bugmenot
Well-known
I have a request. Please recommend me a dedicated macro lens, from any manufacturer for any mount at any price point, that can offer me a 1:1 magnification on an APS-C sensor (1.5X crop). Most lenses I have looked at state a 1:1 magnification on a full frame sensor. However, I have been unable to location a lens that offers true 1:1 magnification on an APS-C sensor. I need your help. Thank you 
BobYIL
Well-known
You are right, as the majority of the macro lenses have been designed rather for the FF format, however this should be no issue: Buy a FF lens of your choice and use an auto-extension ring.. Even manual aperture extension rings would work because 1:1-like shots are slow process photography. Today even the inexpensive choices are great for macro as the easiest-to-correct focal lengths are between 60 and 135mm. IMO, Tamron, Vivitar, Tokina, Sigma 70 to 90mm macros could well be what you were looking for as they all are known as being excellent choices (and they offer for almost any mount). Also with the extension rings you can go larger than 1:1 ratios.
Murchu
Well-known
Maybe I'm missing the point, but a 1:1 macro lens will give a 1:1 performance, be it on a full frame or an APS sensor. In other words, at 1:1 you will the frame with a subject/ object that is 36mm x 24mm on a full frame sensor (the size of a full frame sensor), or with an object that is 24mm x 18mm on an APS sensor. Not sure if I'm underthinking it, or you overthinking it, but it seems that simple to me.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
I have a request. Please recommend me a dedicated macro lens, from any manufacturer for any mount at any price point, that can offer me a 1:1 magnification on an APS-C sensor (1.5X crop). Most lenses I have looked at state a 1:1 magnification on a full frame sensor. However, I have been unable to location a lens that offers true 1:1 magnification on an APS-C sensor. I need your help. Thank you
Any lens that achieves a 1:1 magnification does so on any sensor format.
A 1:1 magnification means that the subject area is the same size as the imaged area on the format. For a 35mm format camera, that's 24x36mm. For an APS-C format camera, that's typically 16x24mm.
The Nikon 105mm f/2.8D AF Micro is an excellent dedicated macro lens which achieves 1:1 magnification with no accessories required. A Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4 ED-IF AI-S fitted with TC300 teleconverter is another superb macro lens setup that achieves 1:1 magnification. And the Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/3.5 pre-AI with PK-13 extension tube also achieves 1:1 magnification.
I have and use all three of these macro lenses. They are awesome. When fitted to my Ricoh GXR, they show a subject field of 16x24mm at 1:1, as expected.
f16sunshine
Moderator
Kiron 105 f2.5 is a less expensive yet still excellent option.
My favorite long focus lens is the Zeiss Contax 60mm f2.8 Macro-Planar. Goes to 1:1. Beautiful lens. Just perfect!
My favorite long focus lens is the Zeiss Contax 60mm f2.8 Macro-Planar. Goes to 1:1. Beautiful lens. Just perfect!
ChrisN
Striving
Pentax D FA Macro 100mm f/2.8 WR - rainproof, excellent as a short telephoto and 1:1 macro on both 24x36 K-mount bodies (meaning film only) and digital APS-C SLR. No aperture ring on the lens so the lens needs a body with full aperture control.
bugmenot
Well-known
Thank you folks for both your explanations and recommendations. I have not done much macro photography (outside of what I saw through the viewfinder or liveview/LCD and what I considered to "look good"), and as it seems, I had the wrong impression of what the magnification ratios meant and how they work. I appreciate the descriptions.
Let me tell you why I asked this question in the first place. Since 2008 until this past March, for my digital photography, I was a Canon user with the 5DII and multiple Canon glass (5 of them L lenses) including the 100mm F2.8 L, which fulfilled my needs for macro photography (sometimes alongside a ring flash) quite well, be it food, flowers, insects, and sometimes scanning negatives and slides with a DIY setup.
Due to financial reasons, I sold most of my Canon gear, including my 5DII body, in March. Currently, my only digital camera (except P&S and cellphone) is my Sony NEX-5N. Due to my father's history with photography going all the way back to the 50's, and my own interest in photography for the past 10-15 years, I have quite a collection of legacy glass that I have been able to bring back to life (with the aid of adapters) with my NEX-5N.
