I often recommend this lense for beginners because it is inexpensive, compact, light but also its quality is not too bad on an entry-level camera, especially considering its price.
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, available in Mount Sigma, Nikon D, Pentax and Sony |
Category of the lens |
zoom Telephoto |
Focal |
70 to 300mm zoom (equivalent 24x36mm sensor) (4.3x zoom) |
Aperture |
Minimum F/4 at 70mm and F/5.6 at 300mm, maximum F/22 at 70mm and F/32 at 300mm |
Optical stabilizer |
No |
Autofocus |
Yes, rear focusing ring |
Minimum distance of focus |
150cm at all focal lengths, 95cm in macro mode (200-300mm only) |
Lens coating |
1 lens SLD (Super Low Dispersion) (anti-chromatic aberration, anti-flare, better contrast) |
Diaphragm |
9 slices |
Filter diameter |
Ø58mm front |
Maximum size |
Ø76.6mm x 230mm |
Weight |
545g |
Construction |
Plastic with polycarbonate coating and glass |
A compact lens with a focal ranks of interesting and not too expensive. Its construction makes it lightweight and easily maneuverable target, both for
photographing to film that. Its macro mode allows for the proxy-photography with a magnification of 0.5x. Speaking of macro, getting started at this level
is a bit special. It should be between 200 and 300mm in order to engage the macro mode button.
The handling is quick, but the sense to turn the zoom ring is unlike other goals, it may bother (especially video) and be confusing to many.
Otherwise, the zoom ring is a little hard but the focus ring is easy to turn, they were easily in hand.
In addition to not being very expensive, its diameter filter (polarizer, ND, UV) 58mm (pretty common targets for entry and mid-range) can be equipped
without paying too much. As a second objective, it is very good, allowing a good zoom for cheap and quality not bad for a beginner. A good thing too is
that the lens comes with a part-sun.
This objective would hear me talk a dark side ... This is not the case. It has several problems (some quite large).
For starters, it has no stabilization (or optical or electronic) which is a shame because in the long lenses stabilization would have it been
very useful. Especially in low light (and thus possibly low speed).
Its optical quality, despite the SLD glass, does not protect against chromatic aberrations that are frequent enough in terms of high contrast and light.
The autofocus of this lens is slow to catch, it may take several seconds as it may also not hang at all. Aside from making a manual focus,
a bird in flight is almost impossible with this lense, as well as a fast moving subject.
I'm having carried around everywhere, it is easy to sand and other particles like that.
Its optical quality can be enough for a beginner and an entry-level housing. However, when the sensor has more than 14 to 15 MegaPixel, or
photosites too small (relative number of méga-pixel/taille sensor), the lens does not have a sufficient optical quality, the ''optical resolution'' is too low.
Meant that we had a catastrophic lack of sharpness (to overcome this problem, we can reduce the number of megapixels the camera).
Ultimately, this lens is good for beginners because it is cheap and convenient. But the optical quality is far from perfect. At the same time, we must not forget that this goal is less than
150 €. Its quality is suitable for the price.