Extreme Macro 3 - More vintage Lenses Canon MP-E 65mm, Leica 100mm F4

Its a "how to" review and explanation of 5x macro. I finally get to review the Canon MP-E 65mm f2.8 5x Macro lens and the Leica Leitz Wetzlar Elmar 100mm f4 macro lens. I also include my Nikkor 55mm Micro f2.8 on Nikon bellows to achieve 5x.
Canon MP-e 65mm Macro - buy it Amazon amzn.to/2q784A6 Amazon UK: amzn.to/2w7J4fk Amazon CA: amzn.to/2vR6pmc
Nikon 55mm Micro f2.8 Buy it on Amazon amzn.to/2roKYtq
fyi - you get lightly increased DOF with the 55mm Macro f3.5 - it's sharper at f22.
Nikon Bellows. I couldn't find my PB bellows anywhere but these work just fine:
Macro Bellows: amzn.to/2r3xtjc Amazon UK: amzn.to/2uKwumM Amazon CA: amzn.to/2v5n2gB
Reverse mount adapter for the 55mm mirco lens amzn.to/2q3ZOSj Amazon UK: amzn.to/2w7usNl Amazon CA: amzn.to/2tQVM5u
Nikon to Olympus m43 Adapter amzn.to/2q7bzGD Amazon UK: amzn.to/2vR8Rcz Amazon CA: amzn.to/2haeH5F
Canon to Leica R adapter amzn.to/2rDwx0Z Amazon UK: amzn.to/2vfhpg7
Leica Leitz Wetzlar 100mm f4 macro - You might find it on ebay. rover.ebay.com...

[@garethwilliams976]

Just to clarify - Flat field lenses focus sharply on all points equidistant from the lens whereas most lenses do not do so. True Macro lenses have flat field which means that they can be used for copying plane subjects like paintings and postage stamps at wide apertures and all points in the image will be sharp. Distortions such a barrel and pincushion have nothing to do with flat field. It is very often confused by photographers!

[@lonniefarrare1297]

The mp-e 65mm is one of the few lenses i wish I didn't sell. It's a tough lens to use but with the macro flash you can get stunning results.

[@d1ehl.]

I've been staring at the lens from afar. I love Macro but I'm a beginner & scared that I buy that lens & am totally intimidated, turned off by it & future macro photography because I know it's crazy difficult to use.

[@FernandoTrindadePT]

It is a wonder! I just love it. And I use it on the field!!!

[@MrAustrokiwi]

All though you can, you should not focus using a bellows. The purpose of the bellows is to set the magnification. You use the focusing rail for focusing the bellows-lens set up. Diffraction is a function of the laws of physics, so the MP-E 65 suffers diffraction exactly the same as other lenses (as your photo actually demonstrated). DOF is influenced by the magnification and the actual F stop ( as opposed to the nominal F stop set on the lens) not the lens. The higher the magnification the shallower the DOF. Also with modern cameras F 16 is often too small an aperture.. yes you get better DOF but you are getting substantial diffraction blurring( as your photos show). To improve your photos please use mirror lock up( stops mirror slap blurring your shots) EFCS (if its on your canon) and with the MFT camera; silent shutter. Then either use a 10 second shutter delay or a remote shutter release. You should see substantial improvement with your shots. Also I believe 1-2 is half life sized. 2 X magnification is "2-1" ( not 1-2 as you said)

[@LavikkaPhotography]

I don't think you noticed.... the Leica doesn't have a focus ring and is only focused by the bellows.

[@rodrigovazquez433]

Lavikka Photography You have an incomplete setup. You need a focus rail to focus. Bellows set the magnification.

[@amiga2091]

Tripod and remote shutter NEEDED for this lens!

[@michaelscaplis]

Would be nice to see an episode comparing the Nikkor 55mm Macro with modern autofocus lenses like the Sony 90mm Macro, 50mm Macro and 30mm Macro.

[@SnahLhug]

FYI The Pentax 4/100mm bellows lens plus Auto Bellows set also focuses to infinity.

[@harrygilliland5675]

Is the problem with the Canon MP-E 65mm that the lens has to be parallel with the subject for the whole subject to be in focus.

[@LavikkaPhotography]

Yeah the smallest aperture is only f16 and for the kind of magnification you need at least f22 and f32 would be ideal to get everything in focus.

[@brianthomas6500]

Not a good idea to photograph on a fold in the note and its not parallel to the sensor. Not a very good example of how to use extreme macro lens set-ups.

[@HoIyGrail]

Instead of criticizing, how about making a constructive video on your macro method?

[@PrimePhilosophy]

Kept thinking you should be using a focusing rail to hold the camera and focus...

[@Michael-fw5ef]

Very good video on Macro. I always have a problem with shadows reflecting off my macro subjects. I think I will have to go with a Tamron 90mm macro and sit the lens well back from my subject to allow the light to properly illuminate it.

[@andyvan5692]

looks like a real hassle to use. but: you should try it on an old school macro slide (you know, the post with the camera plate on it), makes the rig look like a drill press; BUT gives you focus control, with this style of macro lens, the "focus" is realy the MAGNIFICATION adjustment, you focus by moving the camera! then those shots of the ball bearing tree will be a lot easier to deal with.

[@drfaustens4504]

I am not sure of the mechanics, but you can also use a Leitz Hektor (135mm?) as a macro. Word has it that it is not all that sharp (opinions vary), but it has a relatively inexpensive price point. I believe it works by removing the front element and mounting that on a Leica bellows.

