Micro/Macro Lens

sweetgrass

sweetgrass

Well-Known Member
I am wanted to add a new lens to my array and initially decided on this one:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/424744-USA/Nikon_2160_105mm_f_2_8G_ED_IF_AF_S.html/specs

However I came across this new to me type of macro, which is wide angle macro.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1165600-REG/venus_optics_laowa_15mm_f_4_macro.html

Never heard of this new type of lens and was thinking about it for my FS conversion. Has the forum used this type of macro, and is the forum familiar with Venus lenses?
 
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AlanLichty

AlanLichty

Moderator
To be honest I had never heard of a WA macro lens before looking up those links. I would be concerned about WA distortion with the WA macro lens. It wouldn't take much in a macro context for that to have an impact on what you are shooting.
 
JimFox

JimFox

Moderator
Staff member
Hey Sonny,

Venus lenses have a great reputation and are very well built, almost like a tank. :)

I am familiar with their 15mm f4 as an Ultra Wide lens, I hadn't heard or caught on that it was also a macro. Just thinking about it, I don't think a 15mm macro would give you the results that one would normally think of for a macro because it is so wide. For macro, I think the Nikon 105mm is about as good as it gets! I would choose that over the 15mm.

One reason I ended up not liking the 15mm Venus Laowa was that it was f4. Now Venus has updated the 15mm to be a f2 I think it is. But the problem is it's being made for the new mirrorless mounts like the Nikon Z mount, not the old F mount.
 
sweetgrass

sweetgrass

Well-Known Member
Good info from both of you. The f4 limitation was a concern for sure, but minimum focus distance of 4.7" in a WA scenario in FS had me intrigued. But as you mentioned Alan that could introduce some distortion that could completely ruin the goal of what I would be trying to accomplish. I guess my thinking was that FS photography is already quite unique so adding an element of WA macro could take it the next level. Idk, may not be worth the time or the investment.
I have been eyeing the Nikon 105mm micro for quite some time and thats probably the more sound decision. Adding that lens to my gear would definitely give me the results that I would expect from a high end macro lens.
 
Jameel Hyder

Jameel Hyder

Moderator
Staff member
sweetgrass said:
Can you explain 1:1 vs 2:1?
Click to expand...
That is the magnification. A 1:1 macro gives you the ability to capture an image at its exact size i.e. if the object is 1", its image on the sensor will be 1". A 2:1 macro allows you to capture a 1/2" object at 1". In short it gives you more magnification. Canon has a 65mm macro zoom which goes from 1x to 5x. Of course with more magnification you have more challenge with light and shutter speed. Moving subjects are almost impossible to do at higher magnification without very high ISO or strong artificial light.
 
sweetgrass

sweetgrass

Well-Known Member
Thanks Jameel for the explanation, and one of the uses for a macro is to actually capture bees and other insects in flight. My thought was to use an AF to help increase the success rate. Currently I have an older Nikkor 55mm macro and have found it impossible to capture any insect in flight. What I've been reading is that manual focus micros are preferred, and all I've ever used. Do you guys think an AF micro would be able to do the job as good or better?
 
sweetgrass

sweetgrass

Well-Known Member
Jameel Hyder said:
If that is your intention then rather than a macro get a longer focal length like 300-400mm with AF.
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I have a 200-500mm AF, but didnt think about using that one. Not sure why? LOL I would still like to add a macro though. Now I guess the question would be, AF macro, or possibly the Venus manual focus?
 
Ben Egbert

Ben Egbert

Forum Helper
Staff member
You can’t get infinity focus with one mounted, but you can get close up. You can also use an 1.4 or 2x extender and that would also give the you more reach. But you will get closer with these
 
JimFox

JimFox

Moderator
Staff member
Remember one thing with the Venus, there is no communication with the camera. So that can be a pain.

Also, you can manually focus an auto focus lens, but you can’t auto focus a manual focus lens.

I would prefer to have the flexibility of having a working AF system.
 
sweetgrass

sweetgrass

Well-Known Member
So I decided to go a completely different direction and pulled the trigger on the Lensbaby Velvet 28. Should have it by Sunday, and pretty excited to start working with this lens.
 
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