one macro to rule them all... ?

mesmerized · Joined: 02 Jun 2020 Posts: 15

Hello there!

I've been looking for the finest macro lens and done some digging here and there. These are my main candidates:

1) Vivitar 90mm f/2.8 Auto Macro 1:1
2) Vivitar 90mm f/2.5 (apparently, this is the - yet again - legendary Tokina-Bokina) Needs an adapter if one wants to get 1:1 reproduction
3) Panagor PMC Auto Macro 90mm f/2.8 (same as the Vivitar 90mm f/2.8?)
4) Vivitar 100mm F2,8
5) Kiron 105 mm 2.8 PK
6) Vivitar (Komine) MC 55mm f/2.8 Macro
7) Minolta MD Macro 4/100 (some people say that it's better than both the Tokina-Bokina and the Kiron)
Cool

Canon nFD 55mm f/3.5 Macro
9) Canon nFD 100mm f/4 Macro
10) Tamron SP 90mm f/2.5 52BB

What are your thoughts? I'd be grateful for any insights.

visualopsins · Expire: 2025-04-11

Welcome mesmerized

Well look no farther than the Micro-Nikkors. Search here for examples.

More affordable and in line with your list:

Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 1:4/100, 1:4/50mm
Nikon Nikkor 55/3.5 or 55/2.8

The one I want:
Nikon Micro-Nikkor 200/4

danfromm · Joined: 04 Sep 2011 Posts: 576

Two thoughts.

OP, you're looking in the wrong places. The best macro lenses around weren't made for 35 mm SLRs. Consider, for example, Macro Nikkors (I spelled the name correctly) and Ultra Micro Nikkors.

Klaus, who I salute in passing, will no doubt offer more.

Visualopsins, there are two 200/4 MicroNikkors. The original manual focus 200/4 MicroNikkor AI/AIS and the later 200/4 MicroNikkor AF. I've had two of the old one, still have the second. It is nowhere as good as the contemporary 55/2.8 AI/AIS and 105/2.8 AI/AIS MicroNikkors. The newer AF version is supposed to be much better.

Re the older 200, I shot it against a 210/9 Konica Hexanon GR II process lens at f/9, f/16 and f/22 @ 1:2, 3 m and 30 m. Same subjects, same time, same emulsion (KM). The process lens won, and handily, at all apertures and distances.

mesmerized · Joined: 02 Jun 2020 Posts: 15

mesmerized · Joined: 02 Jun 2020 Posts: 15

calvin83 · Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 7553 Location: Hong Kong

There are Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO which goes to 2:1 and Voigtlander 110mm f/2.5 APO-Lanthar Macro which goes to 1:1 for E mount.

visualopsins · Expire: 2025-04-11

danfromm · Joined: 04 Sep 2011 Posts: 576

To learn about Macro Nikkors, visit: https://redbook-jp.com/redbook-e/index.html

Process lenses' weights vary. My 210/9 Konica Hexanon GR II weighs, with front cap, 400 g.

More thoughts.

AF isn't much help working close up. The camera doesn't always choose the plane of best focus that the photographer wants. In the lab I focus the camera (on a stand) manually by adjusting -- slightly -- magnification. In the field I dial in magnification and focus by teetering back and forth. Sounds ridiculous, works very well.

OP, I understand your desire to have equipment that's good enough to use. Thing is, most of the fixed focal length macro lenses for 35 mm still are much better than good enough. It is hard to get a bad one. If I were you, I'd shop on price, condition, and, very important, compatibility with the body I want to use it on.

Agonizing over a few lp/mm in some one's test is a waste. You should focus on technique, not equipment.

tb_a · Expire: 2019-08-28

visualopsins · Expire: 2025-04-11

vivaldibow · Expire: 2021-03-09

Teemō · Joined: 07 Apr 2016 Posts: 586 Location: Australia

I prefer something a little longer lately, a 180mm at 1:2, but it seems you'd like something in the short-tele range. For that length, if you don't mind the slow speed, a few 80-90mm enlarger lenses are very sharp and nearly apochromatic (possibly not at small reproduction ratios) - chuck them on a bellows and then you already have a well-balanced, affordable setup to use on a tripod.

