Extreme Macro (Canon MPE-65)

[matt_xyz]

Well, this week I went mad and bought myself a Canon MPE-65 macro lens. For those that don't know this is a very powerful macro lens, capable of between 1:1 and 5:1 reproduction. It's a strange lens to use, it has no AF and no MF ring either. You simply choose the desired level of magnification and then move the lens until the subject is in focus. It's more like a microscope than a camera lens. Working distance is very, very limited. At 1:1 it is 4 inches and at 5:1 it is only 1.6 inches - yes, really 1.6 inches!!

I've been desperately trying to find an insect or spider in my garden since I got the lens on Tuesday, but I can't find a thing. Instead I've had to photograph flowers - the sequence below were of a daffodil taken in my conservatory (out of the wind!) and give some idea of the degree of magnification this lens is capable of. All of the following images are full frame (i.e. not cropped at all).

This first shot wasn't taken with the MPE-65, but illustrates the daffodil's stamen (stigma?) that are shown in the following images.


This one was taken at 1:1 magnification with the MPE-65.


This one was taken at 2:1 magnification:


This one at 3:1 magnification:


This one at 4:1 magnification:


and this one at 5:1 magnification:


To say this lens is tricky to use would be an understatement! DOF at 5:1 magnification is less than 0.1 mm at f5.6 and you can't really use a smaller aperture than that, at that level of magnification, because of softening from diffraction. At 1:1 magnification you can use f16 and you get a massive 2.2 mm DOF!

It's going to be fun experimenting with it. It does seem to need some very docile insects though!

Matt

[Wild-Woman]

Cripes- it'll be cell structure next!

[Tormentil]

Great pics Matt. Were they hand held ?

[Ollie]

Looks like a very interesting bit of kit Matt. I look forward to seeing the results on some insects. Sure you won't be long before you are master of it
Roger

[Words]

Really interested to see how you get on with it. I've had my eye on the MPE for a while now. What are you using for light and support?

[glsammy]

I've been considering getting one of these, although I was a bit put off by the incredibly limited DOF and how close you need to be. I've seen some stunning insect images taken with it, but I've no idea how they managed to get that close and stop the insect from moving.
It'll be interesting to hear how you get on with it Matt.

[DaiTheDragon]

This is one lens I would love to have. Because of the shallow DOF you may want to look at the image stacking program CombineeZM.

Dai

[matt_xyz]

thanks for the comments.

These images were entirely lit by flash. I had the flashgun on an off-camera bracket and bent the flash head forward, with a large home-made diffuser attached, so that the end of the diffuser is basically level with the end of the lens. These were taken with a tripod, although I've managed some reasonable shots up to 2:1 with just a monopod. The flash is basically freezing the motion.

Dai, I've already been playing with CombineZM

I'll also be interested to see if I can actually get close enough to any insects to photograph them! I have my doubts, but others have managed it. Time will tell.

Matt

[Wild-Man]

Fantastic close-ups, Matt.
Unfamiliar area for me - can this piece of kit be used in the field, or is it more suited for a studio?

Chris.

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by DaiTheDragon

This is one lens I would love to have. Because of the shallow DOF you may want to look at the image stacking program CombineeZM.

Dai

A focus rail wouldn't be a bad idea either, especially as you have to move the camera to get new focus areas.