Until such a date that I can afford to get back into a DSLR system, be it Nikon or Canon (as I hold no real loyalty to a camera brand), I am stuck with using what I have (although I have indulged a little and purchased the Sony SEL 50mm f/1.8 and the Sigma EX 30mm f/2.8 for my NEX-5N ).
I have tried to see if any of the legacy macro lenses I have in my collection were of any use to me initially. I have a Cosina 70-210 "macro" lens, a Tamron 28-135 "macro" lens, and a Vivitar 70-150 "macro" lens. These are the only three lenses in my collection that have the label 'macro' and have magnification scales on the lens. I put "macro" in quotations, as these are push/pull zoom lenses (except the Vivitar, but just as bad), and not very good for macro photography.
After looking at the recommendations and other macro lenses, I think I will probably go with the Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8D, as it offers "tubeless" 1:1 magnification, and is spoken quite highly of in reviews. It seems to produce very sharp images with relatively pleasing bokeh as well. I understand that many simply fiddle with extension rings to achieve the magnifications they want. However, at this time, I don't think I wish to go towards that route.
Again, I thank you all for your time and attention.
Let me tell you why I asked this question in the first place. Since 2008 until this past March, for my digital photography, I was a Canon user with the 5DII and multiple Canon glass (5 of them L lenses) including the 100mm F2.8 L, which fulfilled my needs for macro photography (sometimes alongside a ring flash) quite well, be it food, flowers, insects, and sometimes scanning negatives and slides with a DIY setup.
Due to financial reasons, I sold most of my Canon gear, including my 5DII body, in March. Currently, my only digital camera (except P&S and cellphone) is my Sony NEX-5N. Due to my father's history with photography going all the way back to the 50's, and my own interest in photography for the past 10-15 years, I have quite a collection of legacy glass that I have been able to bring back to life (with the aid of adapters) with my NEX-5N.
Until such a date that I can afford to get back into a DSLR system, be it Nikon or Canon (as I hold no real loyalty to a camera brand), I am stuck with using what I have (although I have indulged a little and purchased the Sony SEL 50mm f/1.8 and the Sigma EX 30mm f/2.8 for my NEX-5N
).I have tried to see if any of the legacy macro lenses I have in my collection were of any use to me initially. I have a Cosina 70-210 "macro" lens, a Tamron 28-135 "macro" lens, and a Vivitar 70-150 "macro" lens. These are the only three lenses in my collection that have the label 'macro' and have magnification scales on the lens. I put "macro" in quotations, as these are push/pull zoom lenses (except the Vivitar, but just as bad), and not very good for macro photography.
After looking at the recommendations and other macro lenses, I think I will probably go with the Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8D, as it offers "tubeless" 1:1 magnification, and is spoken quite highly of in reviews. It seems to produce very sharp images with relatively pleasing bokeh as well. I understand that many simply fiddle with extension rings to achieve the magnifications they want. However, at this time, I don't think I wish to go towards that route.
Again, I thank you all for your time and attention.
Micro Nikkor AF-S DX 40mm f/2.8 G?
bugmenot
Well-known
Just an update. Ended up grabbing a Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8D, and also found a 50m f/3.5 S.S.C. Canon FD in my FD glass collection. This particular 50mm came with a "Life Size" extension tube, which allows 1:1 macro. Good for closer macro shots, while the 105mm Nikon is perfect for all other applications for the time being.
Thank you all again.
Thank you all again.
Jockos
Well-known
Canon EF-S 60mm is a macro for APS-C sensors.
Ronald M
Veteran
1:1 is life size on film or sensor. Full frame will show more area than APSC.
Lenses are like houses, you can spend as much as you want.
Zeiss Luminars , Leica Photars top of heap . All the Nikkors are are good as are Pentaxes going back to the 50 4.0 preset in 1965.
Right now I use a 65 Elmar on a M8, 40 2.8 60 2.8 and 105 2.5 on APS C Nikons or the last two on full frame Nikons
Lenses are like houses, you can spend as much as you want.
Zeiss Luminars , Leica Photars top of heap . All the Nikkors are are good as are Pentaxes going back to the 50 4.0 preset in 1965.
Right now I use a 65 Elmar on a M8, 40 2.8 60 2.8 and 105 2.5 on APS C Nikons or the last two on full frame Nikons