Most value for money Macro lens for Canon? (Vintages are fine)

[BlimeyOmega]

Hello all,

I am looking towards getting a macro lens solely for the purpose of scanning 35mm film negatives for keepsake purposes, although it would be great if I could get a lens that produces higher res scans as well.

As I do not do macro photography or have any interest in it, it doesnt really justify spending a lumsump on one of the best and latest canon macro lenses. Hence, I would really like the community's opinion on what are the best value for money canon and/or other vintage lenses out there. Slow AF or high Fstop doesnt really matter as I would be using a tripod. The camera that I would be using is either a 6D or 600D.

Just a lil background info, I have tried using my Tamron 24-70 and Canon 70-200 F4 (which i dont think are suitable) to no avail as the images usually still look too pixelated to make out any details. I do have a vintage olympus 85mm which I have yet to try out though.

Thank you for your opinions!

 

[Octarine]

Just a lil background info, I have tried using my Tamron 24-70 and Canon 70-200 F4 (which i dont think are suitable) to no avail as the images usually still look too pixelated to make out any details.

Can you describe / show what you are doing? I wonder how pictures from a film can look pixelated. Are you zooming in at 200% into the digital picture taken? Even a Leica image would look pixelated in this situation ...

 

[BlimeyOmega]

Can you describe / show what you are doing? I wonder how pictures from a film can look pixelated. Are you zooming in at 200% into the digital picture taken? Even a Leica image would look pixelated in this situation ...

What i am trying to achieve, is to take a picture with the 6D/600D and fill 90% of the frame with one complete 35mm negative exposure, OR zoom in even further into perhaps like 1/4 of the 35mm negative exposure.

In these cases, I would like the details of the 35mm negative to be captured so that I can either use it as like a normal picture for keepsake OR stitch a few of this "mini portions" into a bigger and higher res DSLR scan. The problem is, I dont have a lens that is able to zoom in close enough to capture this macro details. Using my 24-70 @ 70mm at the most minimal focus distance that ensure everything in the frame is sharp, I can only fill like 20% of the frame with one negative exposure. So, the only thing I can see are like mini thumbnails of the film strip and cropped in would then be pixelated. Sorry I wasnt clear earlier on.

 

[one eye jack]

What i am trying to achieve, is to take a picture with the 6D/600D and fill 90% of the frame with one complete 35mm negative exposure, OR zoom in even further into perhaps like 1/4 of the 35mm negative exposure.

In these cases, I would like the details of the 35mm negative to be captured so that I can either use it as like a normal picture for keepsake OR stitch a few of this "mini portions" into a bigger and higher res DSLR scan. The problem is, I dont have a lens that is able to zoom in close enough to capture this macro details. Using my 24-70 @ 70mm at the most minimal focus distance that ensure everything in the frame is sharp, I can only fill like 20% of the frame with one negative exposure. So, the only thing I can see are like mini thumbnails of the film strip and cropped in would then be pixelated. Sorry I wasnt clear earlier on.

To be honest it's not trival.People have used an 85mm but it's not a true macro lens which is designed for flat field reproduction corner to corner sharpness.Getting the lens is just one part of the equation as there is the light source and film/negative holding method.Lastly comes the post processing part.I guess your canon 6D and 600D will do the job.For a third party modern equivalent macro would be a Tamron SP90 macro or it's vintage manual version.The Sigma brand can also be considered.Of course there are numerous vintage macro lenses of various brands but I leave it to you to read the reviews before buying.You may also need to add extension tubes to focus closer.The links below should give you ideas to pursue this further.PS looks like 100mm macro is the focal length most used for copying although there are 55/60mm types (with extension tubes).In lieu of tripod a proper copystand is recommended but other people have used much cheaper methods as the links show.

http://www.scantips.com/es-1.html

http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2012/11/11/using-a-dslr-to-scan-negative-film-by-stefan-schmidt/

http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2012/...-or-why-i-kept-my-big-dslr-by-stefan-schmidt/

http://www.mfphotography.ca/michael...-guide-to-scanning-film-with-a-digital-camera

 

[catchlights]

I believe your set up is totally wrong, we don't use zoom lens to do such thing, not even the pro grade zoom lens.
pixelated has noting to do with lenses, we also don't go beyond 1:1, especially for 35 format, you won't get anymore details beyond this point, what you can see is just the gain of the film.

all you need is a micro lens that can go 1:1, for budget constrain, just get an enlarger lens, it will work far better than a micro lens but you need a bellow set up plus slide copier for that.

