Weird lens reviews: Mitakon 20mm f/2 4.5x Super Macro Lens

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Weird lens reviews: Mitakon 20mm f/2 4.5x Super Macro Lens

Рет қаралды 125,216

5 жыл бұрын

It's the closest-focusing lens I have ever tested - including the time I made that Photo101 video experimenting with macro extension tubes. Let's see if this inexpensive (US $200) Mitakon lens is a practical solution for extreme macro work.
Find it here (Amazon affiliate link) (Be sure to get the right lens for your camera system):
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Пікірлер: 135

@peeperpawsmcgee 5 жыл бұрын

I just love your review style, its literally the most useful format I've ever encountered!

@UpDowngrade 5 жыл бұрын

It looks like it's simply a reversed lens. I modified a 18-55 kit lens to attach the lens backwards for macro work, and as you mention, focusing is very frustrating. I even conected wires externally to keep electronic communication but the autofocus is pretty much useless. I recorded the whole process as a video tutorial. I may upload it sometime soon in case someone is interested.

@speake7777777 5 жыл бұрын

I'm interested. there are at least 3 versions of the 18-55mm which did you use?

@Pastronomer69 5 жыл бұрын

I have no need for it, but I want it.

@DigitalNinja3 5 жыл бұрын

You are my one-stop KZfaq Channel when I look for a lens.

@valdemarjrgensen8072 5 жыл бұрын

It's twice as expensive, but if you want something like this I think you should maybe consider the laowa ultra macra www.venuslens.net/product/laowa-25mm-f-2-8-2-5-5x-ultra-macro-2/

@danielaargandonalowe9764 5 жыл бұрын

@@valdemarjrgensen8072 what a nice lens the Laowa is! THanks for the suggestion!

@DanielM1224 5 жыл бұрын

I can relate

@Tw1x5000 4 жыл бұрын

me either, no need, but i bought it just a few days ago! great toy :-)

@becool365 5 жыл бұрын

At this point this is a microscope........ I dare you to put macro tubes on it :D

@torbenlysholm1 5 жыл бұрын

Hahaha :-D

@SONYAdicto 5 жыл бұрын

becool365 It would focus the dirt inside the lens lol

@slammermx 5 жыл бұрын

It goes for about $169 at B&H, very temping and it has a mount for my camera!

@wombatandoli3222 3 жыл бұрын

Love these reviews of more esoteric lenses! Good work!

@ej_tech 5 жыл бұрын

What if you took a picture of your test charts using the lowest ISO film you can find then using the processed 35mm film itself as the test chart for macro lenses.

@7evive 5 жыл бұрын

There is iso 20 B&W film! They say it's equivalent to 435mp...

@darkhelmet16 5 жыл бұрын

As another commenter already said, you'll be better off just using a $6 reverser ring with a lens you already own... the experience is the same, but you'll save $200. Note that the wider the lens is when attached normally, the larger the magnification you'll get when it's attached backwards (e.g. my 10-18mm lens gets HUGE magnification when reversed, while my 55-250 gets only moderate magnification).

@petrisara2233 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this great review! I´ve been thinking of getting this lens for a while now and tried to look for a decent review of it. :)

@karafuru7666 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this. I've always wondered about this lens and you've answered all of the main points I wondered about.

@akashpradeep5748 5 жыл бұрын

saw weird lens review notification... clicked immediately . long time is last weird lens review

@alerijillo 5 жыл бұрын

Nice. A proper review of this lens. Thanks!

@bulwynkl 5 жыл бұрын

I've been contemplating this lens for mineral photography for a while. Definitely requires image stacking. When that is done, the results are astounding.

@enochcastleberry5197 4 жыл бұрын

I tried taking photos with this lens of my gf's engagement ring. single frames came out like shit. Thought about focus stacking but the problem changing focus changes the composition because the lens protrudes when focusing closer....

@EposVox 5 жыл бұрын

This is amazing.

@GarbageKnight 2 жыл бұрын

I got the Zhong yi super macro on ebay for 60 dollars. Took some looking, but they rented it for special project, and did not return it in time, so they company ate the cost. So they did not need it, and sold it on ebay to recoup some of the money. They took my offer, and i will be getting one of these in about 7 days from now.

@ricex2 4 жыл бұрын

frankly, i m intrigued by the triangular bokeh

@gnz-art 5 жыл бұрын

I have that lens in my collection and I've gotta say it's pretty cool but also hard to nail focus. Overall a fun lens to use.

@Kolomy24 4 жыл бұрын

For macro photography you supposed to use diffused flash or even two of them,then no tripod needed since flash freezes image as it was shot at 1/1000 s

@jjk9999 5 жыл бұрын

I think it was made with focus stacking in mind. Instead of changing focus. One would put it on a macro use tripod head that would allow you to move the camera forwards or back by tiny degrees. Then you take a bunch of photos and focus stack them.

@christopherfrost 5 жыл бұрын

I think you're right!

@jjk9999 5 жыл бұрын

Re lighting. One would use macro flash (either a ring light that would be around the lens, or two small lights to either side of the lens) or other macro lighting technique so I don't don't think the exposure times would be as long as in your video.

@valdemarjrgensen8072 5 жыл бұрын

I reckon the laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5X ultra macro would be a preferable alternative to this lens.

@mahook Жыл бұрын

I use 5x microscope lens with threads adapters +extension tube and it is similar to that design much cheaper

@jonnyraul3166 5 жыл бұрын

I waited for this video so long... thank you

@cheebawobanu 2 жыл бұрын

I kinda like that triangular bokeh.

@st.michaelthearchangel7774 3 жыл бұрын

Is it possible to reverse this lens to do reverse macro with it? 😄

@jeffbird2983 5 жыл бұрын

I've been curious about this lens for a while. After seeing your great review video. I think I'll get one. Thank you Christopher. For this video and all the others that you have made.

@stever1514 2 жыл бұрын

Great review. can't believe you took those long exposures they seem crazy long. Seems like this is a Lens begging for a macro flash or ring light.. I wonder if that will help or if it's still barely enough

@JeremyGalloway 5 жыл бұрын

Chris, if you start doing Fujifilm lenses again now, your channel will explode! Everyone is dying to see you test them! Allow me to suggest the fantastic 18-55 f2.8-f4 😁

@christopherfrost 5 жыл бұрын

I'm not sure about that, but I have been very tempted recently to get a 24mp Fuji camera. Unfortunately I simply don't have the free time to branch out yet

@JeremyGalloway 5 жыл бұрын

Christopher Frost Photography Understandable! I’ll stick around to watch whatever you put out, for curiosity’s sake. But Fuji lenses really are under-tested on youtube. You’d be filling a very valuable niche :)

@naoyukisasanami 5 жыл бұрын

Awesome. Nice hobby to collect textures and details

@HS-fk6hb 5 жыл бұрын

Great review as always!!

@gavinwade349 5 жыл бұрын

I love weird lens reviews!

@MikeFyxdt 4 жыл бұрын

Nicely done review on a tough lens to demo. Thanks!

@cameraconspiracies 5 жыл бұрын

I wish it was just a regular 20mm f2.

@chirag4 5 жыл бұрын

#MeToo ..... #MeThinks the same, 20/2 (non-macro) would be Perfect for (your) Vlogging, i am not a vlogger nor i intend to become one. GRACIAS !

@JackVolpe 3 жыл бұрын

LOL young Kasey at the beginning of the almighty perfect camera/lens search :) didn't expect to find you here 😂

@lucasm8016 4 жыл бұрын

That lens can be quite interesting for focus stacking shots with a rail and tripod!

@ragnarocking 4 жыл бұрын

I wonder if this is any different than just slapping a $5 reversal ring on a 50mm lens?

@mhsvz6735 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you for another excellent review!

@hipstercrab5886 4 жыл бұрын

triangular bokeh isn't ugly ! it's unique !

@Michael-Hammerschmidt 3 ай бұрын

Would this lens be able to do film scanning, or is it too macro to capture a 35mm film slide?

@fcolpz 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the review! Would it work for film scanning? Does it have a maximum focusing distance? Like can you get far enough from subject to photograph a 35mm or 6x6 frame?

@aleksituononen2235 Жыл бұрын

You couldn't focus far enough On full frame camera you would need a macro lens with 1:1 magnification to scan film.

@gpdu57 5 жыл бұрын

I'm wondering how the pictures would look like with extension tubes, how close we can get. Interesting lens, I haven't seen this one before.

@BeetleBuns 2 жыл бұрын

I'm definitely going to try this

@mihailmorozov3456 4 жыл бұрын

Canon MP-E Gives 5X... the same difficulties but it,s a beast, and quality is very good

@sclogse1 Жыл бұрын

I'd rather get a Toshiba closeup set I can use on a fast vintage and crop at low ISO..

@MeykTaruka 2 жыл бұрын

The picture of the pen. It's right out of the box right?

