Free E-book on Close-up and Macro Lenses

[Michael Erlewine]

I have updated my 2014 e-book on lenses titled “Lenses for Close-Up and Macro Photography” for those interested. Included are essays and lenses for what are called the “Exotic Industrials.”

This is a free e-book. Made it myself and it is available and can be shared provided no fee is charged. This update is 239 pages and includes 64 more pages than the original publication.

http://spiritgrooves.net/pdf/e-books/NEW%20LENS%20BOOK%20V5.pdf

[Bill Mellen]

Thank you Michael, I just downloaded it and will read it on the train today.

[Bent Hjarbo]

Thank you, just downloaded and skimmed it, lots of info. I like the PB-4 on the front page, just bought one, will start to learn to use it for more than slide duplication.

[Akira]

Michael, thank you for the tour de force update to the already tour de force e-book!  I downloaded for my future references.

[Michael Erlewine]

It is just a homemade e-book to keep up with lenses and the kind of thing I do. Hope it is useful.

[aerobat]

Many thanks for posting your eBook. I really like your real world assessments of the lenses. I will sure enjoy reading on.

[FredCrowBear]

Thank you! 

[beryllium10]

Michael, I would also like to add my thanks.  I have downloaded the book and will read it with interest and use it as a guide in future.  Very generous of you to gather all of this information and make it so easily available.

Cheers,  John

[JKoerner007]

Unlike many, I have not just downloaded and praised ... I have read a great deal of the material. (Can't say I've read every word, but a majority.)

That said, here are my comments ...


Praise first

Thanks for the time and effort in putting this together: a treasure trove.

The lenses with which I am familiar, I agree with your findings (for the most part).

My experiences lead me to trust your eyes and your reviews on most anything in the future ...

That said, here are some elements which could use improvement/revision ...


Minor criticisms

Your Table of Contents Page numbers (in many cases) don't  match your actual page numbers of the topic.

Since the subject is close-up and macro, you don't even get into the reverse-macro options with lenses like the 28mm AI-S, which is a dandy for reverse macro.

Your evaluation of the Sigma 180mm macro was not objective, but only from 'your' static use parameters ... it is excellent for long-reach in the field (of live moving subjects, not flowers).

Cheers.

PS: I would have liked to see a section devoted to the Noct 58 vs. the Otus 55

[Michael Erlewine]

Minor criticisms

Your Table of Contents Page numbers (in many cases) don't  match your actual page numbers of the topic.

Since the subject is close-up and macro, you don't even get into the reverse-macro options with lenses like the 28mm AI-S, which is a dandy for reverse macro.

Your evaluation of the Sigma 180mm macro was not objective, but only from 'your' static use parameters ... it is excellent for long-reach in the field (of live moving subjects, not flowers).

Cheers.

PS: I would have liked to see a section devoted to the Noct 58 vs. the Otus 55

I will check on those page numbers. As for the Sigma 180mm (or anything in this article), it is only based on my own experience. No attempt is made to be complete. It is eclectic, based on what I use.

As for the Otus 55 and the Noct Nikkor, not sure what you were after. To me, there is no comparison. It is apples and oranges. I love both of those lenses, but they are poles apart IMO. The Noct is a specialized lens in my work, wonderful because it is fast, but not well corrected and if not used VERY carefully, the result is nothing special. If used right, the Noct can be breathtaking.

The Zeiss Otus 55 is much more of a generally useful lens IMO, one that with a little extension (K1 Ring) can get close enough to be useful for the work I do. I use it all the time. I use the Noct occasionally.

The book itself is, as mentioned, a homemade job. I no longer have a staff of hundreds of people (LOL), so everything is done by me. I don't care to spend a lot of time looking for typos. I would rather be photographing. I just put it out there for those few who can benefit from it. I write an essay a day of Facebook (not about photography), so that keeps me busy. I would also like to illustrate each technique with images, but will have to save that for later this winter or when I feel like it. Thanks for the comments.

[Dr Klaus Schmitt]

Great work Michael, congratulations and thanks for sharing! It is a VERY long read and you have accumulated many years of experience in it seemingly, even more so after your 2017 update including some of the most modern camera systems.

Well, as you already mentioned it in your e-book, I plead guilty for having lured you into the other lens universe of the special purpose lenses, but I'm very happyto see that you make the best use of them, the Printing and Apo EL Nikors for instance. Indeed, it is the top of the line still by todays standards and no camera sensor has yet been able to beat them and their resolution.

All those may be found with data and lens images on my site http://macrolenses.de as you mentioned it.

[I spare you comments about typos and such, nothing really critical...]

[Michael Erlewine]

Great work Michael, congratulations and thanks for sharing! It is a VERY long read and you have accumulated many years of experience in it seemingly, even more so after your 2017 update including some of the most modern camera systems.

Well, as you already mentioned it in your e-book, I plead guilty for having lured you into the other lens universe of the special purpose lenses, but I'm very happyto see that you make the best use of them, the Printing and Apo EL Nikors for instance. Indeed, it is the top of the line still by todays standards and no camera sensor has yet been able to beat them and their resolution.

All those may be found with data and lens images on my site http://macrolenses.de as you mentioned it.

[I spare you comments about typos and such, nothing really critical...]

Thanks Klaus! You have been a great teacher for me. And you did not lure me. I leapt into that breech on my own. You just pointed the way.

[Olivier]

Very useful indeed! Many thanks.
I am surprised you do not mention the Tamron macro lenses, they can be excellent. The 90mm f/2.8 is my jewel, with a very long focus throw (and it goes to 1:1).

I have noticed a few incorrect labellings but honestly the work is so massive that they don't really matter. For instance, the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D should not be AF-S.

[Michael Erlewine]

Very useful indeed! Many thanks.
I am surprised you do not mention the Tamron macro lenses, they can be excellent. The 90mm f/2.8 is my jewel, with a very long focus throw (and it goes to 1:1).

I have noticed a few incorrect labellings but honestly the work is so massive that they don't really matter. For instance, the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D should not be AF-S.

Thanks, I will fix that. Any others?  As for the Tamron. I just never had a copy. Will look into ti. I only write about what I actually have and use. Not able to buy everything out there and I sell them off too if I don't use them.

[Olivier]

Don't get one because of me. I just happen to enjoy it, but really don't think it will give you anything you don't already have.