I've been shooting more often with MF glass on my 5D. I'm looking for a fast 50mm with a close MFD. The Zeiss 50mm f/2 macro comes to mind, but ideally I'm looking for something small and, if possible, less expensive. I'd like at least f/2.8, but f/2 would be better. Any suggestions?
I have the 50MP and I'm happy with it. I suppose you could use it without the supplied lens hood and reduce the size - the front element is recessed more than 1 inch deep already. I think the size is not too bad, but definitely larger than usual 50mm lens...
Did you look at Voigtlander Ultron 40mm f/2.0? MFD is 1.25" and it comes with dedicated close up lens that reduces the MFD to .8".
Thanks for the input, the OM 50 f/2 is one I hadn't considered, looks good, but its a pricey little bugger. The Leica 60 f/2.8 would be amazing, I'm sure.
Canon Compact macro not a bad little lens.Very sharp, 1:2 Macro, and the focus in low light is better than the Canon 50 f1.4 because of the built in lens hood by design.
Jim Schemel wrote:
Canon Compact macro not a bad little lens.Very sharp, 1:2 Macro, and the focus in low light is better than the Canon 50 f1.4 because of the built in lens hood by design....
michael49 wrote:
Thanks, good suggestion and its priced right.
Yeah, but the Canon compact macro isn't fast--f2.5. The Zeiss 50mm Makro-Planar is an incredible lens if f2 is fast enough for you and you have $1300 in your pocket. It's very sharp wide open and performance is good across the frame. Only the extreme corners are noticably soft, andd unfortunately they don't seem to ever sharpen up.
The Zeiss does flare worse than the Canon 1.4, both veiling flare when shooting into lights wide open (doesn't bother me too much) and ugly purple ghosts when shooting with lights just out of frame stopped down (bothers me a lot).
The MFD on the Zeiss is nice--with the Canon 1.4 I always found myself trying to shoot things that were 2 or 3" within its MFD.
That looks better than the corners on my copy do at f8. With my copy the corners are still slightly softer than the center even at f11. I haven't shot stopped further down than that.
obik wrote:
Yeah, but the Canon compact macro isn't fast--f2.5. The Zeiss 50mm Makro-Planar is an incredible lens if f2 is fast enough for you and you have $1300 in your pocket. It's very sharp wide open and performance is good across the frame. Only the extreme corners are noticably soft, andd unfortunately they don't seem to ever sharpen up.
The Zeiss does flare worse than the Canon 1.4, both veiling flare when shooting into lights wide open (doesn't bother me too much) and ugly purple ghosts when shooting with lights just out of frame stopped down (bothers me a lot).
The MFD on the Zeiss is nice--with the Canon 1.4 I always found myself trying to shoot things that were 2 or 3" within its MFD....Show more →
That's true but he said he would like at least f2.8 / f2.5 has that beat.
-Jim
Dec 06, 2011 at 10:24 PM
Steve Spencer Online • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
I have the Leica R 60mm and the Canon 50/2.5, and all things considered, I'd rather have the Canon if I could only have one. The AF and full exif are big assets. Both have very good IQ with the edge going to the Leica. Price: no contest -- the Canon.
Best 50mm MF macro lens in my opinion C/Y Makro-Planar 60mm f2.8 (1:1 version). Good and cheap are Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50mm f1.8(35cm mfd) and even better when good copy of the Meyer/Pentacon 50mm f1.8(look for MC, 33cm mfd)
