Here the lense 100% macro by excellence, there is no point to anything else, only the macro but, he's doing it perfectly.
Features of the Canon EF MP-E 65mm F/2.8 macro 1-5x |
Parameters |
Values |
Mount Type |
EF adaptable on all Canon DSLR with the same type of bayonet |
Category of the lens |
Fixed focal macro |
Focal |
65mm ring with 1x to 5x magnification |
Aperture |
Minimum F/2.8, maximum F/16, Constant F/2.8 at all magnifications |
Optical stabilizer |
None |
Autofocus |
None, no focus ring. |
Minimum distance of focus |
24cm(1x) to 2cm(5x) |
Lens coating |
Super UD lens element (anti-chromatic aberration, anti-flare) |
Diaphragm |
6 slices |
Filter diameter |
Ø58mm front |
Maximum size |
Ø81mm x 220mm |
Weight |
710g |
Construction |
Not tropicalized, Stainless Steel and Glass |
The MPE is the 65mm macro lens and ultra-macro by definition, it can also do that. Indeed, it has a magnification from 1x to 5x, but no ring or system
development. How so? Simple: advance back your device. The farthest distance of the subject is at 1x: 24cm and the closest distance is 2cm
to 5x.
The fact of not having a ring development related to the fact that the depth of field not exceed 5mm and 1mm at 1x to 5x is very restrictive because the breath of
wind, or even breathing is annoying. In addition if you make the pictures of hands. It takes a long time before you get to take pictures without moving with such a small
depth of field. We can obviously use a tripod, but as such, he pressed useless. It must be coupled with a rail focus micrometer (I will discuss
with the tripod). Using a macro ring flash is almost mandatory when one wants to take a fast moving insect (such as ants) because
low light even when it is F2.8 5x.
We must also take into account the enormous magnification and 5x, shutter speed of 1/200th of a second is enough and it is very likely to be the blur
move. Even if the objective can be F/2.8 only rarely it is used, we preferr to use F/16 (the maximum) in order to have a good depth of field. In
F/2.8 and 5x magnification, the depth of field is just tiny, about the thickness of a few sheets of paper.
It is a perfect lens for those who want to take pictures of tiny things and often invisible to the naked eye. But it has several black spots: the absence of ring
focus and autofocus, the considerable increase of the objective with the magnification (up from when it is 12cm to 25cm when the 1x magnification is 5x!), the
low light and depth of field with magnification greater than or equal to 3.
However, there are also many good points such as rugged construction, the presence of a rotating base so you can attach a tripod, the high optical quality,
the possibility of very close macro photos, If you think that the magnification is not enough, the MPE65mm can be coupled to a tele-
(1.4x and 2x). This objective is a little heavy but well balanced.
Finally, the price is a bit high (more than 1'050 CHF (950 €)). This goal is only available in Canon mount and to my knowledge, no other brand of camera does not offer
macro lens as good (both Nikon, Tamron, Sigma, Konica, Olympus, Pentax and Sony).
After several months I use a lot of fun to go out, lie down in the grass and take a picture at the grass roots. Once the difficulties
overcome the lense is a real pleasure to do with the macro, despite its constraints.