Fiery Skipper - First Outing with 65mm MP-E

I got usage of a 65mm MP-E for a few days soooo...headed back out to the bushes and flowers to see what there was.

This was my first time really using the lens...wow, you 65 guys make it look so easy!!
This puppy is tough to use!! But it's a very cool lens and very rewarding when it all comes together.

This is a Fiery Skipper butterfly....he tolerated the flash for about 3 shots and then buzzed off.

6D, 65m MP-E, handheld, 1/90, f/16, 1250 ISO, at around 2.8-3x magnification,
full power on a Neewer flash into the Almighty Pringlator Flash Diffuser.

Looks like a very good result for a first time out (though I suspect we are certainly not seeing the many missfocused ones which are very easily done with this lens).

Just a thought; but you might find it of worth to stick the lens on a tripod - find yourself a coin of suitable size and take some shots. Use ISO100 and flash and play around with the aperture at different magnifications. If you shoot 45degrees onto the coin you should always land the focus and be able to clearly see the band of in-focus sharp content.

I say that because the MPE stops itself down as you increase the magnification. There should be a bit on that in the little booklet that comes with it. I think by 5:1 its somewhere around f20 wide open. So of course diffraction kicks in and affects overall sharpness - so give it a play around and see how the lens performs. Make the test easy on yourself and stick to full stop apertures for the test.

Very good capture for first time with the MPE !
Brian v.

Thanks guys!!

Overread, that's definitely true...it's tough to get that focus just right!

My buddy is just loaning me the lens...so I didn't get a pamphlet with it.
So in essence, I shouldn't "over-stop" it when I'm shooting at greater magnification? It makes sense...
I'm still trying to figure out how to use it and any tips are appreciated!

Yep basically that's it.

You might find this of help if you look though - its the test I did with my copy
https://www.flickr.com …157623350445656​/comments/

I have had the MP-E for a few years, and still don't get many shots as good as that.

Thanks Bas, I can only say a very tolerant butterfly is to credit here!

Overread, I've taken a peek at a few of your shots...that's some great work!!
It's hard to completely tell, but would you say that f/10 is probably about the max for
full or close to full magnification?

For full magnification at 5:1 its closer to f5.6 I think. At least if you're going for sharpness