Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5X Macro Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
by Canon
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Category: Digital Camera
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Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: CanonModel: 65 mm / F 2,8 MP-E 1 - 5X MACRO PHOTO
Product features:
- Focal Length & Maximum Aperture: 65mm 1:2.8 Lens Construction: 10 elements in 8 groups Diagonal Angl
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5X Macro Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
Customer Review: Professional choice for super micro photography
Summary: 5 Stars
Almost everyone who used this lens is raving about it for good reasons. I really shouldn't have to repeat previous reviews, so I'll just say that this is the most amazing macro/micro lens accessible to normal consumers and photo enthusiasts that can provide greater than 1X repro ratio. However, it does have some issues that people should be aware of before buying this lens:
0) this camera will *not* go into infinity, it is a macro/micro only lens
1) this is a MANUAL FOCUS lens, meaning there is no focus ring but that you need to move the entire camera back and forth to focus, so either you need to have a very steady hand under bright sunlight, or you really should get a camera bracket. I use Manfrotto 454 with a sturdy tripod. If you're one of those young guys not used to the wonderful world of manual focusing and knowledge on uncertainty management, this lens will take some time to master.
2) as with all macros, you really should get a macro dedicated flash to get the best quality to minimize shaking, and to maximize light. Forget about e-TTL2!!! Your results will be very inconsistent. Set it to manual power, and learn the power settings. You'll learn something about exposure, and save time in the long run.
3) to minimize vibration, a remote is necessary
4) the sweet spot is around f/8 at 1X-2X, but even at that f-stop your depth of field is still too shallow. I highly recommend using depth of field stacking (just Google for focus stacking) software. At f/11 up to f/16, your pictures will become soft. I rarely use f/16. It's not f/16 at 5X anyways, and every little speckle of dust on your sensor that was invisible at f/8, will show up at f/16. Therefore, DoF stacking is necessary.
5) When you set to 3X-5X, the screen will be very very dark. Therefore, I highly recommend using a bright external light source for focusing. This also means you really need to crank up your macro flash to a really high level. At 3X-5X, f/16 is no longer f/16 anymore.
For 1:1 repro ratio, I usually prefer the legendary Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 VR along with the R1C1 kit and SU-800 since it's a lot easier to setup and to shoot (VR and Nikon TTL are amazing), but when I need more than 1X ratio, Canon MP-E 65mm is the way to go. The build quality of this lens is just as good as gold rim Nikon lenses, and the sharpness just as equal as Canon L-lenses and gold rim Nikon lenses.
As for flash, I actually don't have any of Canon flash systems. I'm on a mixed Canon and Nikon system so instead of purchasing yet another piece of flash equipments, I mount my existing Nikon SU-800 to my Canon body, and connect to my two Nikon SB-R200 flashes via SC-30 cables. This means exposure is completely manual, but that is perfectly fine because when you shoot macros, manual exposure will give a much more predictable and consistent result than e-TTL2 (which will change if you move the subject in and out of the center, as TTL is more center-weighted than matrix metered). The only problem with SU-800 is that it shuts down automatically if you don't use the flash for a while. But for most people on a single Canon system, get a flash dedicated for Canon will more than suffice.
Overall, I love this lens. It requires knowledge, a lot of setup time, and patience to use. Having that said, this is an amazing lens. It's a bit expensive, but you can get amazing deals on Craigslist or eBay from frustrated people who don't fully understand how to squeeze every little performance out of this extremely difficult to use but amazing lens. If you need to shoot jewels, diamonds, grain of rice, or similarly small things, by all means buy this lens, and KEEP IT because it's a niche lens that is unlikely to depreciate in value like camera bodies and common zoom lenses. For more than 1X, the MP-E 65mm is the only choice you have short of going to expensive multi-thousand dollar microscopic equipments. If you think you need it, just get it.
Description of Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5X Macro Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
A unique manual-focus lens designed exclusively for macro shooting, between life-size (1x) and 5x life-size - at its maximum magnification, you can fill a 35mm frame with a grain of rice. Compatible with the Macro Ring Lites and Macro Twin Lite, it eliminates the need for awkward bellows accessories for many macro shooters. The optical system uses a floating system to preserve optical quality at different focusing distances, and features a UD-glass element.Accessories
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