The world's widest 1:1 macro lens

[Michael Erlewine]

I am almost certain it is stacked, of course.

Where I don't fit in to all this kind of discussions is that I like to stack lenses that are very sharp wide open and that have razor sharp DOF. I don't care about the very thin DOF because I tend to stack that razor-thin DOF into whatever object or mass i want and leave the rest of the photo out-of-focus or whatever. So, where some folks say that wide-open fast lenses have too narrow of DOF for regular use. Of course, that is fine with me. The Venus 15mm is flawed in probably many ways, but if we can get away from being too clinical and go instead for "mood" or impression, then learning to use this kind of lens is worthwhile.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

The main problem with such a lens design is the extremely short working distance. At 1:1 you are down to a few mm clearance to the front element.

At the same time, the focal length is way too long to give any extra depth of field.

[Michael Erlewine]

The main problem with such a lens design is the extremely short working distance. At 1:1 you are down to a few mm clearance to the front element.

At the same time, the focal length is way too long to give any extra depth of field.

Right, but for my work I create depth-of-field by stacking focus; I paint it on, so to speak, so I want everything else as bokeh. Too near the front of the lens does not bother me. Again, I see this kind of lens as a specialty lens for a special kind of photography. It would not be for me a walk-around-lens. I will try to start a thread soon on what I term "Impressionistic"  or "Mood" lenses and we can try to drill down on those qualities. When I hear folks decrying too narrow DOF, I just say "Great!" That's the difference I was trying to point out.

[Akira]

Jan, thanks for sharing the review video.  I kind of tried similar method with my Samyang, but haven't had any decent images. 

Michael, I like the sense of "being there" that the super-wideangle-macro shot in your image.

[BW]

I have the Venus optics 15 mm macro lens and have used it since august. It´s a lot of fun to use the lens and it gives a perspective not easily found in other lenses. I have used it with the Df and D750 (+OMD E-M1). I find it easy to focus and easy to use both for macro and more general purpose use. I´ve also used it reversed with some luck. Stopped down it kan be a pain inn the ass to focus because of the dark viewfinder. It can also be quite a challenge to use with the R1C1 because of the near focus limit. The Aphid shots almost stretched my patience to the breaking point and gave me a sore neck and back for days. Oh, man, that was a lot of use/d. I badly need some synonyms....

[Michael Erlewine]

It is an interesting lens, the Venus 15mm. It is sharp enough, not too well corrected, but OK, and you can, as you did with some of your photos, get in real close. This is another specialty lens that I look foreword to using more. I started another thread on these lenses with unusual bokeh and light response.

[Jakov Minić]

Børge, lovely images! I am getting hooked!

[Dr Klaus Schmitt]

Nice shots BW indeed. Seems to be a fun lens to use....
Still I'm missing the very wide and almost sharp BG others have achieved like Solvin Zankl here:


(c) GEO Magazine / Solvin Zankl

[BW]

Completely stopped down the diffraction is quite grueling, so its hard to achieve the sharpness you get around f8-11. My technique is´nt perfect either. So I am used to not getting as sharp pictures as other people might get

[Erik Lund]

The kid shot is really nice BG!