I have recently been searching for a macronlens for my xt2 however the Fuji ones aren't cheap. Starting at approximately $800 USD the Fuji ones are great but I am wondering if there any other lenses or vintage glass around $500 or under that will be a good macro lenses. I have looked into the tokina 100mm 2.8 macro but do you guys have any other suggestions or agree with the toking?
-
Welcome to the new forums! Please read this first. For known issues we are working to resolve, click here.
What is the best budget macro lenses for the Fuji x system?
- Thread starter Fujphoto
- Start date
sluggy_warrior
Senior Member
- Messages
- 3,261
- Solutions
- 6
- Reaction score
- 2,201
I've been playing around with an extension tube. At $90, the MCEX-11 is affordable with very good quality, works well with my 18-55 and 18-135 lenses. Maybe a good option to start with macro? At least it was much easier to convince my wife comparing to getting the 18-135. Just have to remember to remove it when you're done
A shot of a standard AA for reference
.
or the popular Raspberry Pi up close:
.
a little bigger, a Mei nendoroid:
Last edited:
cilucia
Leading Member
- Messages
- 567
- Reaction score
- 517
The one thing to be careful about with the extension tubes is that there is a very limited working distance (I.e., where the lens will focus), whereas with a proper macro lens, you’ll be able to focus anywhere from its minimum focusing distance and beyond. Just something to remember if you plan to shoot a lot of macro!
sluggy_warrior
Senior Member
- Messages
- 3,261
- Solutions
- 6
- Reaction score
- 2,201
Agreed, it takes some practice to work with the extension tube, but at least S-AF and C-AF both work well. Because the lenses can't focus too far with the extension tube on, you'll have to take the tube off in order to shoot normally.
With the 18-135, I still have quite a distance away from the subject, enough room for a ring light or bounced flash.
This PDF lists the focus ranges for various tube+lens combos:
www.fujifilm.com/products/digital_cameras/accessories/pdf/mcex_01.pdf
Another upside, besides being affordable, is the superb optic of existing Fuji lenses.
Last edited:
pluton
Senior Member
If you're not enslaved to auto focus there are many relatively inexpensive (especially if bought used) manual focus macro lenses that can be used with adapters. I recommend the Nikon 55/2.8 AiS, but there are many from Canon, Minolta, Olympus, etc. Manual full aperture is a drag compared to auto, but so is $800+.
--
-KB-
--
-KB-
Last edited:
tdwesbo
Senior Member
Get any old 50mm-100mm manual focus macro lens and a cheap eBay adapter. You can get set up for super cheap and all those old macro lenses are fine. My two favorite macro setups are a Nikon 60mm f2.8 D and a Sigma 50mm f2.8 (in PK mount) in cheap adapters. Both are great lenses with excellent manual focus
sluggy_warrior
Senior Member
- Messages
- 3,261
- Solutions
- 6
- Reaction score
- 2,201
Manual aperture is OK, as I usually lock it down to somewhere between f/5.6 and f/9, otherwise the DOF is too thin to work with.
There are a few occasions where AF-C is very helpful. Here's a shot of a tiny baby spider crawling up the wall, and the X-T20 was able to keep track of it very well as I moved the camera along with it. I was looking at the LCD for this shot, focus peaking can help too although I'd have to look carefully and try to keep my hands steady.
.
for size reference, the same spider crawling on top of a few hair strands (disregard the dirty stuffs, I was sweeping the floor
Last edited:
ViMa
Senior Member
- Messages
- 3,037
- Solutions
- 1
- Reaction score
- 2,121
I got the XF 60mm used (mint) + two Meike tubes for a total of 285$. I would suggest you start looking for used versions of the 60mm. It is a great (underappreciated) lens.
Jon Schick
Veteran Member
If you can live with manual focus - which is generally the way to go for macro anyway - get the best legacy lens you can and use an adapter. There are many good legacy macro lenses out there.
Search for Fuji magnification chart, that details every lens and it's magnification with extension tubes.
Pritzl
Senior Member
The limited working distance is more a function of the shorter focal lengths for which extension tubes yield higher magnifications. If you want longer working distance, you need a longer lens, but then extension tubes will not work as well.
That is why I recommend close-up lenses (and specifically the Raynox brand snap-ons) with longer focal lengths (>100mm) as the budget route to high magnifications. E.g., The working distance of the Raynox DCR-150 is 208mm and the DCR-250 is 125mm. You can achieve greater than 1:1 with a 200mm lens using even the less powerful DCR-150 and 8" is plenty of working space for even the most delicate of subjects.
You can this site for a rough estimate of the magnification you can achieve with different lenses and extension tubes or close-up lenses. Sadly, they do not list the working distance: https://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/macro-extension-tubes-closeup.htm
Jon Schick
Veteran Member
One design characteristic of specifically designed macro lenses is that their front element is designed for flat field focus... So the same focal plane will be in focus across the breadth of the image, even at wide apertures. This isn't the case even for excellent general optics, with their curved elements....
