Lens comparison for macro work

gardenersassistant wrote:

Thanks, but even if the OP is interested in going beyond 1:1 I think he should steer clear of my stuff, for two reasons he mentions in this post above:

• He writes "This post is still more about choosing the right lens of the available selection. That's why I want actual user experience to aid me in my own decision making". I have no relevant experience with any of the lenses he mentions.
• He writes "However, I am concerned with capturing fine detail. Like many I'm possibly cursed that way." I produce invertebrate images that are devoid of fine detail and produce flower images at a small size where any fine detail that was captured is not visible.

I understand.

One could literally write a book on all of the nuances. At the end of the day, preferences & tastes have to be acquired, i.e., gained through experience. And two equally-experienced people can have different preferences & tastes, both having merit.

And for flowers etc there is another reason: I use two techniques , both of which are unlikely to be available to the OP because of the lenses he is interested in and by implication the camera systems he is interested in.

Yes.

I believe, as you and others have clearly explained, what equipment would be suitable depends on what exactly the OP will be wanting to do, or more appropriately perhaps at this stage given the OP's uncertainty about that, what range of subjects, sizes etc he wishes to explore to work out what he will be wanting to do. In either case, my approach and the type of kit I use isn't it! (IMO)

Yes.

As a side note, we've talked in the past before, although I was using a different handle. Our views and styles conflicted – I sought perfection stacking, wide-open – while you sought perfection with "one-shot" stopped way down ... beyond anything I would ever consider.

Some of your images posted recently, confirmed my prejudices (namely that the diffraction can muddle the color/contrast).

However, in reading your meticulous work in your blog posts, with both interest and respect, in this segment in particular, the colors and details you were able to achieve were astounding. Literally I had to pick my jaw up off the floor, esp. when considering you're shooting @ f/45 - f/57.

Honestly, I still can't even wrap my head around this ... my own prejudicesb:)

Yet I have to actually concede your point as well as applaud your work and perseverance. Perfecting the ability to nail arthropods, with DOF like this, at those apertures, and working software to the extent you can correct the effects of diffraction and achieve color and clarity like this, is truly admirable.

That doesn't mean I still don't enjoy bokeh, and perspectives that are "razor-sharp, wide-open" ... it just means I want to learn and appreciate how to profit from your work and dedication, because it's more practical than stacking, especially live in the field.