Did you use to catch and release tadpoles from ponds when you were a kid? If you did, Jens Heidler of Another Perspective has a video that will make your childhood close to you again. And I mean, really close. In his latest video, he shows us tadpoles in 100:1 magnification, revealing even the tiniest details we’ve never seen before.
TTArtisan 100mm f/2.8 2x Tilt-Shift Macro announced for RF, Z, X and E mounts
TTArtisan has announced its new full-frame 100mm f/2.8 Tilt-Shift Macro lens. As a manual focus lens, it’s available for a variety of mounts that wouldn’t otherwise be easily available. Of course, there’s the usual Sony E mount and Fuji X mount, but it’s also available for Nikon Z and Canon RF mounts.
Made up of 14 elements in 10 groups, the new lens provides 2x magnification for macro, as well as tilt-shift capabilities to adjust the plane of focus. The wide f/2.8 aperture diaphragm is made of 12 blades for smooth round bokeh and also sports a cold shoe attachment for putting lights close to your subjects.
Fairy-like Danube mayflies win Close-up Photographer of the Year’s “Minimal” challenge
Close-up Photographer of the Year (CUPOTY) has displayed magnificent photos over the last few years. But other than the main contest, it has special annual challenges, each featuring a different topic.
This year, CUPOTY challenged the photographers to answer the topic Minimal. This year’s winner is Hungarian photographer Ferenc Kocsis for his dreamy image of Danube mayflies in flight. Their “dance” is a very special event, possible to capture in a very short time span. And with his winning photo, Ferenc captured the magic of this unique phenomenon.
Meike announces 60mm f/2.8 macro lens for E, X, Z, EF-M, RF & M43 mounts
Meike has announced their new 60mm f/2.8 APS-C manual focus macro lens. It’s a very low-budget lens, with a price tag of only $189.99, and as such, it probably won’t be able to compete with higher-end (and autofocus) lenses with a similar field of view. But, if keeping costs as low as possible and having a play to see if you even like macro is important, this lens might be worth having a look at.
Aside from being pretty inexpensive as macro lenses go, it’s available for six different camera mounts. Sony E, Fuji X, Nikon Z, Canon EF-M, Canon RF and Micro Four Thirds. Despite the fact that the lens is available for Nikon Z and Canon RF, it is an APS-C lens. So, if you’re trying to use it on full-frame bodies, you’ll definitely need to do some cropping!
OM System announces the $1,500 M.Zuiko Digital ED 90mm f/3.5 IS PRO Macro lens
As expected, OM System has today officially announced the new M.Zuiko Digital ED 90mm f/3.5 IS PRO Macro lens. As a Micro Four Thirds lens, it offers an equivalent field of view to a 180mm lens on a full-frame body with a 2:1 magnification ratio for larger-than-life macro shots. A minimum focus distance of only 22.4cm means a working distance of around 8cm from the end of the lens, letting you get very close to your subjects.
It features built-in optical stabilisation, and with IP53 weather sealing, it’s useful for all kinds of location macro work in all different weather conditions. As with most macro lenses, it features a focus limiter switch, and a floating focus mechanism maintains sharpness throughout the entire focusing range all the way up to infinity. It’s also compatible with the MC-14 and MC-20 teleconverters for 2.8x or 4x magnification, respectively.
This captivating macro video shows the exciting process of chemical reactions
When you think about it, we’re surrounded by all sorts of chemical reactions, both in the outside world and inside our own bodies. And have you ever wondered what they looked up close?
Scott Portingale has, and he’s turned his curiosity into captivating, gorgeous videos. In his latest work titled Chemical Somnia, he captures the exciting process of various chemical reactions, in both still and video format.
Picture of salamanders consumed by carnivorous plant wins 2022 Close-Up Photographer of the Year
Close-Up Photographer of the Year (CUPOTY) is one of those contests I always look forward to. To start off the new year with lots of inspiring images, the competition has shared its winners and runner-ups, and they’re absolutely stunning.
Canadian photographer Samantha Stephens is the overall winner of this year’s contest, and her striking image shows something you don’t see every day: a pair of salamanders being consumed by a carnivorous pitcher plant. As always, there are plenty more of great photos among the category winners, so let’s dive in and check them out.
Canon has killed off its legendary MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro lens
This is a day that many will mourn. While the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro is by far the more popular lens, the Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro is certainly the more unique and more revered amongst many macro photographers. Offering up to 5x magnification, it certainly stood out amongst the others on the market – for any camera system. Well now, it appears that Canon has finally discontinued it, accordin to the Canon Japan website.
Unlike the 100mm f/2.8 macro, though, it looks like there may not be an RF Mount replacement for this one. There have been no announcements or hints from Canon, nor even any rumours. It was added to the Canon EF lens lineup in 1999 and I’ve had a play with one myself over the years. Even today, there is nothing else out there that really replaces it, with most “extreme” macro lenses topping out at 2x.
AstrHori releases pictures and specs of upcoming 105mm f/2.8 tilt-shift macro lens
105mm (and 100mm) f/2.8 macro lenses are pretty common. They’ve been the go-to macro lens for many Nikon and Canon shooters in the past and there are also equivalents available for Sony and L mount, along with a whole bunch of third-party options. One thing I’ve not seen before, though, is a macro of this focal length that’s also got tilt-shift capability. Well, it looks like Astr\hori’s about to release one!
The company has released images and basics specs for the lens, although there’s no word on an official announcement date or a price yet. It’s going to be available in Sony E, Canon RF, Leica L and Fuji GFX mounts, so it’s designed specifically for mirrorless. Naturally, for GFX, it won’t have as much range in the shift, due to the larger sensor. I’m a little surprised there’s no Nikon Z version coming, though.
Loawa has released another macro lens – the 58mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO for mirrorless cameras
When it comes to macro lenses, the name that springs to mind most these days is Laowa, produced by Venus Optics. Now, they’ve added another new one to their lineup, the Laowa 58mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO designed specifically for mirrorless cameras. Like Laowa’s other lenses, it’s a manual focus lens, and this one comes in four full-frame flavours. Sony E, Canon RF, Nikon Z and Leica L mounts.
The new lens offers a 40.9° field of view on full-frame sensors and focuses all the way from 2:1 magnification to infinity, making it suitable for not just macro but also portraits or a general walkaround lens. It features an apochromatic (APO) design to suppress chromatic aberration as well as 3 ED and 3 Ultra-High Refractive Index lenses for maximum sharpness.
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