Compose the picture within the appropriate scribe marks on the ground glass.
6. Lock the camera on the column.
7. Insert the film holder and set the exposure.
Without the magnification tables:
To focus without using the magnification tables, adjust the bellows extension to
get the approximate image size. Then move the camera head up or down (or use
a focusing stage) for sharp focus.
The bellows extension determines magnification. To increase image size,
increase the bellows extension and reduce the lens-to-subject distance. To
decrease image size, reduce the bellows extension and increase the lens-tosubject distance. If you get a sharp image that is not quite the size you want,
make a small adjustment of both the bellows extension and the lens-to-subject
distance.
MP-4 Fixed Head
Magnification
Magnification 135mm 105mm 75mm 50mm 35mm 17mm
1:1 22.5 16.9
2x 24.0* 15.4* 18.2 11.2
3x 25.5** 25.9* 25.7 16.2
4x 24.4** 21.2* 21.2
5x 16.7** 26.2 16.6
6x 24.2** 19.2* 20.1
7x 24.2* 23.6
8x 17.2** 15.1*
9x 22.2** 18.6*
10x 22.1* 10.6
11x 25.6* 12.3
12x 17.1** 14.0
13x 20.6** 15.7
14x 24.1** 17.4
15x 19.1
16x 20.8
18x 24.2
20x 15.6*
22x 19.0*
24x 22.4*
26x 25.8*
28x 17.2**
30x 20.6**
32x 24.0**
MP-4 Sliding Head
135mm 105mm 75mm 50mm 35mm 17mm
1:1 22.1 16.5
2x 23.6* 27.0 17.8 10.8
3x 25.1** 25.5* 25.3 15.8
4x 24.0** 20.8* 20.8
5x 16.3** 25.8 16.2
6x 23.8** 18.8* 19.7
7x 23.8* 23.2
8x 16.8* 26.7
9x 21.8* 18.2*
10x 26.8** 21.7* 10.2
11x 25.2* 11.9
12x 16.7** 13.6
13x 20.2** 15.3
14x 23.7** 17.0
15x 18.7
16x 20.4
18x 23.8
20x 15.2*
22x 18.6*
24x 22.0*
26x 25.4*
28x 16.8**
30x 20.2**
32x 23.6**
34x 27.0**
*Add one macro extension. **Add two macro extensions.
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