The Mitakon Zhongyi 55mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro is constructed for a really particular objective: letting you see the world nearer than most lenses permit. Excessive macro work pushes each your expertise and your gear, and this lens offers you entry to magnifications that might usually require specialised, costly gear. For those who’re trying to seize the tiniest particulars in on a regular basis topics, this lens provides one thing uncommon and difficult.
Coming to you from Christopher Frost, this detailed video exhibits what the Mitakon Zhongyi 55mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro can do. It’s a completely handbook lens with no electronics, designed just for macro distances, which means you may’t focus to infinity. That limitation issues as a result of it makes this lens strictly for close-up work, not a versatile on a regular basis choice. What it does provide you with is the power to hit a formidable 5:1 magnification, which is much past what normal macro lenses can attain. Frost factors out that such shut taking pictures comes with issues: gentle ranges drop considerably, and even the smallest motion is magnified, so utilizing a tripod turns into important.
Frost additionally highlights the lens’ design decisions. The construct is strong, with a tripod collar included, which is essential for this sort of taking pictures. The focusing mechanism is stiff, which makes precision tough, although he discovered pushing and pulling the lens barrel extra sensible than counting on the main focus ring. There’s additionally a easy clip-on LED gentle on the entrance, powered by a micro USB supply, supplying you with further illumination for topics that may in any other case be misplaced in shadow. That gentle received’t resolve each drawback, although, particularly when taking pictures reflective topics that may simply turn out to be blown out. Nonetheless, having a light-weight supply designed to work instantly with the lens is helpful when working at such excessive magnifications.
Key Specs
Focal Size: 55mm
Aperture: Most f/2.8, Minimal f/22
Lens Mounts: Canon EF, Nikon F, Fujifilm X, Fujifilm G, Hasselblad X, Canon RF, Nikon Z, Sony E, Leica L
Format Protection: Full body
Minimal Focus Distance: 2.55″ to five.9″ (6.48 to fifteen cm)
Magnification: 5:1 Macro Copy Ratio, 5x Magnification
Optical Design: 13 Parts in 8 Teams
Aperture Blades: 9
Focus Kind: Handbook focus
Picture Stabilization: None
Tripod Mount: Detachable and rotating collar
Filter Measurement: 58 mm
Dimensions: 67 x 87 mm
Weight: 1.5 lb / 690 g
At 1:1 magnification, large open at f/2.8, the decision is healthier than anticipated, although distinction is low. Stopping down improves element till diffraction, the softening impact attributable to gentle bending at small apertures, takes over. At increased magnifications, particularly 5:1, diffraction turns into unavoidable irrespective of the aperture. Frost notes that distinction could possibly be stronger on the highest settings, however the trade-off is the power to achieve magnifications that few different lenses permit.
The Mitakon Zhongyi 55mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro isn’t a straightforward lens to make use of. It requires endurance, exact dealing with, and further gear like rails and lights to get the perfect outcomes. For anybody who enjoys pushing limits and doesn’t thoughts the educational curve, it opens the door to topics which are usually invisible to the attention. Take a look at the video above for the total rundown from Frost.
