Lens for Camera Scanning (Sony)?

[silvergelatin]

I'm a recent convert to camera scanning via a Sony A7Rii I bought for this purpose, and my current lens is the well-reviewed Sigma 70mm Macro ART lens. I am totally happy with the excellent results I get from it, but being an unabashed lens hoarder, I am a bit curious about what the next step up would be. I've read that the Sigma 105 is technically better, but in real world use, has anyone compared the two? Other lenses that exceed the Sigma's great performance, besides Printing Nikkors or adapted scanner lenses (something that doesn't require a bunch of elaborate DIY to mount)? I'm only scanning 35mm.

 

[madNbad]

I use a A7II with a Sony FE90 2.8 Macro. It was a eBay find for a lot less than the others were selling for and I couldn’t be more pleased. I tried the Sigma 70 ART Macro and it’s a very capable lens but the Sony beats it in both optical and in general performance. The Sony is an internal focusing lens whereas the Sigma extends the front element and there was a lot of “breathing”. I also found the Sigma took longer to settle down once it had achieved focus, the Sony nails it on the first try. More importantly is assuring the negative is held flat and is illuminated by a reliable light source.

 

[silvergelatin]

I use a A7II with a Sony FE90 2.8 Macro. It was a eBay find for a lot less than the others were selling for and I couldn’t be more pleased. I tried the Sigma 70 ART Macro and it’s a very capable lens but the Sony beats it in both optical and in general performance. The Sony is an internal focusing lens whereas the Sigma extends the front element and there was a lot of “breathing”. I also found the Sigma took longer to settle down once it had achieved focus, the Sony nails it on the first try. More importantly is assuring the negative is held flat and is illuminated by a reliable light source.

Interesting. I agree that the Sigma manual focusing is a little annoying (I like to confirm focus manually, to make sure it is grain-sharp), and the AF hunts a bit, but this review of the Sony put me off the idea of buying one of those: https://www.closeuphotography.com/1x-test-2020. That site rates the Sigmas very high - second only to industrial/scanner lenses) - but obviously they haven't tested every lens out there.

One of the other things I don't like about the Sigma is that it requires quite a bit of vignetting correction. I would prefer to have something that is optically achieving its full potential rather than relying on software.

 

[madNbad]

The Sony design for switching from autofocus to manual focus is great. Push or pull the focus ring at the front of the lens to engage or disengage the autofocus.

 

[J N]

I recommend an inexpensive MF macro lens.

I have a Meike 85/2.8 that's dedicated for the purpose. The one I have is EOS mount as all my "Sony" glass is actually EOS + Metabones.

I haven't really noticed any need for correcting vignetting, but then again, many if not most (sometimes all) of my photos are already aperture vignetted from being taken at f/1.2-1.4. Landscape photographers might have a different perspective.

I don't know what film you can get that will need more than the sharpness of a "pretty good" macro lens on a 20-ish MP body, at least not 35mm and most 6cm film. There's not a lot of Tech Pan out there these days. My a7iii is 4000x6000. That's over 4000 dpi for 35mm, 1700 for 6cm.

The Sony design for switching from autofocus to manual focus is great. Push or pull the focus ring at the front of the lens to engage or disengage the autofocus.

This is also exactly how Oly Pro lenses work.

 

[Steven Lee]

@silvergelatin ask for full-sized samples. Otherwise you'll be getting subjective recommendations. What's "works great" for one person may be "utter trash" to another. Here's Sigma 105mm Art f/2.8 macro. HP5+ in Rodinal.

 

[silvergelatin]

@silvergelatin ask for full-sized samples. Otherwise you'll be getting subjective recommendations. What's "works great" for one person may be "utter trash" to another. Here's Sigma 105mm Art f/2.8 macro. HP5+ in Rodinal.

Thanks. That looks really great! Possibly a little better than the 70mm, but it's hard to tell without shooting the same film with both.

 

[silvergelatin]

I recommend an inexpensive MF macro lens.

I have a Meike 85/2.8 that's dedicated for the purpose. The one I have is EOS mount as all my "Sony" glass is actually EOS + Metabones.

I haven't really noticed any need for correcting vignetting, but then again, many if not most (sometimes all) of my photos are already aperture vignetted from being taken at f/1.2-1.4. Landscape photographers might have a different perspective.

I don't know what film you can get that will need more than the sharpness of a "pretty good" macro lens on a 20-ish MP body, at least not 35mm and most 6cm film. There's not a lot of Tech Pan out there these days. My a7iii is 4000x6000. That's over 4000 dpi for 35mm, 1700 for 6cm.



This is also exactly how Oly Pro lenses work.

Thanks. I'll look into that lens.