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Macro lens recommendation?


vnewbie
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 Hey folks,
Can someone give a recommendation for a macro lens for super close up?  I would like to film individual pixels on a computer monitor or phone.  Similar to the below.  These guys used an iphone with a custom(?) lens. 

I am really new to video stuff.  From what I have read, it is difficult to get most macro lenses to focus up close. 

Can someone give a recommendation for a good macro lens please?  My camera is a full frame (a7s3).

 

Thank you

 

 

 

 

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I'm not sure what you mean by "From what I have read, it is difficult to get most macro lenses to focus up close."

That's what macro lens are designed for.  That's what they do -- focus close-up.

Perhaps you mean that macro lenses have problems AUTO-focusing close-up.  And that's true -- because Depth of Field is incredibly thin and there are a million points where the camera will TRY to focus on.  But that is simply solved by using manual focusing -- and perhaps a viewfinder magnifier.

For you the issue is magnification.  How much do you need?  The higher the magnification, the shorter the focal length should be.  for example, 1x-3x?  50mm.  4x-8x?  25mm.   9x-15x  12mm.  Etc.

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Thanks. 

Still a bit confused by this.  From what I understand a higher mm number usually means the minimum focal distance is further out.

I looked a few options and pictures from those lenses.  Went with a 2.5-5x at 25mm.  I might end up buying some tube spacers to bring the minimum focal distance in also.

 

 

 

 

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The longer the focal length of the lens means the lens is farther away from the subject -- when at the same magnification.  But a longer focal length lens also needs more extension between the lens and the camera to reach that magnification.  That's why you want shorter lenses as magnification increases.  The lens will be closer to the subject, but you will need much less extension.

FYI, I think you are confused.  Adding extension between the camera and the lens, does not change the focal length of the lens.  It increases the magnification of the subject. 

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With macro photography focussing is usually done manually either on a tripod - sometimes using a focussing rail for fine adjustments, or hand-held by rocking backwards and forwards slightly and using burst mode - then selecting the image that is in focus to your liking.

Because of this a manual lens is as good or better than one that has AF.

Within manual lenses Laowa specialise in macro lenses, including ones that give 2X magnification (most macros are 1X) from 50mm - 100mm. (these can also be used for 'normal' photography.

Laowa also do a 15mm macro (1X) which I have and love, it can get macro on a flower, but still include background. (For this type of shot the lens is almost touching the flower!)

 

 

Edited by thebeardedgroundsman
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  • 3 weeks later...
  • 4 months later...
On 10/29/2022 at 6:29 AM, vnewbie said:

 Hey folks,
Can someone give a recommendation for a macro lens for super close up?  I would like to film individual pixels on a computer monitor or phone.  Similar to the below.  These guys used an iphone with a custom(?) lens. 

I am really new to video stuff.  From what I have read, it is difficult to get most macro lenses to focus up close. 

Can someone give a recommendation for a good macro lens please?  My camera is a full frame (a7s3).

 

Thank you

 

 

 

 

I wonder if what you read was not that it was difficult to get a macro lens to "focus up close", but rather than it was difficult to get the whole scene in focus when focussing up close? As mentioned above, the depth of field is quite shallow. If you have the plane of the screen tilted, even a little bit, compared with the plane of the sensor, then only part of the screen will be in focus. Lining up the screen and sensor perfectly is quite difficult.

One possible way to solve this is to focus-stack. You can do that manually, or using an app on a phone (there are apparently a few options). Or you can use a Sony A7RV - the first Sony Alpha body to support focus bracketing.

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On 10/28/2022 at 12:29 PM, vnewbie said:

 Hey folks,
Can someone give a recommendation for a macro lens for super close up?  I would like to film individual pixels on a computer monitor or phone. 

Can someone give a recommendation for a good macro lens please?  My camera is a full frame (a7s3).

The best macro lenses with AF are the Sony 90 and Sigma 105. I believe both go up to 1:1. If you need higher magnification, the extension tubes like you mentioned are an option (they indeed reduce the maximum focusing distance) or diopters like Raynox (DCR-150 for ex).

Edited by Lichtspiel
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On 4/8/2023 at 8:44 PM, Lichtspiel said:

The best macro lenses with AF are the Sony 90 and Sigma 105. I believe both go up to 1:1. If you need higher magnification, the extension tubes like you mentioned are an option (they indeed reduce the maximum focusing distance) or diopters like Raynox (DCR-150 for ex).

Sorry, I meant minimum focus distance, of course. 😉 

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Good approach may be to test more options.

I used (as example) classic manual Olympus Zuiko Zoom / Macro lens, have to say, results are very good.

Also, I bought and used additional "filter" mounts lenses, or Close Up filters (sets), very easy to mount, to use, it's like additional element to the lens which is enhancing the Close Up photos possibilities, macros. Even those "big" filter companies are making those ones.

Then, adapters, extension tubes, being mounted between lens and body, for example 10mm; 16mm, again, I bought 2 sets, from 2 different companies, results are really good, somehow it's great to see same lens with the extension becoming very different one.

At smartphones, it's easy to find additional macro lenses with clips. Just attach, center it, may not be perfect, but still useful.

Optically, it's good to have some experience with the macro shooting, some good tutorials (including geometry). Results may be good if the angle of taking photo is 90 degrees towards the surface (but, even that may not provide excellent sharpness at complete photo, it may be very slightly worsening towards edges, depends on what's used for the macro photographing).

If angle is not 90 degrees, or, if the object is not flat, focus bracketing (as mentioned above at the discussion) is needed. It may be done using multiple photos from exact same position, with different focus points, then using software to align photos (if needed) and have best possible focus balance between all photos.

Yes, Sony (and others, as well) is listening voice of users, but sometimes answers, response is not arriving fast enough.

 

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Standard macro lenses are great for pictures up to 1X -- something 24mmx36mm.  For a little more magnification, you can use extension tubes (lots of macro lenses come with an extension tube), but for any serious work passed 2X, it's better to use a bellows.  These are inexpensive, but strictly manual focus -- and can be used in combination with macro lenses and extension tubes.

An easy way to figure out what you need it to determine the greatest magnification you want.

For example, it you only want to take pictures of things that are about one inch in size -- that's 1X.

1/2"?  That's 2X

1/4"? That's 4X

1/8"? That's 8X

And if you want to get passed 4X you really need to add SHORT focal length macro lenses -- like 35mm, 28mm, etc. in order to keep the amount of extension manageable.  4X with a 100mm macro means a foot and a half of extension!!!

Edited by XKAES
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Hello 

 Xkaes gave very good advise

I would like to ad that you can also use an helicoid macro tube it is a bid of e mixture of a bellow and an extension tube. Those are also available as Adapter between different mount’s 

You can combine with normal extension tubes, but should not get to long and heavy 

As the helicoid is pure manual and you have to use in manual only anyway you can adapt old  legacy lenses, that would save you a lot of money, also old projector lenses will do it…

 

regards

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