Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro Photo

The only lens of it's kind More of a microscope than a lens going from life size to 5 times larger than life. The higher the magnification the more shallow the depth of field becomes. Be aware this lens is only for macro. at 1x (actual size your subject must be about 4 inches away from the lens, as 5x 1.6 inches.) The lens has no focus ring. You focus by zooming the lens or moving the camera on a focusing rail. You will need to always use this with a tripod to get the best results. Also a focus rail is very helpful. There is a good one for about $40 on ebay. Search for "Macro Focusing Rail Slider for DSLR" and order one shipping from the USA and not China. I have ordered from China and it sometimes takes several weeks to arrive and I had one item that never showed up. If you shoot outside you will also want a ring light flash which attaches to the lens. This will run you from $200 to $500. You will probably end up using the smallest aperture f16 to maximize the area in focus (which will still be quite small). When shooting things so small at high enlargements the slightest wind or vibration can ruin your shot. I was shooting in my home studio and could not get a clear shot. I was using a remote shutter release so I was not touching the camera. Then I realized the slight air movement when the heat was running was enough to blur the shot. Also just moving my foot on the floor from one spot to another flexed the floor just enough to blur the shot. So it takes practice to get good shots. This is probably the best lens available for macro photography.Read full review

excellent special purpose 1-5x mag macro lens This is a unique and excellent lens, but make sure you know how it needs to be used before buying one. There is no focus, just magnification. To focus you adjust the camera to subject distance. This does what you need to cover the 1-5x magnification range. If you want to use this lens to good effect, learn how to produce good lighting and how to do focus stacks. The overall diameter of the front of the lens is creates a bit more challenge for good lighting. I also think it would open up a lot more subjects if the mag range started at .5x rather than 1x. I might even be willing to give up the higher gain 4-5x for that.

Most challenging and most satisfying macro lens made! This is an awesome lens! This is a frustrating lens! This is ancient technology! This is the King of Macro lenses! All of the above statements are true. No auto focus. You focus by moving the camera and lens forward and backward...how ancient is that? No IS...most macro work is manual focus anyway. If you are going beyond 1X you really should get a focusing rail. I am very jealous of those who hand-hold bug shots and refractive dew drops with this lens...especially those also employing focus stacking! You almost have to be an Olympic athlete to get in those positions. I knew what I was getting into when I got this lens and it has lived up to all of the claims...most challenging and most satisfying lens you can get...it literally opens up a new world for you. Paired with the Canon 5D Mark II it is awesome!Read full review