Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

A photography friend of mine was chatting me up about wide angle macro, and that got me curious about the subject -- one of many techniques on my 'maybe one day' list. So I found a nice old video about it from the great Thomas Shahan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZcYXUMkhek. This is mainly a review of the Venus/Laowa 15mm wide angle macro that can go to 1:1. This is a rather expensive lens, unfortunately, but he does show some other creative options that are far more affordable.
But then my search turned up the 'clone' of the Venus lens, made by Opteka, and here it is: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071JPFXBR?pf_rd_p=183f5289-9dc0-416f-942e-e8f213ef368b&pf_rd_r=6C2SHE94B79TBW6HV00R. For the money, that is hard to beat. It lacks the tilt-shift feature of the Venus, but I think that is mainly useful to help remove distortions that would be apparent with architectural photography. I don't do architectural. Reviews I have seen claim that the Opteka clone is optically equivalent to the Venus.
So... here I am, a few weeks before Christmas, and now I am having affordable GAS for once!

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

Mark, thanks for this info, let us know what you think of it and please post pics when you have a chance.
If it is indeed a decent optic I will also be grabbing one.

EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England

Mark, I have just read the comments and Q&A on the advert you referred to and noticed there are a few problems but I expect you have already studied them. It is very cheap though. I know the Venus 14mm macro lens is very sharp and creates some beautiful images but these wide angle lenses can be difficult for 1:1 and close ups because you have to be so close that getting light on the subject is difficult. I am not trying to put you off, I am sure you would do well with any wide angle macro but Thomas Shahan makes it look easier than I think it is. You will have fun and a new lens is an exciting Christmas gift.

randave2001 Loc: Richmond

This user from Malaysia has done some beautiful work using wide angle macro. Here is a link to one of his posts

https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-325441-1.html

Might be worth touching base with him about his experiences and techniques.

EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England

Yes, this chap's images are amazing. Also he has a blog with lots of information on his equipment and techniques and is very generous with helping other photographers.

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

Oh, I know about Kurt (Orion mystery)! He is using the expensive Venus/Laowa version of this lens. That one is not for me since I regard this sort of lens as a specialty piece of equipment; not for every day use. So I would not want to spend a ton of $ on it.
It is pretty easy to find discussion online about the Opteka copy. What I had come across was that when Opteka first came out with their lens, the folks at Venus/Laowa were reportedly not happy about it and were looking into trying to stop it. But that was some years ago and nothing has come from it. There is even speculation that maybe Venus/Laowa is actually selling excess inventory to Opteka (manufacturing pirated designs is still not cheap, so how could Opteka sell a lens for cheap), and so Opteka is perhaps using extra glass from Venus/Laowa. That is all speculation, mind you.
It is well known that there is a lot of ... it don't know what to call it, re-labelling(?) among the Chinese photo equipment companies. You can see this commonly, for example, when you shop for one of those inexpensive Chinese camera flashes, and you see identical flashes, with nearly identical prices, being sold under different brand names. You can order a model under one brand name and get the item with a different label on it. That happened to me with my twin flash.
My worry is that if V/L is in fact selling glass to Opteka, that they are selling off their inferior glass that did not quite pass inspection. And then Opteka puts those into their lenses. What I know that marks the Opteka as being not as nice is that the camera mount is described as being a tad wiggly, and that the focus ring is stiffer than what one would want. Anyway, I'm looking into more research. I will try to not be impulsive.

Pysanka Artist Loc: Rochester, NY

You're giving me GAS, uh, VAPOR! What are the focusing distances for your new lens?

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

Don't know what VAPOR means.
At 1:1 the focus distance is in millimeters. I expect the most interesting compositions are of larger subjects (big bugs, flowers, mushrooms), and then the focus distance will be farther but still very close. Still, this is a lens for very tolerant subjects that don't mind a lens being close.
Brenda had brought up a significant challenge, which is getting light on a subject at close range. Shahan had a flash deflector and diffuser that took care of that. The issue won't be a problem for me since I have one of those wonky dual flashes with the two heads hanging way out on flexible arms.

WestTnGuy

Hey Mark you got some good wonky stuff!!! Oh what is that I feel? Oh another one of those GAS attacks coming on!!

But seriously, let us know how the lens works. After getting banged up is a car accident my son tells me I should get more into Marco and forget the landscapes!

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

Don't worry. Folks here will be the first to know.