[@garethwilliams976]

The Hektor is not a telephoto lens but a true long focus. When mounting the head on a bellows you remove the whole lens head from the focusing tube ( that has no glass in it.). The 90mm Elmar worked the same way.

[@abrahamshell9594]

Just got the chance to work with the Canon lens in this video and it was pretty interesting to shoot with

[@SabotPottery]

What would happen if you put a tilt-shift lens on your setup. That could be interesting. Great work and thank you.

[@JohnKimbler]

For the love of God man get that MP-E 65mm off of that tripod and into your hand, choose where you want the focus to start, and then twist your wrist to lay the area of acceptable focus where it needs to be! Use a flash. I've been shooting active subjects with it for over a decade. www.flickr.com/photos/dalantech/ I don't focus stack cause it's not necessary.

[@AdamAdam-pq6yp]

What’s the tripod or monopod you’re using in this video and the head ?

[@alasfour2000]

Thanks for sharing us your experiences, if i have fuji XT1 what do you recommend to use with to get extreme macro Photography and i have a lot of canon and nikon lenses .thanks again

[@LavikkaPhotography]

are any of them manual focus. You can try a macro adapter extension tube or if say you have something like the Nikon AI 24mm f2.8 you can do a reverse adapter on it to get 4 to 1.

[@donburton4335]

very helpful!!!! what kind of stand and camera mount are using? please

[@mopeschko8192]

Don Burton yes please tell?!

[@Avidcomp]

Theoretically . . . Can you imagine a TS-E/MP-E 65mm 1-5x Macro lens - if that's even possible (theoretically) ?

[@alasfour2000]

I have the nikkor 24 f2.8 and also have the Zeiss 100 f2 macro lens beside 35 f1.4 nikkor I will try them .I have a metabones speed booster adapter is it ok to use or it affects ( it allow me to use nikkor lens on fuji x)

[@LavikkaPhotography]

It will still work. So look for a Nikon AI reverse macro adapter for 52mm threads.

[@FernandoTrindadePT]

Man, you are so wrong about the usability of MP-E65 out in the field... Check my hornets in macro-insectos at www.fmtfotografia.com and check how I shot a living hornet at 4:1 ... and other insects. Takes practice but it is the best lens out there for supermacro

[@FernandoTrindadePT]

This one is live and well. Shot at 4 or 5:1 www.fmtfotografia.com/macrofotografia-insectos?pgid=k2oywfku-609d0bf6-66f5-4e59-b120-d3245653787b

[@cheeta2705]

@@FernandoTrindadePT WOW impressive beautiful macro insect work!!

[@melvinch]

Have you tested the Zhongyi Mitakon 20mm f/2.0 4.5X Super Macro Lens ?

[@LavikkaPhotography]

No. I didn't even know there was one.

[@d1ehl.]

Melvin Chong, how is the 4.5x Mitakon lens you mentioned?

[@heberperez79]

That is a neat looking tripod, which is it?

[@LavikkaPhotography]

The head is the Novoflex MagicBall Mini Ball Head amzn.to/2FnTJIU They are expensive but nice to use.

[@CarloFerraro]

The problem in YT is that some seem to be discovering the wheel for newbies that never felt the curiosity to learn by themselves. The bellows was the only way to do macro before the macro rings were invented, way before the macro lens. The bellows was the only way to focus old cameras.....

[@nooddles12]

Cool video and nice hat 🎩

[@behradvphotos1924]

thanks for sharing this Video...its great to me and useful

[@VolodymyrTorkalo]

very weird argument that MP-E is bad because you don't have time to stack images. Why do extreme macro photography when you can't stack images? it's common tool for macro photography,

[@ako9212]

I’ve never ever heard anyone say Nee-Kon. It’s sounds different in deferent accents. Aussies say Nick-on.

[@jayfromaz]

The MP-E is a strange lens. They should add your music to kill time while focusing at 5:1. The bellows with the reverse setup looks really interesting.

[@Photosbytw]

Well, I just wasted 13's of my time

[@danielkrynski4700]

Thanks from Poland

[@freezerb123]

Bad methodology. Why not use a focusing rail and a macro flash? These 10 and 20 second exposures are unnecessary if you’re using the right equipment.

[@Michael-fw5ef]

I would think a longer exposure, if done on a tripod or stationary set-up, would be better than a flash because a flash can sometimes wash out subjects or create unwanted shadows.

[@jarilouhelainen51]

@@Michael-fw5ef Use the LED panel as modelling light. On the other hand, if you look any copy stands there is your light setup for most flat subjects - 45 degree angle

[@SRKSEP3]

Why you changed from Canon to Nikon

[@LavikkaPhotography]

back in the olden days... Nikon cameras had better dynamic range and on board flash control for the sb series flashes along with a higher shutter sync.

[@eaacr]

You are not zooming in or out, it's a prime my dude your are getting closers but not zooming

[@RyanRussell885]

You need macro lighting for this lens.

[@wasinsilakong4912]

In Thailand we say nikon (nik-kon)

[@2010emaben]

Wasin Silakong we do in the UK too

[@OutlawFarmersRC]

Long black lens, then makes a basketball locker room joke. I see what you did there.

[@terrance_huang]

8:12 Focus in, no zoom

[@RC-nj1by]

mmmm nope that was a zoom

[@jdad8726]

Laughing my ass off....basketball locker room