@saopaulosoul8714 5 жыл бұрын

but wouldn't you be using flash considering its a macro lens. I am sure that would then negate the dark images. like a macro flash ring

@kpbendeguz 5 жыл бұрын

I'm looking for a cheap macro lens for scanning super 8mm film with my Fuji X-T3. The subject is 8mm wide (obviously) and the closer I can get the better. Light is not an issues since I'll use leds behind the celluloid. Do you thing this lens would fit for this need or should I go for a macro ring + some old manual fix?

@MarcinP2 5 жыл бұрын

"It's a totally manual lens" Well, buying macro rings will be much cheaper then. :/

@s87343jim 5 жыл бұрын

But you probably won't get 4.5X, extension tube really tests the resolving power of the lens.

@MarcinP2 5 жыл бұрын

@@s87343jim You are correct. Tested at +40mm extenson resulted in ~2.0x. A 24mm lens at f/4 looks softer than this. Cannot really get ot the 4.5x because the lens cannot focus even if the object is touching it.

@MrCROBosanceros 5 жыл бұрын

This is microscope magnification territory. Did you use electronic first shutter curtain mode to eliminate image blur due to shutter vibration?

@maxbouvatte Жыл бұрын

great video thank you

@collinmclaren6608 5 жыл бұрын

So what I'm getting is this is pretty much useless unless you have some extreme specialty use for it. You'd just be better off spending a few extra hundred dollars on a proper macro lens and pair it up with some extension tubes or close-up filters. I will disagree with you on the bokeh complaint. I don't understand why whenever a lens produces anything other than the standard bokeh balls, people think its ugly. I've heard the complaint with mirror lenses as well. If anything, that should give the images even more character. You don't typically see bokeh shaped like triangles or donuts. I view that as a unique quality.

@EdHunter55 5 жыл бұрын

why would this not be a proper macro lens as that is exactly what it does? And even if you get yourself a "proper" macro lens to get to 4.5 times magnification you'd need quite a stack of macro tubes. 370mm worth of macro tubes for a 105mm to be precise. You'd end up with a 500mm+ long monstrosity. If you need these kinds of magnifications idd pick the Mitakon over your suggestion any day.

@TheJudge064 5 жыл бұрын

I think it's because bokeh is supposed to melt away in the background and help bring the subject into focus. Interesting bokeh doesn't really do that now does it?

@Station9.75 4 жыл бұрын

The further to focal distance, the less benefit you get from extension tubes. Tubes aren’t going to get you as close as this thing will even with a long macro lens. It’s pretty much a weak microscope.

@octaviomoran8475 5 жыл бұрын

This one vs the new 7artisans 60mm f2.8 macro 1:1???

@Dragonheng 5 жыл бұрын

7min + okey i hold a Cup of Tea in my left hand and wait.. 5 min later the Cat need fun wiht the 20mm lens, so a wait again.

@pepponeskie 3 жыл бұрын

I think the concept of this is closely the same with the reverse lens macro set up.

@dopamining7621 5 жыл бұрын

Weren't you tempted to try the ibis in your Sony with this lens?

@christopherfrost 5 жыл бұрын

At such close distances it won't be very effective I'm afraid

@shroominion7529 5 жыл бұрын

Can anybody tell me for the sony if the 90 mm had better macro capabilities than this?

@Bikash_Jana 5 жыл бұрын

Please please review Tamron 17-35 f 2.8 OSD lense. It would be great to see.

@christopherfrost 5 жыл бұрын

One day, yes

@ubuechsenschuetz6356 3 жыл бұрын

Just watched the review and am desperately missing a word about focus stacking, which is what you normally do with images produced by such macro lenses.

@photohounds 3 жыл бұрын

Try ZERENE stacker - all PC platforms supported ...

@MetalSlugzMaster 5 жыл бұрын

The Zenit factory has recently updated its Zenitar 85mm f1.4 (Helios 40-3). Could you possibly do a review? I can find some examples online, but no comprehensive reviews yet.

@christopherfrost 5 жыл бұрын

Maybe - I'll try to get in touch with them and request a review copy

@MetalSlugzMaster 5 жыл бұрын

@@christopherfrost Great! thank you!

@lazerman121 5 жыл бұрын

Man I have been eyeing this lens ever since my USB microscope kicked the bucket I may pic one up soon. Definitely better image quality.

@chrisrockt9064 5 жыл бұрын

Nice Review of a nice lens! Greetings from Chris to Chris 🤗

@hiresmusic 5 жыл бұрын

It is microscopic lens. Who used microscope knows how much light it needs for bright image, and this lens work on same principle. Good magnification but very bad light properties. Canon 65 2.8 of course much better but cost 6x times more.

@patrickdelafon8618 2 жыл бұрын

I wonder if anybody has tried this lens with extension tubes or bellows...

