[EarlVonTapia]

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A new Chinese lens manufacturer called Venus Optics has unveiled a new 60mm f/2.8 ultra macro lens that it claims is the world’s first 2:1 magnification lens with infinity focus.

The company’s stated goal is to develop new macro lenses with more than 1:1 magnification that don’t require special extension tubes or teleconverters, since those accessories are too “annoying and time consuming,” the company says.

. . .

You can buy the lens for Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Pentax mounts for $379 over on eBay.

The company says it’s also working on a 15mm wide angle macro lens that should be unveiled sometime in 2015.

The Venus 60mm f/2.8 Ultra Macro is the World's First 2:1 Magnification Lens with Infinity Focus

Interesting that they've decided to manufacture for lowly Pentaxians. Hopefully Pentax sales are strong so they also release their upcoming 15mm in K mount as well.

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Last edited by EarlVonTapia; 01-05-2015 at 05:05 PM.

[Enrique S Toso]

I see a LOT of chinese third party lenses in the near future.

[boriscleto]

I'm sure it's straight K-mount, so no flash automation. What makes it $350 better than using extension tubes?

[VoiceOfReason]

That may be an interesting lens. Cheap too.

[mee]

That is interesting. Wonder why they chose 60mm though??

Hoping to see Yongnuo come over to the Pentax K mount side and release some delicious primes.. their Canon 'knockoff' actually is sharper than the Canon version with the same CA for a bit less than half of the price.

[tvdtvdtvd]

This is interesting:
"There is one strange thing about the lens though: it’s compatible with both crop sensor and full frame DSLRs, but you can only use it for macro photography if you mount it to a full frame camera. Only APS-C cameras can use it for both macro and everyday photography."

Presumably it vignates on FF when fully extended in macro position. And why does it have that frame crop 'hood'
on the front? Is that to minimize flash glare?

[EarlVonTapia]

What makes it $350 better than using extension tubes?

From the article:

The company’s stated goal is to develop new macro lenses with more than 1:1 magnification that don’t require special extension tubes or teleconverters, since those accessories are too “annoying and time consuming,” the company says.

And I agree. Plus, accessories like tubes and reverse rings and macro adapters are kind of janky.

[Quicksand]

I am LITERALLY Laughing Out Loud at their company logo:



Um . . .

[starjedi]

The Venus 60mm f/2.8 Ultra Macro is the World's First 2:1 Magnification Lens with Infinity Focus

Interesting that they've decided to manufacture for lowly Pentaxians. Hopefully Pentax sales are strong so they also release their upcoming 15mm in K mount as well.

The 15mm shifted wide angle with 5:1 reverse magnfication ratio is indeed a very interesting item. Unfortunately so far not in pentax mount as I noticed.

[Doundounba]

Very interesting lens. Hoping to see reviews confirm the optical quality...

[mtux]

That is interesting. Wonder why they chose 60mm though??

There should be a reason for that, because canon's ultra macro lens which goes up to 5:1 macro has a focal length of 50 or 60mm

What is funny about it for me is that based on the photo:
The focus throw between 1:1 and 2:1 is so short that they marked same focus distance for both 1.5:1 and 2:1

[Not a Number]

Here's the URL for their website:

Venus Optics - Specialist in Macro Photography

[Not a Number]

Bokeh demo at beginning and end of video is nice

Vimeo

[wombat2go]

The SMC Pentax -M Dental Macro 1:4 100mm goes from infinity to 2: 1, with its magnetic close up kit

Scales:
1/10 to 1/2
1/2 to 1 with the red ds25
1.2 to 2 with the yellow DS9

[Doundounba]

Well, you can get to 2:1 for $80 with a Raynox DCR-250, if you already have a 1:1 Pentax 100mm macro lens, but I'd still prefer a lens that just goes to 2:1 by itself...