Mitakon Zhongyi 55 mm f/2.8 1-5x macro is designed for a very specific purpose: lets you see the world closer than most of the lenses. Extreme macro work pushes both your skills and your gear, and this lens provides you access to the horrifics that normally, expensive equipment requires. If you are looking to catch the most little details in everyday subjects, this lens provides some unusual and challenging.
Coming from you Christopher frostThis detailed video shows what Mitacon Jhongai 55 mm F/2.8 1-5x Macro Can do. It is a perfectly manual lens that has no electronics, only designed for the macro distance, meaning that you cannot focus on infinity. This limit matters because it makes this lens strictly for close-up work, not a flexible everyday option. What it gives you is the ability to hit an impressive 5: 1 magnification, which can reach the standard macro lens. Frost explains that such close shooting comes with problems: the level of light decreases considerably, and even the smallest movement is increased, so it becomes necessary to use a trippai.
The design of the frost lens also highlights options. The build is solid, which includes a tripod collar, which is important for this type of shooting. The focusing mechanism is rigid, which makes accuracy difficult, although he found the lens barrel more practically pushing and pulling the lens barrels than relying on the focus ring. There is also a simple clip-on LED light operated by a micro USB source, which gives you additional lights for subjects that may otherwise be lost in shade. This light will not solve every problem, however, especially when shooting of reflective themes that can easily blow. Nevertheless, having a light source designed to work directly with lenses is useful when working on such extreme quantities.
Major glasses
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focal length: 55 mm
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Aperture: Maximum f/2.8, minimum f/22
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Lens mounts: Canon EF, Nikon F, Fujifilm X, Fujifilm G, Hasselbad X, Canon RF, Nikon Z, Sony E, Leika L.
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Format coverage: full frame
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Minimum focus distance: 2.55 “to 5.9” (6.48 to 15 cm)
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Monitoring: 5: 1 macro breeding ratio, 5X magnification
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Optical Design: 13 elements in 8 groups
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Aperture Blade: 9
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Focus type: Manual focus
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image stabilization: nobody
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Tipi Mount: Removable and rotating collar
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Filter Size: 58 mm
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Dimensions: 67 x 87 mm
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weight: 1.5 lb / 690 grams
1: 1 On magnification, wide open at f/2.8, resolution is better than expected, although the contrast is less. Stopping below improves expansion until the degradation improves, the soft effects caused by light bending on small aperture. On high magnification, especially 5: 1, diffraction becomes unavoidable, no difference. The frost notes that the contrast may be strong on the highest settings, but the business-band has the ability to reach magnification that allow some other lenses.
Mitakon Zhongyi is not an easy lens to use 55 mm f/2.8 1-5x macro. To get the best results, it requires patience, accurate handling and additional gear such as rail and light. Anyone who carries on the boundary and does not mind the learning state opens the door for subjects that are generally invisible to the eye. Watch the video above from frost to full randon.
