MP-E 65mm Test Drive - Jumping spider at 7x!!!!

[sirsloop]

Ok, so first things first... this lens is like outrageously hard to use anything over like 3x. I'm talkin your entire frame is taken up by like a 2x3mm area at 7x. (literally). At any rate...I borrowed the lens w/ twin flash setup just to mess around over the weekend. Anyways... 65mm MP-E plus a 1.4x teleconverter gets your 7x!

So first off... this is what we are shooting at. This is a TINY jumping spider which is about as big as a dime is thick. Its probably like 1mm x 1mm... like a touch larger than the "S" in states on the dime. I barely didnt see it when I walked inside but it happened to move as I was opening my door. BTW, this was taken with my 35/2 and cropped down just to show size reference.

http://www.jdhaesloop.com/IMG_7516s.JPG


I think this is about 3x-ish with the 65mm without the TC, uncropped.


http://www.jdhaesloop.com/IMG_7460s.JPG

Then it gets hairy...lol. The little guy stopped moving around so I could get a clean shot of him. UNCROPPED!!

http://www.jdhaesloop.com/IMG_7502s.JPG

and another 7x uncropped...

http://www.jdhaesloop.com/IMG_7497s.JPG

Now i'm not sure why these look a bit soft. I was shooting f/16 (completely stopped down) with the 65mm. I guess at this level you are really pushing the resolution limits of the lens? I mean this is just outrageously small blown up to nearly the size of a XTi sensor...lol. The bottom right is a bit soft cause there was web there... but the rest was clean

[Samdiver74]

Pretty impressive shots Sirsloop, So what is your overall impression of the MPE compared to the other techniques such as reversed 50mm and 28mm.
To me the fact that it is one package appeals to me, not to mention the MT24EX would be another must have.
I see what you mean about the image quality at 7X do you think it could be because of the TC and the fact you were at f/16 what if you back it off to f/8 to f/11 do you think that would help, of just the fact that MPE isn't designed to be used with a TC.
What if you took a picture with just the MPE at 5X and then cropped the image to similar size of 7X do you think this would help also, I'm seriously thinking the TC has a lot to do with the image quality
Let us know.
Thanks

[sirsloop]

well the 65mm is pretty similar to how you would use a reversed 28. You don't have AF... you use your distance for focusing. Obviously the 65 is gonna be more versatile cause it cna vary from 1-5x where as a reversed lens is fixed. The twin flash setup is also far superior to a bracket with a 580 on it. The one problem I did have is that at 4-5x the focus distance is like 1/8" past the edge of the flash ring. You are literally putting the lens 1.6" away from your object!! Very very very close working distances.

I think the spider lives there... i'll take off the TC and try again tomorrow and we'll see!

[Leorooster]

The 7x images are definitely a bit soft. I did a similar test and had a very acceptable result. See HERE (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=354108). I used f/14 which is not far off from f/16. What TC did you use? I used a Canon 1.4xTC. :)

[LordV]

Good shots- As Adrian says the pics are a bit soft- comination of the TC and the fairly marked diffraction softening using F16 at 5X. I'm normally down around F6.3 at 5X.

brian V.

[sirsloop]

5x, no TC, f/7.1... a bit sharper but crazy small DOF...

http://www.jdhaesloop.com/IMG_7548s.JPG

[bob393]

Wow unreal.

[Samdiver74]

Sirsloop
That looks much better, what about bumping the aperture down to f/9 or f/11 and see what that gets you. But I would say that pic is much better even though the DOF is so shallow.

[sirsloop]

I tried going higher but like LordV mentioned, you get a lot of diffraction out of the lens when stop it way down. Just the nature of the beast it seems. This is where focus stacking comes into play...

[sirsloop]

ok... if this wasnt crazy enough... here's something that may peak all of your interest!!

($900 and change) MP-E 65mm vs ($24.99 - YES!) Quantaray 28mm/2.8 reversed !!

uncropped, f/5.6, 28mm reversed

http://www.jdhaesloop.com/IMG_7565s.JPG

cropped !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! http://www.dslr-forum.de/images/smilies/eek.gif

http://www.jdhaesloop.com/IMG_7565cs.JPG


To be completely honest, even though I have to hold the ring flash up and push the aperture lever over manually, the 28mm was MUCH easier to work with. Well, this is kind apples and oranges seeing as though the 28 reversed only gets like ~3x zoom. With the MP-E you are always tempted to crank it down to 5x. The difference between 3x and 5x as far as working distance and usability is pretty amazing.

[Samdiver74]

Wow what a difference, that is pretty significant. As I said the only difference I would see about owning the MP-E would be just the convenience of being able to go from 1X to 5X with the same lens and the fact that the Aperture etc is controlled via the camera.
Thanks for the comparison Sirsloop.

[Leorooster]

.................. As I said the only difference I would see about owning the MP-E would be just the convenience of being able to go from 1X to 5X with the same lens and the fact that the Aperture etc is controlled via the camera........................

That's what you pay the high price for. Whether it's worth the money, it's just personal preference. To me, the answer is yes and I'm very happy with my choice :) Good luck ;)

[Action_Man]

You can add tubes with a reversed lens - i do it with my 28mm macro lens - i take the glass out of filters and use those - in total i have about 36mm worth at the moment :) ...

[sirsloop]

hmm... never tried DIYing tubes on a reversed lens. I'm assuming it behaves the same as regular tubes and decreases the min. focus distance?? With this 28 it already pretty darn close...

[macro junkie]

when i bought my mpe65- it says dont add any tubes on it?

[sirsloop]

well at 5X I dont see how tubes could help you?? The focus distance is already damn near impossibly short!! With the twin flash on there, you basically have to be .5" away from the subject. With tubes its already even closer!! If you look at the back side of that lens, the rear element is already pushed WAY forward on the lens. Its got "tubes" built into the lens body.