Best Choice fo 1X-3X macro

A forum to ask questions, post setups, and generally discuss anything having to do with photomacrography and photomicroscopy.

Moderators: rjlittlefield, ChrisR, Chris S., Pau

lonepal
Posts: 322
Joined: Sat Jan 28, 2017 12:26 pm
Location: Turkey

Best Choice fo 1X-3X macro

Post by lonepal »

Hi;

I tried lots of lenses like enlargers, macro lenses, Mitutoyo microscope lenses, reverse connected lenses etc in 1.5 year.

I decided that the magnification that I use most common is 1X-3X range.

I red a lot of reviews, writings actually so many things...

What do you offer for 1X-3X magnification range and why?
I have both APS and FF cameras.

Please guide me because I am lost :)
Regards.
Omer

Saul
Posts: 1781
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 11:59 am
Location: Naperville, IL USA
Contact:

Post by Saul »

My optics for this range:
-Lomo 3,7x
-Componon 80mm 4,0
-Mitutoyo 5x/Raynox250
-Nikkor 55mm Micro with bellows/rings
Saul
μ-stuff

lonepal
Posts: 322
Joined: Sat Jan 28, 2017 12:26 pm
Location: Turkey

Post by lonepal »

Thanks Saul;

Actually I am looking for a single lens for this range.
Regards.
Omer

Saul
Posts: 1781
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 11:59 am
Location: Naperville, IL USA
Contact:

Post by Saul »

lonepal wrote:... I am looking for a single lens for this range...
Depends on your goals. In the field I'm using Nikkor (or Kiron 105) with PN-11 or Kenko rings. Studio, if I need more "creamy" bokeh (or be more flexible with magnification ) - Lomo . More resolution and I'm sure that I'll fit to that kind a "fixed" magnification range - Mitu. If I do not know what I want :) - Componon, this lens is more flexible (for my goals)

If you are Canon user - why not MP-E65 ?
Saul
μ-stuff

lonepal
Posts: 322
Joined: Sat Jan 28, 2017 12:26 pm
Location: Turkey

Post by lonepal »

Hi Saul;

Yes I am a Canon user.

Actually I already decided on MPE 65 but asked this question if someone will offer me another choice which will be better than MPE.

But as you said the answer seems like a MPE.
But I read a lot of praise and satire about it.

Do you think is it worth it's price?
I can buy a apo rodagon or apo componon with the 1/3 price of an MPE
:roll:
Regards.
Omer

Saul
Posts: 1781
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 11:59 am
Location: Naperville, IL USA
Contact:

Post by Saul »

I'm Nikon user :)
Saul
μ-stuff

rjlittlefield
Site Admin
Posts: 23562
Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 8:34 am
Location: Richland, Washington State, USA
Contact:

Post by rjlittlefield »

The MP-E 65 is very robust, changes magnification at the twist of a ring, and has automatic diaphragm. These make it ideal for field use, especially for single-exposure work where you are shooting stopped down. But the MP-E 65 is prone to false colors, especially when used full open or nearly so. It is definitely not apo. I expect that the apo rodagon or apo componon would give equal or better images, but for field use they would be a lot less convenient.

--Rik

lonepal
Posts: 322
Joined: Sat Jan 28, 2017 12:26 pm
Location: Turkey

Post by lonepal »

Thanks for the explanations Rick.
I think the same.
I usually work at home so no field use is necessary.

I think a can have better solutions than a MPE with the price of MPE.
Right?
Regards.
Omer

ChrisR
Site Admin
Posts: 8668
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2009 3:58 am
Location: Near London, UK

Post by ChrisR »

Not that I can think of, in one lens.
At the lower magnification end, you can close the MP-E down a couple of stops.
Chris R

lonepal
Posts: 322
Joined: Sat Jan 28, 2017 12:26 pm
Location: Turkey

Post by lonepal »

Hi Chris;

I mean 1X-3X magnification range.
For example El-Nikkor 50mm f2.8N or a Componon-s 80.
What do you think about them especially for 2X-3X magnification?
Regards.
Omer

ChrisR
Site Admin
Posts: 8668
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2009 3:58 am
Location: Near London, UK

Post by ChrisR »

Yes, the effective aperture isn't so much of a problem at that end of the MPE's range. A the 5x end it is a problem, with small pixels.


Otherwise, about the best of the enlarger lenses afaik is the Schneider-Componon-S f/2.8, though I have a couple which are low contrast, and they look the same as the best couple.
If you can live with 35mm FL, (obsolete) Canon MP 35mm f/2.8 is better especially 2x up. Though opinions vary on how good. (See Enrico's assessment). Not great at 1:1!
Some of them are quite old and have black flake/cement problems.
They're a nice lens though.

The EL-nikkor is by no means bad, good ones will beat some S-C especially above about 2-3x.
Chris R

Lou Jost
Posts: 5945
Joined: Fri Sep 04, 2015 7:03 am
Location: Ecuador
Contact:

Post by Lou Jost »

Based on tests on this forum, the Apo-Rodagon-D that is optimized for 2x is also pretty good at 1x and 3x, and it should be much better at 1x than the regular enlarger lenses mentioned here. I don't have one though so can't say for sure. Ray Parkhurst perhaps could confirm this...

lonepal
Posts: 322
Joined: Sat Jan 28, 2017 12:26 pm
Location: Turkey

Post by lonepal »

Hi Lou;

Thanks for information.
I send a PM to Ray about his toughts about APO Rodagon D enlarger lenses.
Regards.
Omer

Lou Jost
Posts: 5945
Joined: Fri Sep 04, 2015 7:03 am
Location: Ecuador
Contact:

Post by Lou Jost »

Note that there are two types, you want the one optimized for 2x.

Beatsy
Posts: 2105
Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2013 3:10 am
Location: Malvern, UK

Post by Beatsy »

I use the MP-E 65 adapted onto a Sony A7r2. Within my lens collection, I find it "best" from 1x to just under 3x, then a 5x Mitty on a 135mm tube (3.275x) begins to win for resolution, particularly in APS-C crop mode. The corners are a bit vignetted and softer (than the MP-E) on FF, but the cropped area resolves more. MP-E does exhibit quite a lot of LoCA, but that pretty much disappears with stacking and is better at f/4.0 than it is at f/2.8

And of course, the MP-E 65 can be taken into the field for "normal" macro, which makes it a versatile and useful bit of kit IMO.

I'm also interested to hear of other options though - particularly lenses that can resolve more than MP-E 65 at the lower powers on a 42mpix FF sensor.

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic