Has anyone tried the new Canon Macro Photo 1x-5x?

[matthew_smith1]

Hello!

 

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I am intrested in purchasing the above lens for some specific scientific applications (photographing winter bundle scars, scales, buds, and other features of winterized twigs). I am interested in user comments, of which I have seen little. For instance, as my work will frequently take me into the field, is the lens better suited to this kind of work then bellows?

 

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Thank you!

 

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Matthew

[jeff_hallett1]

Yes I am also interested in hearing about this lens too, especially

how it works and why such a high price is put on it. Certainly the

scientific community and macro enthusiasts can benefit from it. At

that price I would hope the optics are "L" quality and that it should

have IS and IF features among others.

[michael_schmidt]

Well, i haven't actually used it, just played around with it for 30

min or so in my cmaera store.

I liked it very much, focusing is very smooth, of course it has no IS

nor IF, I guess IF wouldn't have been possible with a mag.range

bewteen 1x and 5x.

Anyway, I am going to buy it in May. It is much more convenient, than

the reversal ring (Novoflex) I use right now with my EOS and much

better than any bellows I ever used.

It is more compact, lighter and much tougher than a bellows, both

ring-lites can be attached directly to it and the new ring-lite MR14EX

or so even covers the whole focusing range.

Would be nice to hear from somebody who actually made some pictures.

Handling is very good.

Hope this helped.

The high price is typical for such specialised lenses, guess the low

quatities sold play na important role here.

Michael

[matthew_smith1]

Thank you two so much for you kind posts.

 

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Jeff, I couldn't agree more that this lens may really shake things

up. Before, to get magnifications in the 1x-5x ranges, we had to do

all kinds of jerry rigging that was expensive, dangerous for our

equipment, or ineffective. I don't think a single traditional way

would give the working distance of a 65 mm prime (although if it

focuses via floating element that advantage is diminished). Maybe

lens reversing but even that can be iffy.

 

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Although I too think the price is expensive, it is much cheaper and

more convenient than the alternatives needed to get a 1x-5x-

magnification range! (Keh.com sells it for 999, which is a little

cheaper).

 

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Michael: your post was very helpful and very much what I needed to

hear. I too will probably buy one, although maybe not until his

summer or a little later. Let me know what you think when you get

it!!

 

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Matthew Smith