zoom lens above 40mm with 3ft min foc ?

[DBenz]

I photograph, apart from airshows, very well made outstanding scale models at shows, I am stuck for a lens after the move to digital SLR. I used for 35mm film an 80-210 Tamron which focused to just under 3ft, just the job for smaller models and close ups as 3ft is table top to my eye at 45 degrees. Now I cannot get a decent lens less than 1.2mtrs (4ft) and that means a step ladder or stand back and not get a shot down anymore. No use at all. 2ft to subject is closest I want to get as hotshoe flash fires over top otherwise, and ring flash doesnt give realistic shadows on aircraft.

Any suggestions for lenses please as struggling and dont want to revert to 35mm due to this gaping hole in lens range available. Desperate to find a 3ft zoom beyond 40mm. see lenses tried below.

Any help most welcome .
DBenz



Those tried so far:-

105mm macro, ok for 9cm subjects (many) through to 5cm (close ups and figures) at 17 inches away ( closest for flash use) but having to lean over table is fraught with danger given other subjects near you. Then something 27cm (10inch) wide is too big, but 17-40 at 40 means 15 inches and too close. Missing my zoom lens here for the variety of situations. Tamron 90mm will bring me a little closer by 3 to 4 inches perhaps but then causes problems for the 5cm subjects.


Tried the Tamron 18-200 by the way as it does 1.48ft but its dull and grainy at 200mm (f6.3), I cannot see to focus properly and manual focus is often necessary for dof etc. I need only to go beyond 40mm to 200mm, that 18 -200 range is too much for good optics despite Tamrons new approach and the lens exhibits artefacts at f22 and is softer than I would like. Its also sharp as the Canon 70-200L at f8 in most parts so feather in cap there, it also distorts graph paper more so than I would like, i.e. dimensionally inaccurate and I need minimal distortion for technical work with the lens.

Canon 70-200 f4 gorgeous sharp and no abberations, but 4ft and impractical. Tried tubes but you cannot then focus compose and shoot, compose throws focus and you tail chase, ended up at 4ft 200mm for something that was 4ft 80mm from memory !

[another view]

I'm not clear why an extension tube wouldn't work. It won't alter anything other than the focusing distance of the lens it's used with - which I gather is just what you're looking for. It's just a tube that mounts between the camera and lens and contains no glass, so the lens will be as sharp as without the tube. The only downside is that the lens won't focus to infinity (where it will max out at depends on several factors) so only use it when you need it.

I don't know Canon gear specifically, but make sure to find one that allows the lens to meter with the camera, and that the aperture is automatic (as opposed to stop-down metering). A short tube (8mm or so) should do the trick, and they're inexpensive compared to another lens. They'll also work with any focal length - not sure what focal length range you're really looking for.

I'd recommend doing this type of shooting on a tripod but that might not be practical from reading your post. It will give you much better, and controllable results if it's possible.