sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Fellows, Here's something that us non-Canon users may find interesting.

I bought one of these today so I'll post more info and example images when it arrives which I suspect to be in a few weeks.

https://zyoptics.net/product/mitakon-creator-25-85mm-f-2-8-1-5x-super-macro/

It's a Mitakon Creator 85mm f/2.8 1X to 5X Super Macro lens that is available in several camera body mounts (mine is Nikon F). It is an all steel construction and please be sure to note that this is a MANUAL lens and it DOES NOT focus to infinity so it will be strictly for macro use. It sells for $499 and and additional $10 for standard shipping. This is about half the price of the world-class Canon MP-E65 (lucky Canon users!).

The specifications are what I personally desire in a macro lens with the two most important ones to me which are being nearly telecentric (flat depth of field) and APO quality glass.

Like all high magnification lenses, holding still is very difficult and highly important (I wish I were better at it). Lighting also becomes a top priority at higher magnifications however at 85mm this lens does provide a bit more working distance at 5X magnification than the Canon 65mm does.

Finding the sweet-spot of the lens will vary with the conditions and diffraction will always a tradeoff for high magnification so expect that some tweaking will always be required for best results.

tinusbum Loc: east texas

i might have to try one but i'll wait for your review

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

I am happy to see it has a tripod collar !
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Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

Yes, I am glad you are bringing this up, and very glad you bought one! Under the Reviews tab you can see the review by a Richard Wong. I wish it went into more detail about the sharpness of the lens, but it does provide interesting details such as the unusually long working distance for a lens in this class.
He also describes that his came with a LED ring light for focus assistance. Not sure if that is standard since I see no mention of it in the web site. Anyway, that would be handy for these sorts of lenses. If you have the ring light, it can be powered thru its USB port by either a computer, or if one wants to be portable you can use one of those battery packs that recharge cell phones to power it.

Looking forward to see what you think about it!

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Tinusbum, you have the Canon MP-E65 and your 3X to 5X images of live insects are simply amazing. I know how difficult shooting at 2X is in the field and you truly show mastery of your equipment and technique. I also tip my hat at your lighting also for I know how difficult that is too.

I'm hoping that this lens works out as a walk-around macro and to compliment the others that I have however I actually want it for studio work where I can experiment with ways to take it beyond the 5X realm with its wider field of view.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Wide open or stop down metering?

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Scott, I suspect that it will perform best at an aperture setting of f/5.6 on low magnification and perhaps f/8 on higher magnifications although both time and testing will tell. I have yet to master magnifications over 1:1 in the field for I simply can't hit good focus so my plans for this will be as an addition to my basement setup where I'm hoping that it gives me a wider field of view with a flat depth of field. Then again, it may be another addition to my many "paper weights".

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

I think the first video review said its sharpest at f/8 for both 1:1 and 1:5. So it is going to have a fair depth of focus at all magnifications.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Mark, I am an impulse buyer at heart and I most often suffer from buyer's remorse because of it. This may end up being one of these experiences. I ordered it in a Nikon mount for most of my gear is Nikon and I have a Nikon to Fujifilm X mount adapter that allows me to use my Nikon glass on my Fujifilm X-T20 so this lens may be enjoyable in the field mounted on it as a lighter and smaller rig. The Nikon 200mm f/4 ED that I most often use is a great lens and also a great boat anchor if I would ever need one.

Of course I will make a full review of the lens and how it performs when used by me (results for others will vary and I am far from mastery in the field). It's coming from China...Oh Boy...and I suspect it will take several weeks to arrive...perhaps here in time for Christmas.

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

I've had those (impulsive buys). The lens should be great, and I do see the led ring light comes with it, standard. It should be comparable for stacking like the mpe65. I think the Canon lens' sharpest aperture is also f/8. Anyway what you do with it should parallel what is done with the Canon lens. You can check in photomicrography.net for what they do with that. I note that people are impressed that this future lens of yours does not seem to have chromatic aberration. That is pretty impressive!

Curve_in Loc: Virginia

Any more thoughts on this lens? I found my finger hoovering over "Buy-it-now" :)

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

I have the revised version of this lens and for us 'non-Canon guys and gals' there is nothing else like it. It's strengths are its long working distance which is a joy to have in the field. The magnification is variable so simply turn the barrel to fill the frame with the subject.

It is near telecentric which makes it great for focus stacking. Very well built, all steel..no plastic. It comes with a tripod collar and a LED ring light (I recommend putting a drop of superglue on the micro USB fitting to keep it from pushing into the light...wish that I had).

The price is more than fair for a specialty lens. It is a manual lens and unless one has "nerves of steel" it is best used with a tripod over 2X.

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

Looking forward to learning more. Tinusbum will have vastly more experience since he uses the mp-e65, and you know from him that these things are possible to use!
A couple years ago I briefly rented the mp-e65 lens to play with, as I was considering buying one. It was challenging! You are right about the tripod, but out of practicality it will also be ok with leaning the 'nose' on something solid like a log or on the ground while shooting. Poor results are just the bottom of the learning curve. It gets better.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Mark, I am better served in a studio setting where I have a controlled environment. I do enjoy being in the field with camera in hand and I both admire as well as be in awe of those that can 'nail the shot' outdoors. I know that it is a matter of more misses than hits however it is a skill set in its own right. Illumination outdoors is a science of its own and unlike my basement where I turn out the lights other than those directed on the subject, natural light is quite variable and using a complimentary diffused flash takes trial and error and much, much practice. Those that have it mastered make it look far too easy....and it is far from it.

The Canon MP-E65 is a 'one of a kind' lens and it can be a cruel mistress at higher magnifications. The Mitakon is no different. I would not have an expectation of a variable magnification lens being as sharp though its entire range as individual prime macros would be at their fixed magnification so some degree of less than perfect would be inherent. There are microscope objectives that are razor sharp however their depth of field makes them impractical for anything other than focus stacking.

The Mitakon does have some internal reflection and I have yet to find a way to eliminate it. I do use an M42 to T-Mount adapter attached to a thread adapter that mounts on the lens filter threads. The T-Mount acts as a 'snoot' which stops angular reflections from entering the lens which was quite an improvement. Now to deal with the internal glare which tends to add haze and a bit of softness.