60mm macro on X-T5 questions...

[Lettermanian]

Ok, so I recently purchased a used Lensbaby Velvet 56mm f1.6 1:2 macro Lens, and for the most part I think it works well on the X-T5, producing the hazy glow at wide apertures, the way it's designed. However, I think I'll be returning it for the following reasons:

- It has a very long focus throw, probably over 300 degrees to get from 1:2 macro to infinity. The lens is a bit loose at the mount so when I am changing focus significantly, the lens shifts somewhat at the camera mount. I am leery of this as over time wear at the mount could become an issue.

- Being manual focus, I do not find it as enjoyable to use as a walk-around lens when I'm with someone else. For example, yesterday I was on a date with my wife at a wonderful garden, but missed focus on so many shots because we wanted to make sure we could explore everything. In the end there were only a handful of useable images. It's a lens that requires much patience and time to use properly.

- While the lens feels solid in construction, the aperture ring feels a bit loose (it shifts up and down slightly when turning), and it is the most important part of the lens, as it controls the amount of the glow haze effect.

As a result of my experience with the Lensbaby,I have been looking online at the 60mm macro, because locally there's a few for sale used at close to the price I paid for the Lensbaby. I know it has its own quirks, but it is also a 1:2 lens, minus the haze feature but with (old design) AF. The focal length works well for my intended subject matter, just slightly longer than the Lensbaby, and it is more compact. At this time, the 30mm and 80mm Fuji macros are not in my budget, and aren't really what I'm looking for (30mm too short and 80mm too big). I'm also not looking at other manual macro lenses; I know there are some good ones. My questions for anyone with this lens on the newer bodies:

- How does the AF work on the newer bodies, such as my X-T5? Not looking for tracking as I'll mostly use it in Single-AF mode, just relative speed and accuracy. What about focus stacking?

- How nice is the background blur at the wider apertures? In most respects the IQ and bokeh of the Lensbaby is quite nice.

- Any other insights from owners of the lens?

The following pics are with the Lensbaby Velvet 56 from yesterday, ooc customized jpegs with some light processing in Luminar Neo.


Lensbaby 56mm at f2









--
"I much prefer to be behind the camera than in front of it."
- Me and every other introvert

 

[CE88]

I used/tested the 60mm macro with my H-2 and auto focus was slow by today's standards, and it would hunt a bit (especially in low light). I was unimpressed and didn't keep that lens. I also have the Fuji 80mm macro and it is outstanding in every respect (a bigger, heavier, more expensive lens but well worth it in my opinion). It also has OIS as a bonus.

Another thought is to get the 1.4x teleconverter for your 70-300. With the converter your minimum focus distance remains the same, but the focal length is increased by 40 percent so you effectively magnify a close-up subject. The Fuji 1.4x works extremely well with the 70-300 and you still have full auto focus and OIS.

 

[paul613]

I use the XF 60mm f/2.4 1:2 lens in single AF mode on my X-T1. Yes, it hunts ... but it hunts less than my Samyang/Rokinon 75mm f/1.8. It's much sharper true, with truer colors. I would use the XF 60 for any activity but sports. I've read several times that it locks focus noticeably faster on newer X-T bodies.