Exotic Optics

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Macro photography is unique in a number of ways but one feature that makes it particularly exciting for me is the almost infinite variety of special optics that can be adapted for use at magnification. Macro lenses are, of course, purpose built for close-up imaging and, as you would expect, they run the gamut from  terrible to superb, with most falling somewhere in the middle. But what is even more interesting to me are the specialized lenses, usually designed for some specific purpose other than macro photography, that can be adapted for use as macro lenses. Some examples include optics designed for use as scanner lenses, close-up diopters, bellows lenses, enlarger lenses and a host of specialized industrial lenses. In each of these categories there are lenses that perform particularly well when adapted for macro. But there are a handful of lenses that really deserve to be placed in a special category all on their own because they set the standards by which other lenses or lens combinations are measured. These are the lenses I want to talk about this week and I call them Exotic Optics.

Phot by Mike Kanfer - used by permission


Exotic Optics is a somewhat arbitrary designation and you will see it used to describe lenses like Laowa’s probes, Nikon PC (Perspective Control) tilt/shift lenses, and Canon’s MPE-65 variable magnification lens, among others. But for the sake of this discussion I am going to define Exotic Optics to exclude these consumer-type lenses. The lenses I want to talk about are in a subgroup of optics that are relatively rare, typically very expensive, not designed or marketed for use on standard camera equipment, and were developed with a very specific use-case in mind. The one thing that all these lenses have in common is that they are highly sought after by macro photographers because of their extraordinary performance. These lenses are usually of a fixed focal length and typically, though not always, have a fixed magnification ratio. Many are designed to be used wide open, and perform best with a wide aperture. None of them come with a standard camera mount and some require complicated special adapter setups to use with a consumer camera.


Most of the lenses I will be talking about are “industrial lenses”, designed for use in a variety of industrial applications, from making prints in the motion picture industry, to scanning silicon wafers for quality control in computer chip fabrication. They are used in machine vision applications where the highest possible clarity and resolution are required. Because they are not made for consumer applications they frequently lack specialized coatings on the glass elements, and often have no external controls or markings. They are possibly the only lenses that are more intimidating for mere mortals to use than microscope objectives.




I must make a confession here… While I have made it my business to learn all I can about these rare and expensive lenses, I do not own any of them. The lenses I am going to talk about are on my wish list list and are even listed in the order that they appear on that list. Some of these lenses are not absurdly costly, but the less expensive exotics also seem to be the hardest ones to find on the used market. With almost no exception, these lenses must be sourced on the used market, or occasionally through an industrial surplus outlet. Virtually never would we find these lenses in a consumer retail outlet, and many of them have been out of production for decades. The selection of lenses I am going to talk about are all lenses that I have studied in detail and many of them have been carefully evaluated and written about on specialized websites like Closeuphotography.com (Robert O’tool), Photomacrography.net (Rik Littlefield), and Coin Imaging (various), and I know many individuals who own one or more of these Exotic Optics. For example, the cover of Tuesday’s livestream shows a PN150 2.8 Printing Nikkor belonging to movie industry-insider, Mike Kanfer.

Leica APO Macro-Summarit-S



The lenses that I am going to focus on are listed below:

1) Printing Nikkor PN150 f/2.8

2) Printing Nikkor PN105 f/2.8

3) Printing Nikkor PN95 f/2.8

4) Mejiro Genossen FLO530 f/4.0 110mm

5) Etendue Mejiro OTH100 90mm f/5.6

6) Schneider Kreuznach Macro Varon CAS 85 f/4.5

7) Rodenstock APO-Rodagon-D 75mm f/4.5

8) Leica Z-Macro 100mm f/4

9) Zeiss -S-Planar 60mm f/4

10) Kowa LM50HC 50mm f/2.0

11) Computar F-mount 100mm f/2.8

Rayfact by Nikon

You will notice that I have not included any of the excellent microscope objectives that could easily qualify for a spot on this list. That is mostly because we have talked about these lenses often and most of them are used for significantly higher magnification applications than these lenses. The optics I will discuss on Tuesday cover a range of magnifications from 1:4 up to 4X, though most are at or near 1:1. We will talk about the relative merits of each lens, why you might want one, and how much you can expect to pay, should you even be able to find one! The link to the livestream is here…https://youtube.com/live/4cwnV5LPQKw?feature=share


On Thursday we will continue our discussion of lenses by looking at the other end of the macro spectrum - affordable macro lenses. This will include both new and older macro lenses that can be bought new or on the used market at reasonable prices. Some of these lenses will surprise you, especially given the prices. We will stick to actual macro lenses, mostly from well known companies. Here is the link to the livestream…https://youtube.com/live/r8LuzT4lpRQ?feature=share


On Saturday we have Episode 8 of AfterStack with Bud Perrott - It starts at 10AM and you are invited! Here is the invitation:

Topic: Allan Walls' AfterStack with Bud Perrott

Time: Oct 19, 2024 10:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6916802815?pwd=TS9tZi9ZL1NXeVUvOUF4eTg5YjdlZz09&omn=83280587471

Meeting ID: 691 680 2815

Passcode: 678122


There was a problem downloading the recorded Episode 7, which is why the video has not yet been posted - I am working on a resolution and hope to have it up soon



On Thursday I talked about good, affordable macro lenses from many different companies - there was a lot of information to cover but here are links to every one of the lenses I talked about:

Key Characteristics to Look for

  1. Focal Length: A range between 60mm and 100mm is ideal for versatility in macro photography. The longer the focal length, the more distance you have from the subject.