@InterMaus 5 жыл бұрын

Do you usually keep these cheap/weird lenses you review? (I'm assuming these are not loan review copies.)

@christopherfrost 5 жыл бұрын

I bought this one and I will sell it. I can't afford to keep all these lenses!

@InterMaus 5 жыл бұрын

@@christopherfrost Makes sense, i was just wondering, appreciate your answer. Were there any you fell in love with though? Say that Helios 44-2 for example?

@christopherfrost 5 жыл бұрын

@@InterMaus Only on very rare occasions. I did keep hold of the Helios lens for a while but I never seemed to use it so that got sold, too! Remember, I'm testing new lenses all the time - so that's entertainment enough for me :-)

@jamesohara4295 5 жыл бұрын

Are you suggesting Counterfeiters would find it more than useful :)

@Deathwing8966 5 жыл бұрын

Hi Chris, hope you can review the new Canon EFM 32mm 1.4!

@christopherfrost 5 жыл бұрын

It will happen soon in the new year - I can't wait to try it :-)

5 жыл бұрын

no F mount?

@FluffyHotTub 5 жыл бұрын

Hi,where can i get the photo you use for testing distortion sharpness etc?thank you

@christopherfrost 5 жыл бұрын

You can't, it's my Top Secret creation.

@pterois5914 4 жыл бұрын

i just turned my 18-135 mm canon lens by 180 degrees to achieve this

@LuckyLooser666 5 жыл бұрын

For the cost of this lens, it is very cool. :)

@wesleycwagner 5 жыл бұрын

Is there a way to mute the piano solo?

@christopherfrost 5 жыл бұрын

Nope!

@hipphipphurra77 3 жыл бұрын

Seems very much like a microscope lens.

@adi3907 5 жыл бұрын

Why not use an external flash for macro?

@christopherfrost 5 жыл бұрын

Go for it!

@adi3907 5 жыл бұрын

Cool👍

@snol 3 жыл бұрын

This dude just called triangular bokeh ugly

@topsecret3926 5 жыл бұрын

What a funny thing 😂

@SoFloShylockPrankstv 5 жыл бұрын

You guys ever wonder what an octopus based vehicle will look like?

@oldcreepyhouseexplorersclu3657 5 жыл бұрын

Great Lens if you know how to use it!

@limyohwan 3 жыл бұрын

thats not bokeh, thats a ufo

@henryD9363 5 жыл бұрын

Is this a completely fixed focus lens?

@christopherfrost 5 жыл бұрын

Watch the review, and you'll find out!

@Optidorf 4 жыл бұрын

Doesn't seem very practical with a focus distance of 1.5 cm.

@RandomLifeProductions 5 жыл бұрын

I think I’ll stick to me cannon m macro lens...... not flexible enough this lens....

@torbenlysholm1 5 жыл бұрын

Wow, that's one specialized lens.

@MacM545 5 жыл бұрын

I have been using one for my Fuji XT2. I have no complaints over sharpness, at least at around f/5.6. But even stopping down further, I might be able to have some luck with deconvolution in post. I want to post a video of my setup, which is essentially a microscope, made from my camera. I do wish that the lens had special lens elements to improve clarity and maybe even infinity focus would be great. I took some focus stacked photos with the lens: www.flickr.com/photos/160246804@N08/ Requires a rather extremely large amount of light

@witono586 5 жыл бұрын

Looks like a copy of the Olympus 20mm f2 x4.2 macro

@Josechpruiz 5 жыл бұрын

It looks like a normal lens that has been reversed. And essentially that's what it is

@freundlee 5 жыл бұрын

Just a copy of Olympus om 20mm/f2

@blender_wiki 3 жыл бұрын

Macro photographers use flash, maybe you must do some home work before expose yourself.

@dragonaut4208 5 жыл бұрын

it's just a backward lens

@ariantoonly5360 5 жыл бұрын

to small coverage area...and it's not cheap for china's product.

@schregen 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Chris. I hope GOD will help you find enlightenment and unity with all beings in the universe! 🍄🏳️‍🌈🍄🏳️‍🌈🍄

@billmcdonald4335 5 жыл бұрын

That's what LSD does.

5 жыл бұрын

What an unnecessary remark.

@sayanpaul8090 5 жыл бұрын

Second!!

@diegorivera2711 5 жыл бұрын

First! Again!

@trashkwekwe 5 жыл бұрын

Ok, Christopher, I love your videos, their content is always great and very informative, BUT PLEASE consider changing your background music once in a while... This jazzy tune, although quite nice at first, gently starts to become annoying :) Anyway, keep up the good work!