FZ1000: Experience with Panasonic Close-up Lenses?

[1helices]

I've been reading the "FZ1000 and macro" thread

Who here has used the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 10x High Definition 2 Element Close-Up (Macro) Lens (62mm)?

What is your experience? Quality?

How does it compare to other close-up lenses on the FZ1000?

Amazon.com : 10x High Definition 2 Element Close-Up (Macro) Lens Compatible with Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 : Electronics

Amazon.com : 10x High Definition 2 Element Close-Up (Macro) Lens Compatible with Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 : Electronics

www.amazon.com

 

[kultus]

Not me pal but I wonder how you can use that in real? +10 will have huge impact on DoF, which will be very very thin. You can then photograph only plain objects and with every precise perpedicular setup. Even focus stacking will be almost impossible with such a shallow DoF...

Another think is that I doubt that 2 elements and +10 diopters will be OK in terms of IQ (CA, distorsions...)

Thanks to read my thread BTW

 

[sherman_levine]

I've been reading the "FZ1000 and macro" thread

Who here has used the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 10x High Definition 2 Element Close-Up (Macro) Lens (62mm)?

What is your experience? Quality?

How does it compare to other close-up lenses on the FZ1000?

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC...-1&keywords=62mm+macro+lens+achromatic+fz1000

First, that's not a Panasonic product. It's just somebody's 10 diopter lens with a 62mm thread. It's unreviewed, and I suspect it's not particularly good.

Particularly as a first lens, you'd be far better off with a Canon 250D closeup lens or a Canon 500D closeup lens. Make sure they're labeled "by Canon" and not just "for Canon". eBay typically has a good collection of used ones.

The 500D will give you about a 30x45mm fov with the lens 500mm from the subject. If you're trying to compare to other systems, this would be "0.8x", where "1x" means a 24x36mm fov - the same as a 35mm film frame. That's not so very different from the unaided camera at 45mm focal length, except that the unaided camera will need to have the subject extremely close to the lens, while you can be back 500mm with the 500D.

The 250D will give you about a 15x22mm fov with the lens 250mm from the subject. If you're trying to compare to other systems, this would be "1.6x"

Pick your lens (500D vs 250D) based on your typical subject size.

You'll also need to pick up a 62-52mm or 62-58mm stepdown ring, depending on which diameter Canon lens you get. You'll be working almost exclusively at high zoom, so the 52mm will work fine.

If you get more than one lens, just get them the same diameter in case you want to stack them.

--
Sherm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32989985@N07/sets/

 

[Buzz Lightyear]

Sherman: just want to say how much I enjoy and appreciate your contributions to this Forum - especially as regards the two Panasonic cameras I have owned: the FZ200 and now the FZ1000. If I see your name on a post, I invariably go there for the best info on whatever is the issue in question. Your extensive knowledge of these cameras and photo expertise is truly amazing. Thank you for being so generous with your knowledge.

 

[sherman_levine]

Sherman: just want to say how much I enjoy and appreciate your contributions to this Forum - especially as regards the two Panasonic cameras I have owned: the FZ200 and now the FZ1000. If I see your name on a post, I invariably go there for the best info on whatever is the issue in question. Your extensive knowledge of these cameras and photo expertise is truly amazing. Thank you for being so generous with your knowledge.

Thanks. That's most kind of you, and much appreciated. I'm glad it's been useful.

To be honest, most of what I post is a summary of what I've learned from others on this forum, so it's more payback than anything else.

 

[1helices]

Is there any qualitative advantage to one of these close-up lenses larger than 62mm?

For example, I see several 500d's at 72mm

Comparing the 72mm to the 58mm, it seems to me that the 72mm will gather more light ...

 

[sherman_levine]

Is there any qualitative advantage to one of these close-up lenses larger than 62mm?

For example, I see several 500d's at 72mm

Comparing the 72mm to the 58mm, it seems to me that the 72mm will gather more light ...

Same amount of light, but a larger diameter lens will let the camera go out to a wider angle without vignetting.

72mm is certainly overkill in that regard, since the camera lens is much less than 62mm in diameter.

