lowkick Loc: Connecticut

I ordered a Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x macro lens almost 4 months ago. It was out of stock and back ordered everywhere, so I just sat and waited. Yesterday I got an email that the lens was on its way from B&H and it showed up at my door today.

Definitely worth the wait. Here a some of my first shots, just to see what it can do. This lens really needs to be used with a tripod, especially when you get past 3X magnification, but I was excited to play, so I didn't use a tripod. These photos were shot with a Canon 5D Mark IV and a Yongnuo YN24EX TTL macro flash. The flash did a good job of lighting the subject from 1X to about 3X, but at 4 and 5X, the lens was so close to the subject that the flash was actually shooting beyond the subject and not lighting it. I will have to figure out how to light subjects at such a close range. The lens is manual focus with no focus mechanism. You have to physically move the camera in and out or "zoom" the lens to achieve focus.

The first 4 pictures are of the pistil of a lily at 1X through 4X. I couldn't get enough light on the pistil at 5X to even see it, let alone focus on it. These shots are not cropped at all.

The shot of the petals of the red flower was cropped. The other photo of the center of the red flower wasn't. The shot of the greenish yellow flower (actually a white Dahlia) was cropped a little.

My initial reaction after this short handheld test is that I'm going to love playing with my new toy!

1X

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2X

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3X

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4X

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Toment Loc: FL, IL

Focus stacking might help the extreme 1:3 shots 😀 BTW nice shots Have fun!

lowkick Loc: Connecticut

I do plan to use focus stacking with this lens, but these were just test shots to see what the lens can do without any manipulation.

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Excellent 🎖️🎖️🎖️🎖️🎖️ Now I want one

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

NEAT!

JimmyTB

Nice first shots. That lens is on my short list. There are a few Hoggers posting regularly on both the Gallery and Macro sections that use that lens although I don't remember right now which members. If you don't currently subscribe to Macro Section, I highly recommend it, or at least check out the posts. Happy shooting.

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

Impressive!

Robertl594 Loc: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Nantucket

These are awesome!

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

Looks like a lot of fun....enjoy the lens!!!!

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

I am not familiar with this lens at all. But I see virtually no depth of field. You need to do focus stacking. Are you using it wide open at F 2.8 ? When I shoot macros with one of my 35mm, 50mm, or 100mm Macro lenses I'll stop down to F 4 or F 5.6 (from wide open of F 2.8), and of course use a tripod, cable release, mirror lock up, etc. And often manual focus stacking and manual focus. Though your images are interesting for a first try. There is a Macro section on the UHH.

dbrugger25 Loc: Raleigh, NC

There are various brands of led macro ring lights that attach to your lens. I think they are better than ring flashes for still objects. If you were photographing a winged insect some have a flash function but are not as quick as a real electronic ring flash. They are a lot less expensive than a flash.

allanj Loc: New York City

Above are my thoughts exactly. Thanks for posting.

tcthome Loc: NJ

Nice. Use your flash off camera or purchase an flexible arm flash from B&H

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=MACRO%20FLASH&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma

Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

Excellent macro shots, Ira, especially handheld, a feat within itself.

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