-=TOP TEN=- Which macro lens do you use? New models added

JDUPhoto wrote:
In addition to my Canon 100/2.8 Macro that I voted for, I also have the MP-E 65 1-5x Macro, although of course it's not a prime. I have yet to get stuck in with the MP-E 65 in ernest, but so far it's been fun to play with when used in conjunction with a Canon MR-14EX Ring Lite on my 20D. A friend came over last night. I handed him my camera with MP-E 65 and ring lite on (I set everything beforehand) and he took a shot of some newspaper print no problem at all at 5x handheld. He has a Nikon system, but started talking about Canon. His fiancee may not want him to be getting any more GAS* ideas from me. Don't we all suffer from GAS to some degree or we wouldn't be doing what we do, right?

* Gear Acquisition Syndrome

The MP-E most certanly is a prime - why do you say it is not???

Added MPE-65 and EF 50mm macro...

Added the poll to the -=TOP TEN=- lens section in the EF lens FAQ,..

If were missing any other Macro primes let us know.

-=More Lens Polls=-

the fact that it adjust magnification from 1X to 5X is pretty "zoom like" though it does it in a different way from how other zooms function.. it couls be easily be seen to be a zoom?

Lenses are primes or zooms. The MP-E 65 zooms, so it can't be a prime, unless I've got the concept of primes vs zooms all wrong.

JDUPhoto wrote:
Lenses are primes or zooms. The MP-E 65 zooms, so it can't be a prime, unless I've got the concept of primes vs zooms all wrong.

Yes you have - no offence.

A zoom lens changes focal length; a prime lens does not. It has nothing to do with physical change of size if that is what you think.

The MP-E 65mm is a single focal length prime lens that is focussed by the old time method of overall linear extension - the lens is moved away from the sensor to adjust how close the subject is and thus the manification. At 1:1 the lens if 2F away from the sensor and at 5:1 it is 6F away from the sensor. This is the same way bellows and extension tubes work.

I have seen similar mistakes with macro lenses before, you are changing the focussing distance of the lens when you turn the magnification control.

The MP-E also has a floating element inside to correct for CA over the very high magnification range, something you don't get with a bellows solution.

Zoom lens change focal length to give a change in angle of view even when focussed at infinity.

Good explanation Lester!

Lester Wareham wrote:
Yes you have - no offence.

A zoom lens changes focal length; a prime lens does not. It has nothing to do with physical change of size if that is what you think.

The MP-E 65mm is a single focal length prime lens that is focussed by the old time method of overall linear extension - the lens is moved away from the sensor to adjust how close the subject is and thus the manification. At 1:1 the lens if 2F away from the sensor and at 5:1 it is 6F away from the sensor. This is the same way bellows and extension tubes work.

I have seen similar mistakes with macro lenses before, you are changing the focussing distance of the lens when you turn the magnification control.

The MP-E also has a floating element inside to correct for CA over the very high magnification range, something you don't get with a bellows solution.

Zoom lens change focal length to give a change in angle of view even when focussed at infinity.

Lester, thanks very much for your explanation. Makes sense. Happy to know I have have another prime in my collection, and a fun one at that. I see the MP-E 65 now appears on the poll, so I'm off to cast the first vote for it. Just checked and it seems the poll has closed.

JDUPhoto wrote:
Lester, thanks very much for your explanation. Makes sense. Happy to know I have have another prime in my collection, and a fun one at that. I see the MP-E 65 now appears on the poll, so I'm off to cast the first vote for it. Just checked and it seems the poll has closed.

Yes I think the MP-E was added after all the proud MP-E owners complained it was not included but had already voted. Never mind.

Poll is not closed,. but you can't go back and vote again now that new options are added unfortunately. the only way to pull that off would be to reset everything to zero.

I use both the 100mm Canon and the 180mmm both excellent lenses with different strengths.

Tokina 100mm in the mail!

I have the canon 100mm (and MP-E) and recommend it to everyone, but even so I am surprised by how many use it. Seems to be the clear winner.

Tamron 180mm. Can you say SHARP!!! It is slow though.


Here are four of my favorite links for it (Tom Crowning is very good):


http://www.pbase.com/b​rakefield333/macro&pag​e=all
http://www.pbase.com/m​r_jason/insects
http://www.pbase.com/k​aihui/image/29843203
http://www.tom-crowning.com/macro01/i​ndex.php

I vote for the 100mm Canon! I don't have it yet but this poll and other posts have convinced me that this is the one I want!

Looking for zoom/macro lens

Hi, I'm on a budget and would like to get both a zoom and macro lens in one. I see mostly fixed macro lenses used here. In a few posts, I've seen the Sigma 70-300mm APO DG Macro. What's your opinion of that lens? What are the zoom/macros that are better than that one?

Thanks!
Ed