FiddleMaker Loc: Merrimac, MA

I am wondering if any UHH members have any experience (good or bad) with a FUJIFILM XF 80mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR Macro Lens. I have been toying with the idea of getting one for my Fuji X-T2 although this lens is a tad pricy.
Thanks, ~FiddleMaker

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Are you considering it primarily for macro use, or just for the focal length? The reason I ask is that you might also consider the excellent (and faster) 90mm f2 if you don’t intend it for strictly macro work.

User ID

A very valid question from user TriX.

I wanted a short tele with OIS. The only choice available was the 100mm macro. I was NOT pleased about that.

Given a lack of alternatives, I bought it. In using it as a short tele with OIS I am still NOT pleased about that.

Listen to TX. Think twice.

FiddleMaker Loc: Merrimac, MA

I was considering it only for close-up work. My other option is to get a less expensive macro lens for my Nikon D750.

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

You have other alternatives with Fuji. There's also the 60mm macro lens and because the X-T2 is a mirrorless camera you can use all kinds of manual focus options especially if you're going to be on a tripod. I do a lot of close-up work with an X-T2; what kind of photos do you want to take?

f8lee Loc: New Mexico

I have this lens - and find it more than acceptable for the intended purpose of close up work. Attached are a couple of samples.

It is rather heavy, and oddly noisy when you just carry it wround (apparently it's normal - the OIS mechanism shakes a bit)

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FiddleMaker Loc: Merrimac, MA

flowers, honey bees on flowers, antique watch faces, old jewelry, purfling corners of my violins, parts of my violins during construction, lots of other stupid things that probably don't require a macro lens.

ELNikkor

Get the less expensive lens for your D750. (I use an AI 55 2.8 Micro on mine.)

FiddleMaker Loc: Merrimac, MA

Years ago (back in the 1970s) I had a 55 f/2.8 for my 1970 vintage Nikon FTN but like an idiot I gave it away when I bought my first digital Nikon (D7000) thinking I had do need for it.
I could consider the Tokina 100mm Nikon mount. Much less expensive.

RKL349 Loc: Connecticut

Would you consider a Viltrox 85 mm f1.8 lens. B&H sells them at $399. and the reviews read quite well. I am intrigued by them a bit but have not heard much, outside of these reviews. Maybe google will advise me better. Just an alternative thought.....

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

OK, so I do a lot of plants and flowers -- wife is a botanist and lives to garden. Next concern is how convenient do you want the capability to be. One of Fuji's dedicated macro lenses will continue to deliver the camera's auto functions: auto focus and auto exposure. So conceivably you could get away with some hand-held shots. The problem with that is when you move into that close focus range depth of field even at f/stops like f/8 and f/11 is measured in millimeters. Taking those photos hand-held is hit and miss. I would suggest as many as 6 to 10 attempts and you might get one. While taking the photo if your body sways (it does) so much as 10 millimeters between the camera locking focus (on what part of the subject?) and you're tripping the shutter then you get a miss -- try again. For that reason I rarely try such photos hand-held and I get out the tripod.

Fuji cameras have great focus peaking function and will let you focus precisely doing close focus work -- tripod required. Once on a tripod those auto functions are far less important.

So how do you see yourself using this lens? Are you expecting to be able to hand-hold the photos and rely on the camera's auto-focus? If so then you need to invest in one of the Fuji lenses. No need to read further.

However if you're willing to commit to the tripod then you have more options. One simple option and very inexpensive is to get a set of extension tubes and use your existing lenses. The extensions tubes allow closer focus and will likely disable auto-focus. One other problem is that your other lenses weren't designed to work in close and forcing them can wind up costing you in image quality -- soft corners for example.

The tripod also permits you to use a non-Fuji macro lens which could be substantially less expensive yet still produce excellent results. You end up with an adapter between the camera and lens and you have to manual focus. The camera can still auto-expose in A priority.

