4 short macro lenses compared

Pontus · Expire: 2016-08-25

#1 X-Fujinon EBC 55/3.5 Macro
#2 SMC Macro-Takumar 50/4
#3 Konica Macro-Hexanon AR 55/3.5
#4 Contax Zeiss S-Planar 60/2.8

All shots in RAW from Sony NEX-7 on tripod, Aperture standard settings with slight exposure compensation in order to get even illumination. Automatic white balance which gives slight variations in colour reproduction. I had to change angle and distance slightly with the S-Planar because of the longer focal length. Remember that the focus could have been slightly off in some of the pictures and that lenses sample variation plays in. Plus the fact that this was not a studio shot which means that the lighting changed continuously and the wind could have induced some motion blur...

#1 f5.6

#2 f5.6

#3 f5.6

#4 f5.6

DigiChromeEd · Joined: 29 Dec 2009 Posts: 3460 Location: Northern Ireland

Personally, I like the rendition of the Hexanon, but then I'm biased! Wink

enliten · Expire: 2014-07-03

depth of field is so fine it makes it really hard to tell which is best. when I shoot insects at 1:1 I shoot at f11 or f16 to get as much focussed as possible.

you could take any of these lenses and be happy with them. I'm sorta jealous that you have all four :/

Rick1779 · Expire: 2014-06-06

I'd say #4, but a more accurate test would help (fixed light and subject, constant environment etc)

Pretty pointless to say that any of those is a great lens, so, if you ever plan to donate one of them to a poor guy with no macro at all Twisted Evil

Nordentro · Expire: 2015-01-29

Konica = best bokeh
Zeiss = Most vibrant colours
Zeiss = Best sharpness

But the differences are not that huge IMO, and all of them would come out nicely with a little PP Wink

cooltouch · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 9096 Location: Houston, Texas

I enjoy these kinds of tests. I have four macros with close to the same focal length as well. A Tamron 90/2.5, Canon FD 100/4, Vivitar S1 105/2.5, and Pentax SMC Tak 100/4. I've been meaning to do a set of tests with these as well.

Macro lenses are optimized for flat-field performance. So I think it makes the most sense to exploit this capability when doing comparisons. So when I do my tests, I will use a flat subject with areas of some depth so the DOF can be evaluated. I think that a controlled environment is important for this as well, where both the camera and subject remain rigidly still and evenly lit. So I'll use a copy stand and strobe lighting for even illumination.

As for these four lenses, based on the subject used, honestly to me they are virtually identical in performance. Differences in color, sharpness, and DOF are miniscule and as Pontus stated, it was not a static environment in which he was doing his tests. So really a critical test evaluating these small differences, well, this is not. I think anyone would be happy with the performance of any of these four lenses.

Pontus · Expire: 2016-08-25

Some more test shots at f8 and f11. I need to stress that it was a bit windy, I actually found out that one of the shots had motion blur so I had to reshoot that picture (Hexanon f11) and of course the light and the setting was not exactly the same anymore.

#1 f8

#1 f8

#2 f8

#3 f8

#4 f8

#1 f11

#2 f11

#3 f11

#4 f11

Arkku · Joined: 28 Feb 2007 Posts: 1416 Location: Helsinki, Finland

These apertures are so small that I would be surprised if there had been any differences that couldn't be attributed to testing errors.

Pontus · Expire: 2016-08-25

I do stress that this is a non-scientific test with too many changing variables. The picture that looks blurry could be so because of movement due to wind. The dull picture could be dull because the sun was behind a small cloud just then. To me this is more a test of lens character and drawing style.

I posted samples at smaller aperture because people wrote that the first pictures at f5.6 are untypical macro images and that smaller apertures are required.

I will happily take the following set of pictures according to your wishes Arkku. As long as I can do it easily, outside and without flashes etc...

Oldhand · Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2013 9:55 pm Post subject:

Absolutely too close to call.
All good.
Fujinon surprises me.
You really are spoilt for choice
OH

parabellumfoto · Joined: 06 Apr 2013 Posts: 413 Location: Sydney, Australia

Arkku · Joined: 28 Feb 2007 Posts: 1416 Location: Helsinki, Finland

Pontus · Expire: 2016-08-25

A new set of pictures, this time at f3.5 and f4 plus a last picture with the Contax at f2.8 (I think this lens outresolves the NEX-7 even wide open).

The size of the flower is about 10mm

#1 f3.5

#1 f3.5

#2 f4

#3 f3.5

#4 f4

#4 f2.8

Pontus · Expire: 2016-08-25

And here's a test at infinity and f11

#1

#1

#2

#3

#4