Manual 50mm macro lenses?

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I have a film era Sigma 50mm f2.8 1:1 macro but unfortunately it's getting tacky and several attempts to clean it haven't really been all that successful :( so I've been thinking about replacing it.

I'd like to stick with a manual lens I can use on my Sony A7 and MFT cameras but off the top of my head I can't think of anything else from the days of film that fit the bill of being 50mm, f2.8 and 1:1 as everything I remember, FD, Minolta, Olympus / other seems to be f3.5 or needing a tube to go life size.

Can anyone think of something from the film era that I might be able to find for sale on line or is there a modern manual lens that I could take a look at and adapt for my cameras?
 
There is an a-mount minolta 50mm f2.8 which is really great. Of course you'll need an electronic comms adapter to control the aperture.
 
nandbytes said:
There is an a-mount minolta 50mm f2.8 which is really great. Of course you'll need an electronic comms adapter to control the aperture.
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That'd probably make it a bit difficult or maybe impossible to use the same lens on my A7 and MFT cameras.
 
There's the Vivitar 55mm 2.8 macro which is 1:1 - get's pretty long at it's closest focus, but I guess the Sigma would too? Expect to pay about £100 for the Vivitar
 
ancient_mariner said:
Why? Manual focus ring, manual aperture control, range of mounts available. What else is needed?
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That lens, as far as I can see in the link, is a modern AF lens without aperture ring so I'd need some way of controlling the aperture either with an adapter with electronic communication or one with an aperture built in. I'd like to use a lens as I do now, on either my Sony A7 or Panasonic MFT cameras.

I did look at that lens when I had DSLR's but I stuck with the Canon 50mm f2.5 despite a couple of limitations with that lens.
 
Cagey75 said:
There's the Vivitar 55mm 2.8 macro which is 1:1 - get's pretty long at it's closest focus, but I guess the Sigma would too? Expect to pay about £100 for the Vivitar
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Looking at that lens... to focus do you twist it or is it a push/pull focus?
 
I've just spotted a Pentax 50mm f2.8, I'll do some Googling.
 
woof woof said:
Looking at that lens... to focus do you twist it or is it a push/pull focus?
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From the review I linked to:

"The focusing ring turns fairly smoothly, not silky like some, but good enough. And it turns and turns...all the way down to that ultra-close 1:1 magnification. There is a depth of field scale, superseded at closer distances by magnification ratios, all being clearly marked."
 
woof woof said:
Looking at that lens... to focus do you twist it or is it a push/pull focus?
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I'll get a link for you to the reviews on the Pentax forums, it gets a 9.5 from users on there. Pretty sure it's twist - have eyed it myself many times, went with a cheaper Canon FD 50mm 3.5 last time which was decent but only 1:2
 
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myotis said:
My link was to ePhotozine, just because it was the first longish review I found.
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Yup, I meant I missed your post referring to the same lens, I just skim read the thread before adding mine ;)
 
ancient_mariner said:
Why? Manual focus ring, manual aperture control, range of mounts available. What else is needed?
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Thanks and that's a good catch :D

I think maybe some have an aperture ring and some don't? Maybe it's mount specific or different versions? It's definitely something I'll take a look at.
 
Cagey75 said:
There's the Vivitar 55mm 2.8 macro which is 1:1 - get's pretty long at it's closest focus, but I guess the Sigma would too? Expect to pay about £100 for the Vivitar
Click to expand...
myotis said:
Does it need to be 50mm? The 55mm f2.8 Vivitar (sold under several names) had a good reputation, see review here
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50/55 is fine. I'll take a look at that thanks :D
 
justpix said:
Hi, I have the Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 50mm f/2 ZF:

https://www.opticallimits.com/nikon_ff/589-zeisszf5020ff?start=2

and the Leitz/Leica Makro Elmarit R 2,8/60:

https://www.dearsusan.net/2014/04/01/210-leica-macro-elmarit-r-602-8-soulful-engineer/

I can recommend both, but I included real tests, because I just played around with them a little on the SONY A7R2, and put them away after that ... ---
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These look lovely especially the Zeiss but neither are 1:1 and both are rather expensive but on the other hand they'll probably last a lifetime rather than end up a sticky mess like the Sigma.
 
Thanks all.

I'll have a think about what I want. I initially thought I'd get a cheap film era 1:1 lens but I may consider a 1:2 or a more expensive option like the Zeiss. I'm still leaning towards a 1:1 lens though as that would remove any lingering doubts about not being able to get the subject big in the frame.

I'll report back... :D
 
woof woof said:
Thanks all.

I'll have a think about what I want. I initially thought I'd get a cheap film era 1:1 lens but I may consider a 1:2 or a more expensive option like the Zeiss. I'm still leaning towards a 1:1 lens though as that would remove any lingering doubts about not being able to get the subject big in the frame.

I'll report back... :D
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Well if you are happy with 1:2 nothing will beat the voitglander 65mm f2
 
woof woof said:
That Nikon looks nice and I already have some Nippon Kogaku lenses and an adapter so that would make life easier.
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if you can pick up the Nikon AFD 60mm f2.8 you will not be disapointed its one of the sharpest lenses i have ever used :)
It makes a good all round lens on FF DX or 4/3
 
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Phiggys said:
if you can pick up the Nikon AFD 60mm f2.8 you will not be disapointed its one of the sharpest lenses i have ever used :)
It makes a good all round lens on FF DX or 4/3
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Yeah cracking lens that is, but you are looking at £200+
 
Worth looking around camera fairs or dealers LCE had one for just under £150 a few weeks ago with 6months warrenty or try a wanted in the TP classifieds ?
 
I'd sort of settled on the Nikon 60mm but I thought I'd have another look at my Sigma. I gave it a good clean and I've managed to remove most of the sticky. Sadly I've lost most of the lens markings which simply rubbed off but the aperture settings are unaffected. The lens seem fine to use now so I'll take it out for a thorough road test and see if the stickiness returns and if it doesn't I might well put off replacing it.

One thing that did disappoint me is that the lens barrel is in sections and held together by sticky tape... I know this isn't too unusual as I've read reviews of modern lenses that say the same thing, I think it is disappointing though and surely they could do better than sticky tape.

Thanks all, I'll be saving this info for a good study later.
 
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