[rparmar]

This is insane, a new macro lens that goes to 5:1 and has built-in LED illumination. So accurate is the focusing it is paired with a holder to keep the subject at the exact distance required. Think of this as a microscope rather than a macro lens. Results look extraordinary.

Here is a translation of the Impress article on this lens. And here is the manufacturer's page on the Nanoha.

Projected price is 50,000 yen (about US$630). Available for MFT and Sony E.

[yeatzee]

So a canon MPE-65 that is greatly limited?

[nickthetasmaniac]

Out of interest, how is it more limited than the MPE-65? Both sound like very specialised lenses to me...

[Ben_Edict]

This is insane, a new macro lens that goes to 5:1 and has built-in LED illumination. So accurate is the focusing it is paired with a holder to keep the subject at the exact distance required. Think of this as a microscope rather than a macro lens. Results look extraordinary.

Here is a translation of the Impress article on this lens. And here is the manufacturer's page on the Nanoha.

Projected price is 50,000 yen (about US$630). Available for MFT and Sony E.

Well, 5:1 can be achieved with any macro lens, just by adding tubes or a bellows and a LED ringlight or better a good ring flash will provide illumination. I do not find this extraordnary, really. But perhaps I have missed the point, as the Google translation is quite unuseable. I know, the extension for a 100mm macro lens would be quite long, but if you use a DA35mm macro, it is quite feasable. And if you combine a good achromat screw-in macro lens with extension tubes, the extension can be even shorter.

Distance holders for macro focusing are also not a new invention. If I remember correctly, even the humble Polaroid 70 series had a distance holders couple with a macro lens.

But these things have been forgotten more or less and may be this lens can serve as a reminder, what we already used to have in the past.

Ben

[yeatzee]

Out of interest, how is it more limited than the MPE-65? Both sound like very specialised lenses to me...

As far as I can tell it only does 4:1/5:1. The canon can do 1:1 - 5:1....

[ChrisPlatt]

If it's marketed anything like their rangefinder cameras good luck ever finding one...

Chris

[rparmar]

Well, 5:1 can be achieved with any macro lens, just by adding tubes or a bellows and a LED ringlight or better a good ring flash will provide illumination. I do not find this extraordnary, really.

I do not know of any other lens with its own mini-USB plugs to power built-in light sources. I don't know of another that does 5:1 in this form factor without add-ons. And I can't recall another that looks like a ray gun. Extraordinary indeed!

[Ben_Edict]

I do not know of any other lens with its own mini-USB plugs to power built-in light sources. I don't know of another that does 5:1 in this form factor without add-ons. And I can't recall another that looks like a ray gun. Extraordinary indeed!

You are ofcourse right. The small form factor is nice and the build-in LED may be fine for focusing. But in my experience, if you bend the optical laws that much (literally in that case), you compromise quality. Lens design is always a compromise and getting that magnification in such a small package without lots of focus travel, affords some compromises. Also, the price is not exactly cheap - and for that money, I stick to conventional, well-proven macro lenses. Or I simply use my older Canon 25mm micro lens, which takes me beyond the 5x limit...

Ben

[rparmar]

No doubt, Ben. I did not mean to promote the product but merely mentioned it here as an intriguing development. It seems that for the convenience it's not a bad option, even if it is also not the best.

Plus, did I say ray gun? ;-)