This is what I do. I go both ways in terms of cost: using a less expensive option than the Fuji lenses as well as using a much more expensive option. My favorite camera for close-up work is my Fuji X-T2 but I use my other cameras as well including FF and my macro lenses work for both formats.

One of the options that I use is very inexpensive. I learned many decades ago that darkroom enlarger lenses make excellent macro lenses and when I used to use bellows style film cameras I just mounted an enlarging lens to the camera for any close-up work.

I took that info with me into the digital world and when I wanted to do close-up work with a digital camera I did the same thing. Mirrorless cameras like the Fuji make it very simple. I did have the advantage of a drawer full of enlarging lenses that I kept after I shut down the darkroom. So years ago with my first Fuji camera I simply adapted my 60mm Rodagon to work on my Fuji X-E2. Fuji makes a 60mm macro lens and it may be as good as my 60mm Rodagon but I doubt it. That cost me less than $50.00 for the adapter. Good enlarging lenses are available out there for a song and it would be easy to set up something like I did for under $100.00.

For my FF cameras I have some very expensive macro lenses and I've likewise adapted them to use on my Fuji so I probably use my Leitz 90mm most but the adapted enlarging lens comes in a close second. That's about focal length more than anything. The longer focal length gives you more working room as you're farther from the subject. Overall I prefer the more working room but not always. So I keep multiple options.

These photos I know were taken with the X-T2 and 60mm enlarging lens:
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-594864-1.html

Here's some with the 90mm -- first with the Fuji (anemones) and second with FF.
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-669052-1.html
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-652289-1.html

Below is a full-res close-up taken with the enlarging lens adapted to my Fuji X-E2 give you an idea of what's possible.

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TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Interesting. Would you mind sharing the source of your Rodagon to Fuji adapter? I just happen to have an excellent Rodagon enlarger lens, and I’d like to try that with my X-T2.

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

It's a little tricky since enlarging lenses focus by adjusting the enlarger bellows and most enlarging lenses have a 39mm thread. So you start with something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Fotasy-Helicoid-Focusing-Compatible-Mirrorless/dp/B00EXJXVC8/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=focusing+adapter+m42+to+Fuji+X&qid=1616253287&sr=8-4

That's got you mounted on the Fuji and with focus adjustment but you're not easily going to find it with a 39mm thread on the other end so M42 works. Then just purchase a 39mm -- 42mm step ring.
https://www.amazon.com/Precision-Metal-Adapter-Camera-Accessory/dp/B08QCRXW8C/ref=sr_1_17?dchild=1&keywords=39mm+to+42mm+step+ring&qid=1616253500&sr=8-17

Almost there: Depending on the focal length of the enlarging lens (anything from 50mm and longer should work) you'll need to adjust the working focus range. The easiest way to do that is with a cheap set of 42mm extension tubes.
https://www.amazon.com/Pomya-Mount-Focus-Extension-Digital/dp/B07VGDSCGL/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=42mm+extension+tubes&qid=1616253728&sr=8-5
The shortest tube in my set allows my 60mm Rodagon to focus infinity. I often use the next tube up to get to a good close focus range. The longer the focal length enlarging lens you use the more extension tube you'll need.

NOTE! Many enlarging lenses offer the feature of illuminated f/stops by transferring light from the enlarger. Nice in the darkroom but a problem if you want to do this since that'll produce a fogging light leak. If you try this and use such a lens you'll have to find a way to completely seal that off while allowing the aperture to still function. A lens without that feature is easier to use.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Thank you soooo much for the detailed information. I already have some of those parts - ordering the rest and looking forward to trying it. Much appreciated.

Chris

FiddleMaker Loc: Merrimac, MA

Ysarex, thanks very much for you detailed and informative post. This gets stored in my "Helpful Hints" folder.
Lately, due to my age and health issues I use a tripod, and set lens to manual focus. If I am using the D750, I also use a cable release as well and set the shutter for a 3 second delay. But on a very sunny day I can hand-hold the X-T2 and shoot at a fast shutter speed because I use a low f-stop number
You are clearly a more advanced macro photographer than myself. I am basically a dubber .