The FZ1000 lens glass is actally less than 50mm diameter, so even the 52mm add-ons will have minimal vignetting effect except at full w/a - and you'll be using the camera at the telephoto end anyway.

So...in practical terms...you won't see a difference.

 

[JIngrouille]

I have both the Canon 500d for one of my camera's and a XPRO close-up on my FZ1000 which is 67mm so require a 67-62 step down ring (on FZ1000) both the Canon & XPRO are of the same quality and price and these are the only two worth considering and about the same price £60-£80 depending on which size you go for.

 

[kultus]

Its pretty arogant to say, they are only worth considering. Raynox 150 is also very good and for even less money...

 

[1helices]

What's the difference between Raynox DCR-150 and DCR-250?

Will both produce high quality images on the FZ1000?

UPDATE: I see they're 1.5x and 2.5x magnification - How ought I select one over the other?

 

[sherman_levine]

What's the difference between Raynox DCR-150 and DCR-250?

Will both produce high quality images on the FZ1000?

There's an excellent thread on the topic here, including a discussion of lens diameter

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread

and in particular you might look at the table here, which is an update of the table which starts the above thread.

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/50914378

The DCR-150 is 4.8 diopter (a bit stronger than the Canon 250) while the DCR-250 is 8 diopter.

All else being the same, you'll get more magnification with the stronger lens, but you'll have a shallower depth of field.

 

[kultus]

Raynox 150 -> +4.8D IMHO fair enough for more than good macro

Raynox 250 -> +8D IMHO useless for normal 3D objects, because very very small DoF even at f8. Quite difficult shooting of not flat objects.

Ofcourse you can do focus stacking, but only with tripod.

 

[1helices]

There's an excellent thread on the topic here, including a discussion of lens diameter

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread

Please, edit this URL. As written, it goes nowhere ... ;-)

 

[sherman_levine]

There's an excellent thread on the topic here, including a discussion of lens diameter

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread

Please, edit this URL. As written, it goes nowhere ... ;-)

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3335349

 

[Brad Bohland]

You can get a Marumi 330 67mm thread for $35: http://www.amazon.com/Marumi-AMDAC3...=1423505109&sr=1-8&keywords=marumi+67mm+macro

and a Marumi 200 67mm thread (+5) for $175: http://www.amazon.com/Marumi-Macro-...=1423505260&sr=1-1&keywords=marumi+67mm+macro

The proper thread size eliminates the need for an adapter, like the one on the Raynoxs, which produces a a dark border and restricts your zoom options when using it.

I've found the 330 to be quite adequate for normal (vs. extreme) macro shots.

 

[1helices]

Will this one work on the FZ1000? It's 62mm ...

Amazon.com : Marumi 62mm DHG Macro X3 Filter : Camera Lens Round Filters : Electronics

Amazon.com : Marumi 62mm DHG Macro X3 Filter : Camera Lens Round Filters : Electronics

www.amazon.com

 

[sherman_levine]

Will this one work on the FZ1000? It's 62mm ...

http://www.amazon.com/Marumi-Macro-...718&sr=8-10&keywords=marumi+achromat+macro++3

Not the same. It's not an achromat even though it's listed as one. Look at the review, and compare the lens labeling to the one linked in Brad's post.

It'll "work" but you'll get color fringing

--
Sherm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32989985@N07/sets/

 

[Brad Bohland]

Sorry--yes, it is a 62mm thread.

 

[Brad Bohland]

Thanks, Sherman.

I was mistaken about the thread size--it is 62mm, but I don't know what the item in the link is because it looks like the real thing, but the price is ridiculously low.

Here's another link that seems to be priced too high. I paid about $80 for mine from Amazon. I'm not sure what the current price is.

http://www.amazon.com/Marumi-Macro-Achromat-Achromatic-Filter/dp/B003VXK0TO/ref=pd_cp_p_0

 

[kultus]

Brad please upload some photos of vertical metre for different focal lengths at maximum magnification for each focal lenght, e.g. 25, 45, 65, 100, 200, 400mm (EFL) with marumi 330 into my macro thread. My goal is to compare them with mine "yellow metre" photos from FZ1000 without any macro aid. I hope you got it