This doesn't generally matter for subjects that are some distance from the lens as there is sufficient depth of field to compensate. But converting them to macro use does result in some potential limitations, although that may not be much of an issue depending upon the subject matter. A true macro lens will however do better than a converted general optic if you want ultimate image quality across a flat plane.
eldonito
Active member
One point if you decide to go with ext. tubes: you don't have to go with Fujifilm. For best value, there are third party extension tubes that support autofocus. I got a set of 10 & 16 mm made by "Ruili" for €23 on the german amazon: they work great.
sluggy_warrior
Senior Member
- Messages
- 3,261
- Solutions
- 6
- Reaction score
- 2,201
Yeah, I was about to get the Meike 10mm+16mm for $25, but then I chickened out, concerning how they will handle the heavy 18-135, and if there will be any play. I guess OP can try that out before deciding on a macro lens. I already decided that a macro lens is too much of an investment for me so I picked the MCEX-11 for long-term use.
I do a lot of close focus bordering on macro and I use enlarging lenses on my XT-2.
Caveat: You're going to be on a tripod and so manual focus and manual exposure shouldn't be an issue.
I had the advantage of coming from a darkroom background years ago and so the drawer full of enlarging lenses was already waiting. Back in the film days I likewise used enlarging lenses for macro because they work really well for that purpose.
You need something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Pixco-Helico...6666&sr=8-14&keywords=fuji+X+adapter+helicoid There are other brands of varying quality I paid $45 for the one I have and it works fine.
You'll also need a M42 to 39mm thread adapter and of course the lens. I mostly use a 60mm Rodagon I had in the drawer. The Fuji lenses I'm sure are as good but not better and as you noted more $$$.
One more item then is to purchase an inexpensive set of M42 extension tubes to vary the overall focus range. With the shortest tube plus helical adapter my 60mm Rodagon focuses infinity into the mild macro range. To get closer just add one of the longer extension tubes.
Best bet for an enlarging lens if you have to buy one is probably something like this: https://www.keh.com/shop/nikon-50mm...ount-enlarging-lens-requires-ring-675110.html
If you have to buy the lens you should be able to put the whole thing together for around $100.00.
From my garden, 60mm Rodagon enlarging lens on XE-2
Some say macro is best shot with manual focus but in the field auto focus is still helpful for me. With a Fuji image stabilized lens helping, along with flash, hand held shots can be sharp.
I have a Fuji extension tube which does a very good job, auto focus and all, but with very limited working distance. Changing lenses outside is a little challenging at times, so I don't use it all that often. Works great with short lenses like the 18-55mm.
Adding a Raynox clip on close-up filter/lens to my 50-230mm is what I like to use most. Still have auto focus and IQ is very good. Because it's so easy to quickly attach the thing, I end up using it often. It works best with long lenses, where the longer F L gives greater magnification. On short lenses there is vignetting.
I don't own the Fuji 60mm macro but is sure does make nice images, I'd really like to own it, the 80mm macro is my dream lens.
A lens to avoid is the Opteka 15mm macro, I.Q. and color rendering is a big step down from Fuji glass.
John
I have a Fuji extension tube which does a very good job, auto focus and all, but with very limited working distance. Changing lenses outside is a little challenging at times, so I don't use it all that often. Works great with short lenses like the 18-55mm.
Adding a Raynox clip on close-up filter/lens to my 50-230mm is what I like to use most. Still have auto focus and IQ is very good. Because it's so easy to quickly attach the thing, I end up using it often. It works best with long lenses, where the longer F L gives greater magnification. On short lenses there is vignetting.
I don't own the Fuji 60mm macro but is sure does make nice images, I'd really like to own it, the 80mm macro is my dream lens.
A lens to avoid is the Opteka 15mm macro, I.Q. and color rendering is a big step down from Fuji glass.
John
Last edited:
notchy
Leading Member
I'll second the MCEX-11 as a useful and fun budget option. The following is (I think) a male red-veined darter dragonfly, taken on Rhodes in the Aegean this summer, shot handheld using an X-E3, the MCEX-11 and the 50mm f2:I've been playing around with an extension tube. At $90, the MCEX-11 is affordable with very good quality, works well with my 18-55 and 18-135 lenses. Maybe a good option to start with macro? At least it was much easier to convince my wife comparing to getting the 18-135. Just have to remember to remove it when you're done
A shot of a standard AA for reference
.
or the popular Raspberry Pi up close:
.
a little bigger, a Mei nendoroid:
This one's a female banded demoiselle damselfly, taken closer to (my) home here on the south coast of the UK, again with the MCEX-11 and shot handheld using an X-T2 and the "soft" end of the 55-200mm:
Last edited:
Similar threads
- Locked
- Question
Keyboard shortcuts
- f
- Forum