rokinon 12mm or Venus 15mm macro

[WT21]

I don't really think anyone can help me make this decision, lol, but why not kick up a conversation

I need an UWA option, and am thinking of not doing the zooms (10-18 isn't really doing it for me, and the 16-35 is pretty expensive).

Two MF lenses are interesting -- Rokinon 12/2 seems highly rated all around, is aps-c mount (so 18mm eq) and quite compact.

But there's also the Venus Optics 15mm macro. It's bigger, but is also for full frame (so is effectively wider on my a7). I also think the macro/close focus would be quite fun. Maybe, too, the tilt, though I'm not sure I really need that. Even on crop, it's 22mm, which is pretty wide.

The rokinon used is around $250, and the Venus isn't really around used, so it's $480 new.

So, +$230 for close focus/macro and tilt (or shift -- one or the other. I forget which one). The Rok is f/2 vs f/4 for the Venus, so the Rok is a little nicer indoors, travel, etc.

hmmmm...

 

[Deleted member 5158]

I have the rokinon and want the Venus

 

[serhan]

Here is a Venus review, good for apsc cameras, but not so good for FF:
Laowa 15mm f/4 1:1 Macro Lens Review

You can also check the Voigtlander 12mm/15mm lenses for small wide angle lenses... Older CV 15mm is not that expensive, but newer version 3 is more optimized for digital sensors.

 

[Deleted member 5158]

Yeah I did suspect that would be the case

 

[WT21]

Hmmmm... I have an m-mount helicoid (or could get another) which would give me my wide angle macro on a voigt

 

[Deleted member 5158]

I bought the Canon 500D close up lens for my rokinon. It does improve the closeup ability but not dramatically.

 

[chalkdust]

I have all the lenses I need for now, which is to say that I have spent all of my lens budget. But in anticipation of refreshed funds in the future I am thinking about that next lens. I have not been able to do macro since my (very) old Speed Graphic days, so I think about trying it again. I have considered the Venus 15mm. But here is my question, for those who actually do macro. Is 15mm a strange focal length for macro? It seems to me that a person would be required to get very close to an object to get a macro 1:1 image with a 15 mm lens. The thin lens formula tells us that 1/o + i/i = 1/f where "o" is object distance, "i" is image distance, and "f" is focal length of lens. So I think that a 1:1 macro image with a 15mm lens requires o=30mm and i=30mm. And since modern photo lenses are not truly thin, that puts the front element extremely close to the object.

The shift ability on the Venus could be really cool and that seems appropriate for wide angle. But to repeat my question, is 15mm a strange and difficult to use focal length for macro work??

 

[Deleted member 5158]

>SNIP
I have considered the Venus 15mm. But here is my question, for those who actually do macro. Is 15mm a strange focal length for macro? It seems to me that a person would be required to get very close to an object to get a macro 1:1 image with a 15 mm lens. The thin lens formula tells us that 1/o + i/i = 1/f where "o" is object distance, "i" is image distance, and "f" is focal length of lens. So I think that a 1:1 macro image with a 15mm lens requires o=30mm and i=30mm. And since modern photo lenses are not truly thin, that puts the front element extremely close to the object.

Yes 4,7mm the review says

The shift ability on the Venus could be really cool and that seems appropriate for wide angle. But to repeat my question, is 15mm a strange and difficult to use focal length for macro work??

Probably but it's so cooool to get something small look big up close and still show the background

 

[Deleted member 5158]

12mm samyang on A6000 dug down a bit.

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[WT21]

I have all the lenses I need for now, which is to say that I have spent all of my lens budget. But in anticipation of refreshed funds in the future I am thinking about that next lens. I have not been able to do macro since my (very) old Speed Graphic days, so I think about trying it again. I have considered the Venus 15mm. But here is my question, for those who actually do macro. Is 15mm a strange focal length for macro? It seems to me that a person would be required to get very close to an object to get a macro 1:1 image with a 15 mm lens. The thin lens formula tells us that 1/o + i/i = 1/f where "o" is object distance, "i" is image distance, and "f" is focal length of lens. So I think that a 1:1 macro image with a 15mm lens requires o=30mm and i=30mm. And since modern photo lenses are not truly thin, that puts the front element extremely close to the object.

The shift ability on the Venus could be really cool and that seems appropriate for wide angle. But to repeat my question, is 15mm a strange and difficult to use focal length for macro work??

Reviews state for 1:1 you have to basically touch the subject with the lens.

It is certainly not a "classic" macro lens. My interest in it is to epxlore something completely different, and not shoot standard macro. If you want to do more of the classic macro stuff, then I would say this is not for you (especially with a 0" working distance!!)

 

[pworden]

Reviews state for 1:1 you have to basically touch the subject with the lens.

It is certainly not a "classic" macro lens. My interest in it is to epxlore something completely different, and not shoot standard macro. If you want to do more of the classic macro stuff, then I would say this is not for you (especially with a 0" working distance!!)

I've looked at this as well, and view it as a creative lens. I think that flash would be essential, probably even outdoors unless the subject was totally still.

 

[Deleted member 5158]

But at those working distance use of flash may be very difficult.

 

[serhan]

Most probably you need ring flash on the lens or this Venus flash
A Brief Review of the Venus KX800 Macro Twin Flash

But at those working distance use of flash may be very difficult.

Here is also how the lens can be used for macro, on pentax apsc camera:
A Review of the Laowa 15mm f/4 and Its Crazy Close 4.7mm Working Distance

 

[Deleted member 5158]

Yes but your subject may inside the space of the filterthread so your flash needs to point toward the lenselement backlighting your subject. Hmm petalshaped diffusing lenshood? Crazy closeups indeed. I really want that lens.

 

[Ericst11]

I have a Venus Optics 15mm macro it is a well built lens but also a full manual lens, bare bones . It takes some very nice shots but is a hard lens for me to get use to. I shoot a lot of macro but very hard to work with . I bought it because i wanted a nice ultra wide and thought the macro ability was nice to go along with it . But wish i would have just waited and bought a 16-35 sony. Down the road i'll more then likely trade it or sell it.

 

[snpr9696]

Nice review


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