Canon MP-E 65mm Durability

Lester Wareham wrote in post #18778078
...What would we hope for for an upgraded MP-E, I suspect the magnification range is too much to achieve an internal focus design?...

Higher quality glass, and a lighter weight. Maybe even a new lens that would have a magnification range from .5 to 3x so I could just leave it on my camera all the time

Dalantech wrote in post #18778934
Higher quality glass, and a lighter weight. Maybe even a new lens that would have a magnification range from .5 to 3x so I could just leave it on my camera all the time

3X is quite useful but I would not like to loose 4 and 5X which I use quite a bit, TBH there would be no point is getting the lens for me.

Sure the 0.5x instead of 1x would be a massive advantage as it would address almost all macro subjects. 0.5x or lower to 5x could perhaps be addressed with a combination of internal focus and the current OLE focus methods.

The only problem that would make it heavier if anything and probably cost Canon sales of conventional macro lenses.

The MP-E mechanical construction is very solid and needs to be; I would not favour a lighter weight plastic construction.

The only weakness in the current design is that internal ribbon cable a V2 that addressed that would be an improvement, but how will you know until you have used it for 10 years.

Lester Wareham wrote in post #18778078
What would we hope for for an upgraded MP-E, I suspect the magnification range is too much to achieve an internal focus design?

A near-circular iris.
Autofocus - not for focusing with, but to allow a mirrorless camera to run a rapid stack. So maybe a hybrid.
Start at 0.5x.
I could give up the 5x, it's really no better than cropped 4x, especially with small pixels.
If the optics were to be better then yes, keep 5x. But that's a 10:1 range.
Better CA control.
A smaller diameter front end. Something near the diameter of the hole in the lens cap edIt Hood! would be nice!

One degree of freedom they could use, would be to make it APS-only. I wonder how much it could then shrink.

Chris.R wrote in post #18779550
...Autofocus - not for focusing with, but to allow a mirrorless camera to run a rapid stack. So maybe a hybrid...

Would also be cool if the auto focus indicators in the view finder worked.

Like a normal macro-photo lens front end, yes that would be useful even if only a short section.

Would preclude the current ring/twin flash setup but there are ways around that.

Lester Wareham wrote in post #18778940
...3X is quite useful but I would not like to loose 4 and 5X which I use quite a bit...

You could always use the old lens for that. I'm already at a point where I don't use the MP-E unless I'm shooting above 3x. At lower magnification I prefer the EF-S 60mm + extension tubes because it's lighter weight and seems to be balanced better for shooting hand held with little support..

Will the Canon MP-E 65-mm f/2.8 MF Lens work on my Rebel T7 and later on the 77D body. I would love to have this lens for macro.

Windwoman wrote in post #18900326
Will the Canon MP-E 65-mm f/2.8 MF Lens work on my Rebel T7 and later on the 77D body. I would love to have this lens for macro.

As long as your camera has a EF mount, it will work just fine.

Windwoman wrote in post #18900326
Will the Canon MP-E 65-mm f/2.8 MF Lens work on my Rebel T7 and later on the 77D body. I would love to have this lens for macro.

Yes it works fine on all canon bodies crop or full frame and I guess the new RF mount with the RF/EF mount adaptor.

Does anyone have pictures taken with the Canon MP-E 65-mm f/2.8 lens? This is next on my list and hopefully before it snows.

Did you ever test your 100mm with tubes on snowflakes? I am thinking of buying the MP-E 65mm to shoot snow flakes but if there is an option to use for a while it would be good to know.

Windwoman wrote in post #18900579
Does anyone have pictures taken with the Canon MP-E 65-mm f/2.8 lens? This is next on my list and hopefully before it snows.

Just poke around the Macro thread. Lots of examples there. There is also a thread in the Lest samples section.

Windwoman wrote in post #18900583
Did you ever test your 100mm with tubes on snowflakes? I am thinking of buying the MP-E 65mm to shoot snow flakes but if there is an option to use for a while it would be good to know.

The 100 does ok.

This is good to know. For the first time in a long time I am ok with winter. The camera should make it fun.

Windwoman wrote in post #18900579
Does anyone have pictures taken with the Canon MP-E 65-mm f/2.8 lens? This is next on my list and hopefully before it snows.

Just about my entire gallery was taken with the MP-E 65mm.