visualopsins · Expire: 2025-04-11

jamaeolus · Expire: 2015-08-20

You can get absolutely stunning macro images for dirt cheap using enlarger lenses and tubes and helicals. I got an EL nikkor 50mm 2.8 for 12 dollars. If you are only shooting macro with it it is hard to beat bang for buck. As for the absolute best purpose designed the canon EF 65mm 2.8 is supposedly such. It is a modern lens currently available brand new. Its expensive, it is MF only but does go to 5 to 1 magnification and is suitable for macro only. I agree with Dan. Technique is probably much more important than glass. As for multi purpose lens I personally do like the "bokina" Tokina 90mm 2.5. I find it easier to use than the Kiron. The Bokina is a great all around short tele with fantastic IQ. If you are interested in the Kiron a helpful hint is to find a Vivitar with the appropriate serial # starts with 22. It is well known that the Series 1 are the same as the Lester Dine but what is less well known is that their equivalent lens just labeled vivitar (I don't recall the exact labeled FL and aperture but I will look when I get a chance) is actually identical. I'm not sure if this version predated the Series 1 or ran parallel but I had both at one point and compared them side by side and image by image.

justtorchit · Joined: 12 Oct 2009 Posts: 269 Location: St. Louis, MO

There really is no such lens. Lest we would all own it! It's really all about what you want out of the lens and your subject matter. I have tried most of those you have listed and as a Nikon shooter, also shoot Nikon's macro lenses. I often use the Nikon AF-S 60mm Micro-Nikkor for products and close-up work. For the medium working distance stuff, like bugs and so forth, I often grab the Vivitar or Tokina 90/2.5. I prefer the rounder aperture of the Vivitar, whereas the Tokina, at f/4 gets a "sawblade" shape in the out of focus highlights. Both are great optical performers though. But again, most of the macro lenses you listed are excellent. Agree with the former poster who said skip the Vivitar 90/2.8 1:1. It's not nearly as fluid to use as the 90mm in my opinion.

stevemark · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 3754 Location: Switzerland

kds315* · Expire: 2021-03-09

here!!

Well, how about the Cosina Voigtlander Macro Apo Lanthar 2.5/125mm ... and never look back! Beats anything else hands down and has a very pleasant bokeh, too. Only the Leica Macro Apo Elarit 2.8/100mm comes close (but has a greenish hint).

Then there are Macro Apo Lathars for mirrorless camera only, the 65mm + 110mm ones, already mentioned by Calvin above.

Other than that, look at my site http://macrolenses.de there you fin plenty more (Thanks Dan, see me waving back at you!)

Have less to spend, then get a good Apo enlarger lens + focusing helicoid, gets outstanding results for less! But a bit clumsy to handle.

visualopsins · Expire: 2025-04-11

A variety of macro lenses demonstrated by mflenses members http://forum.mflenses.com/the-bees-knees-canon-5d-and-m42-smc-macro-takumar-14-100-t67900.html

Another plug for SMC Macro-Takumar 1:4/100 http://forum.mflenses.com/viewtopic,p,1279757.html#1279757

kypfer · Joined: 27 Sep 2017 Posts: 514 Location: Jersey C.I.

My "go-to" macro is my Tamron 90mm #52B. I've owned it since the '80's, with three changes of camera mount, and never really needed anything else Wink

However, a passing experience with a Fujinon 55mm f/3.5 macro convinced me that there can be something to be said for the different perspective given by a shorter focal length. To this end, an N-61L/Z 50mm f/2.8 (aka Industar) in M42 now occupies a space in my bag.

piggsy · Joined: 04 May 2015 Posts: 84 Location: Brisbane, Australia

Gardener · Joined: 22 Sep 2013 Posts: 950 Location: USA

I shoot a lot of macro, own all lenses (I may have sold the Rokkor) in your list and then some. My go-to glass is 100L.

tb_a · Expire: 2019-08-28

It's very important to consider the the used camera which is "only" 24MP FF. Therefore it doesn't help at all to go for a lens which would eventually perform best on 61MP FF or 24MP APSC or 20MP MFT which all need much higher resolutions, at least in the center.

Lenses like the Sony 90 macro or Voigtländer Apo Lanthar 65 outperform the sensor resolution of the OP's A7 III camera by far which doesn't really make too much sense to pay the extra money for the extra resolution which isn't needed anyway.

I stick to my recommendation: For a low resolution camera like the normal A7 24MP series lenses like the Tamron 272E or the Minolta MD III 100 macro already outperform the sensor resolution considerably. I've used these lenses already on my 24MP FF camera and they are still good enough for my present 42MP FF camera. Maybe not good enough for higher resolution cameras as mentioned before.

Just my two cents.

WolverineX · Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2020 8:12 am Post subject:

Canon FD 200mm/4 macro, internal focusing, 1:1 magnification ratio without additional tubes or converters

D1N0 · Joined: 07 Aug 2012 Posts: 2491

The Tamron 52B is the best bang for buck. Just use an extension tube for 1:1

Ernst Dinkla · Joined: 30 Nov 2016 Posts: 378