  2. Magnification Ratio: All these lenses offer at least 1:1 magnification, crucial for true macro work.

  3. Autofocus vs. Manual: Many affordable lenses are manual, but autofocus can be a bonus if speed is important.

  4. Image Stabilization: Not all lenses have it, but it's a valuable feature for handheld macro photography.

  5. Build Quality: These lenses are known for their sturdy construction, especially those from third-party manufacturers like Tokina and Tamron.

Here are the lenses - note that the links are affiliate links, meaning I may make a small fee from Amazon if you buy one of these using the links below:

1. Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Macro (New/Used)  $700

     https://amzn.to/3UcYRau

  • Why: This lens is renowned for its sharpness, color rendition, and image stabilization (VC), which helps in handheld shooting. It's competitively priced new, and even more affordable used. Its autofocus is also snappy and reliable.


1b.  Tamron 60mm f/2 Di II LD Macro (New/Used) APSC $390

          https://amzn.to/48d4tXU

  • Why: Another strong showing from Tamron, this lens offers a fast f/2 aperture, making it ideal for low light. It’s designed for APS-C sensors but offers excellent sharpness and affordability.


1c.  Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro (Older Version) (Used) $300

       https://amzn.to/3zSE0Cl

  • Why: The predecessor to the current 90mm Tamron macro lenses, this older version is still a fantastic performer and can often be found at very low prices on the used market. While it lacks the newer VC stabilization, its optics are still impressive.


2. Tokina AT-X 100mm f/2.8 PRO D Macro (New/Used)    older version $298

    https://amzn.to/3NyFlRG

  • Why: Tokina lenses have a cult following among macro photographers for their solid build and impressive optical quality. This one delivers sharp images with pleasing bokeh at a fraction of the cost of more premium brands. A great budget-friendly choice.


2b  Tokina ATX-i 100mm f/2.8 FF (the new lens) $408

       https://amzn.to/3Nujif5


3. Laowa 90mm f/2.8 2:1 APO Macro (new version) $500

          https://amzn.to/3AaK1u0

  • Why: This fully manual lens offers an impressive 2:1 magnification at a relatively low cost. While it doesn’t have autofocus or stabilization, its macro capabilities are stellar, especially for the price.


3b  Laowa 65mm f/2.8 APO 2X $400

       https://amzn.to/4dUKeiO


3c. Laowa 100mm f/2.8 APO 2X $500

       https://amzn.to/4eP9JDy


4. Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG DN Macro Art (new) $800

    https://amzn.to/3Nv1pg8

  •    Why: Sigma lenses are known for their sharpness, and this one comes with optical stabilization (OS), which is a nice bonus. While no longer a new model, it's an excellent used option and often found at a great price.


4b  Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro Lens  $540

       https://amzn.to/4eM3iB5


5. Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM (Used) $480

    https://amzn.to/489QbHA

  • Why: A compact, lightweight, and sharp lens, it’s great for crop-sensor users and offers excellent performance for its price. It’s very portable and offers accurate autofocus.


5b Canon RF100 f/2.8 L   $1000

      https://amzn.to/3A0Lrr8


7. Nikon AF-S Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G ED -“renewed” for $550

  • Why: Nikon’s optics are always solid, and this iconic 105mm macro lens is no exception. It's sharp, compact, and delivers great results for macro and portraiture. A great used buy.


7b.  Nikon Z MC105 f/2.8 new - $1050

       https://amzn.to/409AVIx


7c.  Nikon Z MC50 f/2.8 - new - $650.

       https://amzn.to/48avj2J


7d. Micro-Nikkor 85 f/3.5. for APSC   $500

       https://amzn.to/3Yt4OTc


8. Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8 Macro (New/Used) $479.  MFT

     https://amzn.to/4h9f4ak


  • Why: For Micro Four Thirds users, this lens offers superb sharpness and 1:1 magnification. It’s compact and weather-sealed, making it a reliable option for outdoor macro photography.

   

9. Sony FE 50mm f/2.8 Macro (New/Used)  $1,100.

       https://amzn.to/4faLm35

  • Why: This lens is affordable for Sony's full-frame E-mount system and offers great 1:1 magnification. It’s compact, sharp, and versatile, though a bit shorter in focal length than the others.


9b. Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 - also $1,100

       https://amzn.to/3YsY6wr f



Honorable Mentions


TTArtisan 100mm f/2.8 2X for FF.  $339

https://amzn.to/4dQPd3W


Astr-Hori 25mm 2-5X   $250

https://amzn.to/3A1RBXX


Astr-Hori 120mm f/2.8 manual  $370

https://amzn.to/4dWdA0i


7Artisans 60mm f/2.8 manual APSC  $150

https://amzn.to/3Y9hwF9


AsttHori85mm f/2.8 tilt FF $330

https://amzn.to/4fr11LR


Viltrox, Samyang, Fuji, Brighton Star, Meike also make low cost manual macro lenses but I have not used any of them and cannot recommend them until I have