Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro Photo

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

10/20/2005 11:00:15 AM · #1

Does anybody have any experience/opinions about this lens? I was surprised to see it would do 5x life size! Wow!

Do you think that this is a better mactro choice than Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM?

Thanks!
E
//www.eslayphotography.com

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

10/20/2005 11:09:18 AM · #2

The MP-E 65mm is a VERY specialized lens, the MINIMUM magnification is 1:1, meaning it will not focus beyond a few inches. It would be a wonderful tool for someone who does LOTS of extreme macro work, but not a great investment otherwise.
It's pretty easy to get high magnification in other ways as well, such as using the Canon 100/2.8 Macro in conjunction with extension tubes and/or with a reversed 50mm lens. Magnifications up to 4:1 are easily attainable. I'd strongly suggest this path.

Prof_Fate

10/20/2005 11:11:57 AM · #3

They are completely different...
the 180 is a telephoto and a macro, an L lens with USM focusing motor. In macro mode you will be about 2-3 feet or so from the subject. Good for somethings (insects say) but a PITA for others.

The MP65 is a macro only, will do upto 5x (instead of just 1:1). You will have to be much closer to the subject (less than a foot).

If you love macro photography, get teh MP65. For the most versatility the 100mm macro is the most popular choice, the 180 a more specialty item.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

10/20/2005 11:20:31 AM · #4

What makes the 180 a pain? I thought that being able to be further away was a benefit?

gaurawa

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

10/20/2005 11:22:50 AM · #5

ericlimon has this lens and has some macros in his portfolio done with this lens. you may want to pm him

doctornick

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

10/20/2005 11:28:35 AM · #6

Originally posted by eslaydog:

What makes the 180 a pain? I thought that being able to be further away was a benefit?

The 180 is not a pain, it can be used as a nice portrait lens or short telephoto lens. The MP-E 65mm on the other hand can ONLY be used as a Macro lens. All depends on what you shoot.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

10/20/2005 11:33:38 AM · #7

Originally posted by eslaydog:

What makes the 180 a pain? I thought that being able to be further away was a benefit?

The 180 will give longer working distance, but the difference is not as dramatic as you might think. The longer focal length definitely makes it harder to keep the subject in the frame and to avoid camera shake if you're not on a tripod. If you are on a tripod, you're shooting static subjects, and the working distance is of lesser importance.
That said, a longer focal length is definitely a plus for semi-macro, like insect closeups in the wild, where you'll scare them away with the 100/2.8. I sometimes use a 200mm lens with an extension tube for this.
Another factor in favor of the 100/2.8 is the fact that it's easier to increase the magnification with tubes and/or reversed lens. The 100/2.8 has a 58mm front thread, the 180/3.5 has a 72mm thread, so reversing a lens on the 180 is probably going to result in vignetting. you'll also need a longer stack of tubes to get the same increase in magnification with the 180 as with the 100.
Unless you KNOW that the 180mm focal length is what you need to do the type of macro work you're interested in, the 100/2.8 is a more versatile tool. It's also less than half the cost.

theSaj

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

10/20/2005 11:46:28 AM · #8

I have a 70-200mm, is there any way to use this as a macro?

What about my 50mm f/1.8 II

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

10/20/2005 11:51:09 AM · #9

Originally posted by theSaj:

I have a 70-200mm, is there any way to use this as a macro?

What about my 50mm f/1.8 II

Reverse the 50mm in front of the 70-200.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

10/20/2005 11:57:26 AM · #10

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

Originally posted by theSaj:
I have a 70-200mm, is there any way to use this as a macro?

What about my 50mm f/1.8 II

Reverse the 50mm in front of the 70-200.

That will be difficult or impossible, given the huge front element of the 70-200/2.8...
You can put extension tubes on the 70-200, which will result in a narrow range of accessible focus distances, but does allow for nice semi-macro work. A high-quality (doublet) diopter is another possibility, look at the Canon 250D or 500D.
By using extension tubes with the 50/1.8 you can really get some magnification out of it. I think you'd be pleased with the outcome, given the modest investment for a set of Kenko extension tubes.

Message edited by author 2005-10-20 11:59:01.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

10/20/2005 12:08:35 PM · #11

Originally posted by kirbic:

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

Originally posted by theSaj:
I have a 70-200mm, is there any way to use this as a macro?

What about my 50mm f/1.8 II

Reverse the 50mm in front of the 70-200.

That will be difficult or impossible, given the huge front element of the 70-200/2.8...

I wouldn't say impossible.

The 70-200 f/4 takes 67mm filters. The 50 mm 1.8 takes 52 mm (the f1.4 takes 58mm). 11-15mm isn't all that much though could cause some vignetting.

The 77mm on the f2.8 lens (as you say, could be an issue).

