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Fun with the new Venus Laowa EF-M 65mm 2x Macro

Started Mar 5, 2021 | Discussions thread
OP R2D2 Forum Pro • Posts: 26,528
Re: Fun with the new Venus Laowa EF-M 65mm 2x Macro

jim mij wrote:

R2D2 wrote:

jim mij wrote:

R2D2 wrote:

jim mij wrote:

R2D2 wrote:

Well I had some fun out in the garden last weekend with the Laowa and the M6ii. Had a couple of helpful visitors too.

These were shot at 1:2 (.5x), and then cropped some. F/11 @1/200 second, ISO 200 generally. The Nissin i40 provided some nicely diffused flash. I’m really loving this lens!

Thanks for looking!

R2

a very belated Nice

Jim

Whoa, hey thanks Jim! I hope you've been able to get out and shoot some macros too!

R2

Not “out” as such, But I did find this cutie on our front door, temporarily relocated to an 🍎 for a few shots. I was looking at your posts on the Laowa while pondering options on how to get closer

Great IQ there.

The 60 Macro does a fine job! Have you tried an extension tube? (least expensive option). Or a Raynox DCR-250 (not too expensive either), and it'll double your "magnification."

The Laowa 65 is nice and light and compact (no adapter) if you're looking to reduce size from your current setup (which isn't really big either). I'd say either of these threee options will produce about the same IQ when all is said and done. You won't lose any light with the close up lens (so you can shoot at a lower ISO than the other options), but it'll be a tad softer, so it'll really be a wash in the end.

So many great ways to shoot macro!

Thanks R2

As you say so many options... I think that pic was with a 20mm tube attached. I have a love/hate relationship with tubes.

Prices for the raynox seem be going up (£90 on amazon), while the laowa is approx £400, both slightly lower if delivered from Eu to UK but thats been a dubious route since the wonders of brexit and my usual routes for used gear all draw a blank

The DCR-250 is my favorite add-on.  Been using one for a couple of decades now.  Love the clip-on, and it works with so many lenses (from about 50mm focal length on up).

The Laowa 65 is a very nice lens, and will double the “magnification” of your 60, but you’ll lose both light and working distance (when you get closer).

But I have some time to ponder before next spring as all the bugs seem to have disappeared after our summer heatwave, like the gardens the bugs seem to be suffering,

Not many left in our gardens either.  Mostly bumblebees.  Took a nice hike last weekend and got some dragons though.  That was nice.  I hope your weather moderates for you.

In the meantime I've been modifying my diffuser (for the 4th time), its shrinking in width and height each time but i think I've cracked it this time, just waiting now on something to test it out.

Yeah, I’ve built (and bought) so many diffusers over the years too.  I haven’t reached nirvana yet though.  Will keep trying.

Your spider is pretty well lit.  I’ve been using my MT-26EX-RT for most stuff, or my dual LED panels (on the R7 + RF 100 Macro).  Both of these rigs are pretty large, so sometimes it’s fun to just take out the little M6ii for some running and gunning.  Love that tilting LCD!

Well, have fun shooting, and be sure to post some samples with your new diffuser!

R2

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