I've been shooting a lot of floral work with the Zuiko 135 f4.5 macro and the Oly auto bellows, and it has very quickly become one of my favorite lenses.
The 135 combines "standard" Oly low-contrast drawing with a less saturated color than what I see in other Olys and lenses from other manufacturers. If I had to draw a comparison to the world of painting, I'd say that where most lenses return color in oil-paint style (rich and saturated), the 135 draws in egg tempera style (delicate and flat). If you go back to your art history book and look at the exquisite illustrated manuscripts and panels created before the Renaissance, you'll see exactly what I mean.
With its deep-throated rear element, the lens will not attach directly to a camera. It's usable on both the telescoping extension tube and the auto bellows. It will stop down normally on the tube, but needs a cable release on the auto bellows.
Oh, and one more thing. It stops down to f45. Now, before the diffraction crowd chuckles into their sleeves, they should look at how exquisitely it renders flower petal textures at f45. No other lens I've ever used draws texture so delicately, and focus-stacks look almost garish compared to the 135 stopped down.
I got mine from KEH, an EX rated copy, for a whopping $159 (somehow I thought I'd paid a little less, but let's face it, there just isn't a whole lot less than $159). I'm happy to post images to this thread if desired, but if you look over on the N&W forum for some of my recent posts (Pinky Madam, Tangerine Dream, a Gladiolus, or the Iris shootout), the images are already there.
Would love to hear from others about their experiences with this lens. I think it's unique, and an absolute killer. My sense is that it would excel as a portrait lens as well, particularly with a patient poser. It likes its long exposure.
davidearls wrote: ...It stops down to f45. Now, before the diffraction crowd chuckles into their sleeves, they should look at how exquisitely it renders flower petal textures at f45. No other lens I've ever used draws texture so delicately, and focus-stacks look almost garish compared to the 135 stopped down.
I have zuiko 135 f4.5 including telescop extension tube too. It is pretty good and I love the lens.
The minus point is the size and didn't allow me to shoot hand held at f45.
As an alternate lens I use Zeiss Luminar 100mm f6.3 (smallest aperture f64) combined with multi focus system from zoerkendorfer and useable as potraits lens as well.
Sorry for the question, which link it is: N&W forum ?. I would like to see the examples.
convert wrote:
davidearls wrote: ...It stops down to f45. Now, before the diffraction crowd chuckles into their sleeves, they should look at how exquisitely it renders flower petal textures at f45. No other lens I've ever used draws texture so delicately, and focus-stacks look almost garish compared to the 135 stopped down.
I have zuiko 135 f4.5 including telescop extension tube too. It is pretty good and I love the lens.
The minus point is the size and didn't allow me to shoot hand held at f45.
As an alternate lens I use Zeiss Luminar 100mm f6.3 (smallest aperture f64) combined with multi focus system from zoerkendorfer and useable as potraits lens as well.
Sorry for the question, which link it is: N&W forum ?. I would like to see the examples. ...Show more →
Nature & Wildlife forum - sorry for the abbreviation.
The composition and magnification possibilities on the auto bellows are pretty cool, greater (obviously) than on the tube. I don't do much handheld work. Bought the lens primarily for butterflies, can't wait to try it with them come summer.
Would be interested in seeing what you get from the lens if you feel like posting -
Your pics on the N&W forum are impressive !. Did you use flash ?
Unfortunately I am not in Europe right now and can not upload the comparison between zuiko 135 /f4.5 and luminar 100mm/f6.3.
Should I be back to Europe , I 'll upload it , please have a look next week at my flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/convert1/
PS:I don't have B&S in this forum
David. I too love the 135. I wish I would have summer all year around to be able to use it more.
It has a large imagecircle and thus works for tilt and shift to.
I had the Zuiko 135/3.5 macro lens and made the same observation about using it stoppped way down. I posted a f32 shot with 100% crop that showed excellent sharpness.
convert wrote:
davidearls wrote: ...It stops down to f45. Now, before the diffraction crowd chuckles into their sleeves, they should look at how exquisitely it renders flower petal textures at f45. No other lens I've ever used draws texture so delicately, and focus-stacks look almost garish compared to the 135 stopped down...
convert wrote:
Your pics on the N&W forum are impressive !. Did you use flash ?
Unfortunately I am not in Europe right now and can not upload the comparison between zuiko 135 /f4.5 and luminar 100mm/f6.3.
Should I be back to Europe , I 'll upload it , please have a look next week at my flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/convert1/
PS:I don't have B&S in this forum
convert,
I had a look at the comparisons you posted on your flickr page from the Luminar 100 and the Oly. You're right, it's very difficult to tell if either lens is producing better shots. Thx for posting them.
davidearls wrote:...I'm unfamiliar with the Luminar 100. What is it?
Zeiss Luminar series are macro lenses for large format ( linhof etc).
It means, if you use with small format (24x36mm), you use a small circle of those lens, free from distorsion at the corners
There are 4 different focal length lenses to be seen, one 100mm has 34,5mm screw and the other three are in RMS screw including zoerk multi focusing system.
The smallest focal length in Luminarseries is 12,5mm (not in pic), but I use my inverse microscope to make such extrem microphotography, IMO is not useable to take pics by handheld.
Tilt possibility with zoerk MFS allows me to increase DOF, which important in macro / micro photography as well.
IDURITA wrote:
I have bougt the zuiko ext. tube and the zuiko f/4 135 mm macro to be used on my Canon 5D.
I wonder what would be the best lighting solution for it. Does a Canon ring flash work with this combo ?
What other solution is recommended ?
I have previously used the Sigma EM-140 DG. Great flash and easy to use. The mounting rings comes in different sizes and are screw in so this should work.
I now use the Canon MT-24 EX. Simply fantastic. Quite costly though.
Thanks Anden. I am still waiting for delivery of the lens. Might take about 2 weeks - I am living in Guangzhou, China, and the lens is coming from Germany. I will see if I buy the Sigma or the Canon flash.
In a weak moment I sold mine. I just got me another one. Have missed it dearly. It was expensive to sell and rebuy but a great lens like this is worth it.