Message edited by author 2005-10-20 12:09:46.

theSaj

Canon EOS-20D

10/20/2005 12:34:02 PM · #12

Hmm...sounds interesting....

Looking into the 500D...that in conjunction with my 2x extender might allow for some really nice macro shots from what I saw on one site. Albeit, I'll need a tri-pod.

Macro shots at 6-12ft away... *lol*.

Message edited by author 2005-10-20 12:36:11.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

10/20/2005 12:59:26 PM · #13

Is there anyway to add something to my current lenses (24-70L, 70-200L IS) that will make them capable of 1:1 macros with great quality?

Thanks

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

10/20/2005 01:07:17 PM · #14

Originally posted by eslaydog:

Is there anyway to add something to my current lenses (24-70L, 70-200L IS) that will make them capable of 1:1 macros with great quality?

Thanks

Extension tubes. Canon makes great ones but they are pricy. There are thrid-party manufacturers as well. The Canon tubes maintain full electronic finctioning and are very well-sealed with O-rings. Tubes are defined in terms of their depth. Their "effectiveness" is calculated as a ratio between length of tube and focal length of lens. So a 25mm tube on a 50mm lens will increase magnification by .5, while the same tube on a 100mm lens would increase it by .25.

Therefore, the increased magnification would depend on what zoom you were using the lens at. Also, as a rule of thumb, tubes work better on non-wide angle lenses, so performance would be not as good at the wide end of the 24-70...

Robt.

10/20/2005 01:34:07 PM · #15

So, then what Canon product could I use to effectively make one of my lenses a macro with a 1:1 ratio?

Message edited by author 2005-10-20 13:37:40.

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

10/20/2005 01:45:39 PM · #16

Also, does anyone have a link to the extension tubes, etc that are needed? I can't seem to find them on the Canon site.

NstiG8tr

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

10/20/2005 01:48:33 PM · #17

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

[quote=theSaj]

Reverse the 50mm in front of the 70-200.

Can some one explain this further?

10/20/2005 01:51:21 PM · #18

Originally posted by dsmeth:

Originally posted by cpanaioti:
[quote=theSaj]

Reverse the 50mm in front of the 70-200.

Can some one explain this further?

This involves attaching the front of the 50mm lens to the front of the other lens. This works best when the filter size of each lens is close in size. A coupler (?) is needed to physically attach the lenses together. From what I've read the best results are achieved with the aperature on the 50mm lens wide open.

doctornick

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

10/20/2005 01:57:30 PM · #19

Originally posted by eslaydog:

Also, does anyone have a link to the extension tubes, etc that are needed? I can't seem to find them on the Canon site.

Kenko Extension tube set.

NstiG8tr

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

10/20/2005 02:05:30 PM · #20

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

Originally posted by dsmeth:

Originally posted by cpanaioti:
[quote=theSaj]

Reverse the 50mm in front of the 70-200.

Can some one explain this further?

This involves attaching the front of the 50mm lens to the front of the other lens. This works best when the filter size of each lens is close in size. A coupler (?) is needed to physically attach the lenses together. From what I've read the best results are achieved with the
aperature on the 50mm lens wide open.

So a 50mm 1.8 has 52 mm threads and most others have 58mm (Canon). So how do you hook them together?

10/20/2005 02:08:16 PM · #21

Originally posted by doctornick:

Originally posted by eslaydog:
Also, does anyone have a link to the extension tubes, etc that are needed? I can't seem to find them on the Canon site.

Kenko Extension tube set.

Does Canon make these?

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

10/20/2005 02:08:24 PM · #22

Originally posted by dsmeth:

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

Originally posted by dsmeth:

Originally posted by cpanaioti:
[quote=theSaj]

Reverse the 50mm in front of the 70-200.

Can some one explain this further?

This involves attaching the front of the 50mm lens to the front of the other lens. This works best when the filter size of each lens is close in size. A coupler (?) is needed to physically attach the lenses together. From what I've read the best results are achieved with the
aperature on the 50mm lens wide open.

So a 50mm 1.8 has 52 mm threads and most others have 58mm (Canon). So how do you hook them together?

You get a coupler for 52-58. They are much like step-up rings though with threads on both ends.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

10/20/2005 02:09:12 PM · #23

Originally posted by eslaydog:

Originally posted by doctornick:

Originally posted by eslaydog:
Also, does anyone have a link to the extension tubes, etc that are needed? I can't seem to find them on the Canon site.

Kenko Extension tube set.

Does Canon make these?

Canon EF25 Extension Tube

Robt.

NstiG8tr

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

10/20/2005 02:43:44 PM · #24

Does anybody have pics in their portfolio taken using a 50mm and another lens together that I can look at?

Also can you do this with any other lens or just certain ones?