P3D marco stereo

["David W. Kesner" <drdave@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Once again, sorry for the lateness of this post and the lack of the 
proper thread line, but I am trying to catch up.

I have owned an RBT Macro Attachment for my RBT X3A since 
May of this year. It is an unbelievable unit. Then lens is an f4.5 
100mm Meopta enlarger lens. The f32 apertures are on a sliding 
block and are selectable between 6mm and 11mm stereo base. 
You can also slide it to a full open position to compose. This is a 
nice featrure as it is very difficult to see at f32. Magnification is from 
1:3 to 1:1.

I started out using it with a TTL Sunpak Ring Light, but found it too 
weak. I also did not care for the weird stereo shadow effect it gave 
all the shots.

I am now testing a dual Metz TTL flash set up that RBT is 
marketing. This is an almost perfect set up for the macro (provided 
you are using it with the X3 that has TTL flash ability). The only real 
draw back I have found so far is the bulk of the flashes. They are 
model 32C-Z (GN in feet at 100 ASA 75 at 28mm to 121 at 85mm). 
The set up comes with a unit that fires and controls both units in TTL 
mode.

The results I have been getting are beyond compare. The are 
sharp, crisp, contrasty, and best of all perfectly exposed all without 
having to measure or calculate anything. I have done hand held as 
well as tripod shots and find that the complete unit is very 
manageable. One of my hand held shots is going around in the 
Alpha F folio right now.

Sure the unit is expensive at about $2500.00 for the macro and 
$600.00 for the flash, but there is nothing else like it available. It is a 
lot less than a new snowmobile, or motorcycle, or any number of 
other 'toys' and I bet I will still be using it long after any of them.

If anyone is interesed I can post more details about the unit and 
how it works for me. Let me know if you have any specific questions.

That's all for now,

David W. Kesner
Boise, Idaho, USA
drdave@xxxxxxxxxx