Macro lens for jewellery shots

imagemachine

Does anyone have a suggestion for a good 1:1 lens? I am using a 105 micro vr and the 200 micro f4 on a D800. Both lenses show significant axial chromatic aberration in out of focus areas. The 200 also suffers badly from focus breathing (and only ok sharp).
Anybody using German glass for this or have other suggestions.
I have used a Sinarback 75H for this but want to get rid as its slow and clumsy for real close up work. For its faults though it never showed CA... This is something I'm having to deal with with the Nikon kit.
Suggestions gratefully received!

tcole1983

According to DXO (which I don't usually believe) the 200 F4 has almost no CA. I said I don't usually take what they say, but I think CA is probably the one thing that can be measured properly. The 105 F2.8 has a value of 5 µm while the 200 F4 is 1 µm. I have never noticed it on the 105, but DXOmark states at 5 µm the CA because visually noticeable. However if the 1 µm is correct...you aren't going to get any better than that.

Ironheart

You may have a lens element that is out of whack, might be worth having Nikon take a peek. Also axial CA is part of a typical lens correction/distortion software adjustment that NX or LR will usually take care of.

sevencrossing

Both lenses show significant axial chromatic aberration in out of focus areas!

I think CA is measured on a sharp image
I think it may be unavoidable in out of focus images

WestEndFoto

It seems to me that CA in the out of focus parts is a common problem. The common term for this problem is "bokeh". However, perhaps you can post an example.

Assuming that you are talking about the "in-focus" areas, I own the 200 and have extensively tested the 105 (the 200 is better for Macro work). I have not noticed CA on either lens, though as you can tell from my portfolio, my macro work is limited to wildlife and eyeballs, with little experience with jewelry, which does present its own challenges. I will spend time on this later this year.

If you are talking about the Zeiss, I have not tried them, but did not consider them because the longest is 100mm and it is not a true macro, with only a 1:2 reproduction ratio. The Nikon's are a true macro with a 1:1 reproduction ratio. however, maybe you could mitigate this with a teleconverter or extension tube. I have the Kenko and TC-201 (this is manual focus, but who cares with macro) and they seem to work well, though testing them extensively is a project for later this year.

Vipmediastar_JZ

I beleive I had to fix CA for greens on the chrome triangles for the straps. I hope I don't have to send mine in.

sample with CA removed in lightroom.

spraynpray

1:1 Nikkor? What's wrong with the 60mm? Excellent sharp distortion free lens.

WestEndFoto

Or any Nikon macro lens. But I am prepared to be educated as there is lots I don’t know. I am chomping at the bit to see an example of this problem.

imagemachine

Its something I've noticed across all our Nikon Micro's
Its not a big deal just that it didn't happen with the Sinarback. It may be that the image processing on the Sinarback corrected it out.. not easy with axial. I like a bit of bokeh but not when it brings in unwanted colour.
I will post images this afternoon when back in the studio.

spraynpray

So you have actually tried the 60? I understand it was designed for industrial use originally and adapted for other uses which is why it is so good. I have not noticed any axial chroma in use, but my subjects are different to yours.

paulr

Nikon make a specialist Bellows lens which is made for bellows use only. I have used this without any signs of C/A with the Nikon PB-4 bellows. The lens had a limited production but still can be bought on Ebay.
The lens is the Nikon Nikkor-P 105mm F4. Needless to say DOF in close up macro work is always a problem unless you use stacking software.
I have used this system on jewellery without any major problems.

Msmoto

@imagemachine

Michael Erlwine has a lot of experience and is willing to share all of this on his various blogs. He is one of the very best macro photographers I know of and has almost every lens offered for this work.

Take a look here:

http://spiritgrooves.net/MacroPhotos.aspx

Photobug

Nice rig @paulr. I find it very interesting what you can find used on eBay. Good advise.

paulr

Michael Erlewine rated the Voigtlander Apo Lanthar 125mm f2.5 as one of the best Macro lens money could buy. Sadly, very hard to find but do sometimes show up on Ebay

imagemachine

Thanks All.
Apologies, i did try to upload images but that doesn't seem to be working.
I think I am seeing something that is mainly showing up as a result of the rather harsh processing I'm doing on these jewellery shots (Silver on white). I did some flat comparison shots using a steel ruler and the Axial CA is much more subtle and bokeh like.. The Sinar shots show signs of axial when processed the same through ACR as opposed to the Sinar software which cleverly removes all traces.
Thanks again!

Photobug

@imagemachine - There are instructions for uploading to PAD, also applies to any of these threads. Instructions can be found here:
http://forum.nikonrumors.com/discussion/46/how-to-post-a-photo-on-photo-a-day-new-instructions#Item_144

danhowl

I haven't pushed it into heavy macro ranges yet, but the 85mm PCE has great sharpness and contrast used as a straight macro lens. Still-life situations might also take advantage of the T/S functions as well.