 

[one eye jack]

I hesitate to recommend use of enlarging lens because I don't know if the lens by itself can do the job in this case as looking at the specs their useful magification is greater than 1:1 which mean the use of bellows attachment.Agree that it's cheap relative to the most sought after rodenstock lenses.

Fujinon ex enlarging lens:
http://www.photocornucopia.com/1056.html

But there is a caveat in that Fujinons construction quality leaks light so unless you modify it as this pro does he said it is or better than rodenstock considering it's price.Do note these fujinons may have stopped production already.

http://ohm-image.net/opinion/photophile/the-fujinon-ex-90-56-enlargement-lens

Considering if you add bellows and a novoflex ballpro like this pro uses it definitely out of your budget.Not least a lens adapter, best bet is a vintage macro lens when all things considered or is it?

There are plenty of alternatives but I don't know whether you are up to it as it require handyman
skills.

http://photocornucopia.com/1061.html

 

[kandinsky]

Yeah, I think I'd try extension tubes first.

https://photographylife.com/what-is-an-extension-tube

 

[BlimeyOmega]

Hello,

Thank you for all the articles, though I am still trying to digest everything.


So.. do correct me if i am wrong, there are 3 methods to carry out this scanning process (P.S I would def need still alot of reading up on my on as I am somewhat confused)

1) Macro lens
From what I gather, I would need a macro lens with at least 1:1 magnification? Would extension tubes actually enhance the macro lens further?

2) Enlarger Lens with bellow and slider
Are enlarger lenses better because they were intended for usage to create prints with negatives (and cheaply avail)? Does the the bellow work the same way as an extension tube in the manner than they increase the distance between the camera and the lens?


3) Extension Tube
Understand that this increases magnification.While i am still confused with magnification ratio and so on, does these work with any lens? I dont think the nifty fifty would be suitable right?

 

[Octarine]

Number 4 is skipping all this and getting a real film scanner.

 

[one eye jack]

Hello,

Thank you for all the articles, though I am still trying to digest everything.


So.. do correct me if i am wrong, there are 3 methods to carry out this scanning process (P.S I would def need still alot of reading up on my on as I am somewhat confused)

1) Macro lens
From what I gather, I would need a macro lens with at least 1:1 magnification? Would extension tubes actually enhance the macro lens further?

If you have 1:1 then you might not need extension tube ( they allow greater magnification ratio)
Focal length determines the subject distance from the lens. eg. for butterfliy you need longer lens.
Macro lenses vary from short 55/60mm -200mm.You can use a 50mm it all depends on your setup..lights ,stand,film holder don't get in the way.

2) Enlarger Lens with bellow and slider
Are enlarger lenses better because they were intended for usage to create prints with negatives (and cheaply avail)? Does the the bellow work the same way as an extension tube in the manner than they increase the distance between the camera and the lens?

I think you can put enlarger lens aside...it may be too much of a hassle and costs overall.

3) Extension Tube
Understand that this increases magnification.While i am still confused with magnification ratio and so on, does these work with any lens? I dont think the nifty fifty would be suitable right?

For experimenting if you have a normal 50mm you can either buy a set of extension tubes auto with electrical contacts or manual.Or get a reversing ring adapter screwing into the 50mm filter thread
and play with it but I don't know if it can do 1:1 with reverse adapter as accessories are not cheap in sg. unless you buy online.For sure extension tubes will get you more magnification but exposure may be challenging Yes tubes work with any lens but primarily they are used for macro or closeup photography.
Good luck and good hunting.

 

[simon6z]

Laowa 60mm canonmount, I think you can search B&S for it or Orient photo at sim lim square has a used one I think $380 only