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Best 50ish macro lens
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PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2014 10:35 am    Post subject: Best 50ish macro lens Reply with quote

It seems there are many options that allows 1:1 magnification:

Minolta 50/3.5
Micro Nikkor 55/3.5
Micro Nikkor 55/2.8
Vivitar 55/2.8

Any other suggestion?

Which one do you pick saying that the micro nikkor 2.8 should be the most expensive?


Last edited by Rick1779 on Wed May 28, 2014 10:41 am; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2014 10:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm planning to use them as a normal macro lens (some still shot) and to digitalize negative films on a nex5n


PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2014 10:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think the micro-nikkor 3.5 would be the best choice.
It is insanely sharp, and still quite a bargain.


PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2014 10:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Aanything wrote:
I think the micro-nikkor 3.5 would be the best choice.
It is insanely sharp, and still quite a bargain.


Damn, i need to buy another adapter Laughing


PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2014 10:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pentax SMC 4/50mm is superb.


PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2014 10:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pancolart wrote:
Pentax SMC 4/50mm is superb.


Any chance to get it ot 1:1?


PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2014 11:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

as far as digitizing negative films goes, I think you will get better results with an inexpensive film scanner.


PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2014 11:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Rick1779 wrote:
Pancolart wrote:
Pentax SMC 4/50mm is superb.


Any chance to get it ot 1:1?

No it is 1:2. I have K version. Funny i like that F4.0 due little more DOF and still round bokeh.


PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2014 11:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pancolart wrote:
Rick1779 wrote:
Pancolart wrote:
Pentax SMC 4/50mm is superb.


Any chance to get it ot 1:1?

No it is 1:2. I have K version. Funny i like that F4.0 due little more DOF and still round bokeh.

I have both the smck 50mm f4 Macro and the smcA 50mm F2.8 Macro and the 2.8 version is better, especially at infinity.
Like the F4 version however, it only goes to 1:2 magnification without extension tubes.


PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2014 12:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My Konica Hexanon 55mm 3.5 Macro is a very goodl lens, but my EBC X-Fujinon-Macro 55mm f3.5 DM is just great with very nice colors. Have the extension tubes for both.


PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2014 12:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

From all the 50-60s marco I have tried goes to, the best is the Zeiss 2.8/60 followed by Tomioka 2.8/60. Both Vivitar 2.8/55 and Konica 3.5/55 are less good.

You may try the Schneider Componon-S 50mm f/2.8(enlarger). It should reach 1:1 with a short bellow attached to a SLR mount.


PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2014 12:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

hifisapi wrote:
as far as digitizing negative films goes, I think you will get better results with an inexpensive film scanner.


I've seen and read some quite good reslts with that


PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2014 12:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hmm. No Leica? No Zeiss?


PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2014 12:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

danfromm wrote:
Hmm. No Leica? No Zeiss?


Calvin suggested the Macro Planar 60, but both zeiss and leica-R 60 Macro are a bit expensive at the moment


PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2014 12:58 pm    Post subject: Re: Best 50ish macro lens Reply with quote

Rick1779 wrote:
It seems there are many options that allows 1:1 magnification:

Minolta 50/3.5
Micro Nikkor 55/3.5
Micro Nikkor 55/2.8
Vivitar 55/2.8

Any other suggestion?

of those 4 lenses only vivitar goes to 1:1 on it's own, nikkors and minolta need matching tubes to get to 1:1


other 1:1 lenses are:
tomioka/yashinon/mamiya-sekor 60mm/2.8
macro takumar 50mm/4 (smallest macro lens that goes 1:1 on it's own)

other 1:2 lenses:
ebc fujinon 55mm/3.5
industar 61 L/Z 50mm/3.5 (although not labeled as macro lens , it has minimum focus of 30cm which gives it pretty good macro ability)
konica hexanon 55mm/3.5
super macro takumar 50mm/4
olympus 50mm/3.5
olympus 50mm/2
volna 9 50mm/2.8
canon fd 50mm/3.5

all those lenses will give you great results, any lens you choose you won't miss


PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2014 1:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Having owned and tested the Minolta MC 50 3.5, Canon FL 55 3.5, Hexanon 55 3.5, Vivitar 55 2.8 and the micro-Nikkor 55 2.8, I found the Nikkor to be the best, especially for contrast. They're all good, though


PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2014 1:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Vivitar 55mm f/2.8 will give you 1:1 without tubes. It's a very nice lens.


PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2014 3:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My best macro lens is by far the tomioka 60mm f2,8 which was already mentioned earlier, but is not in your list Smile
I only have the vivitar out of those 4 and it is a good performer as well. Though in that same focal length I prefer fd 55mm f3,5

I honestly never had a bad macro lens, and have already had quite a few Very Happy


PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2014 4:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Another cheer for the Micro-Nikkor 55mm f2.8. I've had the 3.5 version too and didn't see much of a difference optically, but to my mind the f2.8 is a much nicer looking lens.



PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2014 4:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

gaeger wrote:
Another cheer for the Micro-Nikkor 55mm f2.8. I've had the 3.5 version too and didn't see much of a difference optically, but to my mind the f2.8 is a much nicer looking lens.


Micro-Nikkors are lovely but you need to watch out for problems - a ton of them have oily apertures and/or stiff focus.


PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2014 5:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

gaeger wrote:
Another cheer for the Micro-Nikkor 55mm f2.8. I've had the 3.5 version too and didn't see much of a difference optically, but to my mind the f2.8 is a much nicer looking lens.

that looks like a 7 bladed diaphragm which is a little unusual.


PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2014 5:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

RE, Macro Auto-Topcor 3,5/58

You'll need tubes to go 1:1 ....
haven't tried to many of these 50ish macro, but i suspect the Topcor can't be worse than any other in this thread...

@gaeger
I really, really like that shot ! Great work !


PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2014 5:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

hifisapi wrote:
that looks like a 7 bladed diaphragm which is a little unusual.


7-blade aperture is common in Nikkors.


PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2014 6:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Gardener wrote:
hifisapi wrote:
that looks like a 7 bladed diaphragm which is a little unusual.


7-blade aperture is common in Nikkors.

I guess I am just isolated into the Pentax universe where nearly everything is either 6 or 8 blades.


PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2014 6:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Preset Takumar 50mm f/4 Macro (Tessar design) - 8-blades; small, sharp, and 1:1.

Mamiya (or Yashica) 60mm f/2.8 Macro - 6-blades; fast, sharp, 1:1.

Vivitar (Komine) 55mm f/2.8 Macro - 6-blades; cheap and decent 1:1.

See also http://olypedia.de/Vivitar_1:2,8/55_mm_MC_Macro#Yashica_Macro-Yashinon_1:2.2C8.2F60_mm_.22Tomioka.22