THE LENSES
Canon Macro Photo 35mm f/2.8 Lens
Canon MP-E 65mm 1-5x Macro Lens
Copal 35mm f4 E18C Printing Machine Lens
JML 21mm f/3.5 Lens
Noritsu 32mm f4 Printing Machine Lens
Schneider APO-Xenoplan 35mm f1.8 Industrial Lens
Schneider Componon 35mm f4 (at f/2.2) Industrial Lens
Schneider Xenon 35mm f/2 Industrial Lens
Tominon 35mm f/4.5 Copy Lens
This test is a follow up to another 3.4x test that you can see here on Closeuphotography.com: https://www.closeuphotography.com/three-point-four-x-lens-test. The Noritsu 32mm f4 printing lens has added to the line-up and I’ve used a wider aperture, higher performance setup for the Componon, and Xenon lenses. Also the test target used for this test includes micro-lettering and is less contrasty than the original test disk to make image comparisons easier on the eyes.
TEST SET-UP
Camera: Sony α6300, model # ILCE-6300, also known as: A6300
Tube lens: Schneider Makro-Symmar 5.9/120 - 0059 Makro iris lens. This is the model optimized for 0.75x.
Sensor size: APS-C. 23.5 × 15.6 mm. 28.21 mm diagonal. 3.92 micron sensor pitch
Flash: Godox TT350s wireless flash x 2 with one Godox X1s 2.4G wireless flash transmitter
Vertical stand: Nikon MM-11 with a Nikon focus block
A series of images was made with each lens in 4 micron steps and the sharpest frame was then chosen using Photoshop at 100% view. Separate images were selected for each crop area as needed. Each image was processed in PS CC with identical settings with all noise reduction and lens correction turned off, all settings were zeroed out (true zero) and the same settings were used for all of the images. All of the crop images shown here are single files. None of the crop images are stacked.
Center, off-center and corner crop outlined in white.
COMPARING IMAGES AT 100% VIEW
Click on an image below to see a larger version with a dark background in a Lightbox viewer. To open the image in a new window or tab, right click, or two-finger press, and select Open in a New Tab or New Window from the menu. You can also right click, or two-finger press, and select Save Image As and compare the images in the image viewing app of your choice.
3.4x 100% VIEW CENTER CROPS: Focus by Extension
The JML was tested on extension and best results were made with the lens mounted in reverse with the flat side of the lens facing the subject. For this test I used a step-down filter adapter with shim-tape to temporarily mount the lens. If you are interested in the JML lens you need to know that it lacks both mounting and filter threads. This means so you need to consider whether the performance is worth the installation hassle. The Canon MP35 uses common RMS threads so it took me only a few seconds to install the lens on my SM2 studio setup.
Canon Macro Photo 35mm f/2.8 Lens
Canon MP-E 65mm 1-5x Macro Lens
JML 21mm f/3.5 Lens
Best Results: Canon Macro Photo 35mm f/2.8 Lens
The MP35 is the sharpest out of the group, look at the micro-dots in a square pattern below the SN102418 lettering in the upper left corner. The JML is much better corrected for chromatic aberrations than both Canon lenses but is also the softest, none of the micro-dots are visible with the JML despite the slightly increased magnification (the setup had a hardware minimum extension limit). The MP-E has the worst chromatic aberration control of any lens in this test at f/3.2, CAs were reduced slightly by shooting the MP-E at f/3.5, but stopping down also reduced the sharpness.
3.4x 100% VIEW CENTER CROPS: Stacked Lenses
All three of these lenses in this stacked group, were setup on a Schneider Makro-Symmar 5.9/120 focused at infinity and with the Noritsu and Tominon setup facing forwards, which is the opposite of most lenses, the Copal was setup backwards, with the rear or small end facing the subject.
Copal 35mm f4 E18C Printing Machine Lens
Noritsu 32mm f4 Printing Machine Lens
Tominon 35mm f/4.5 Copy Lens
Best Results: Noritsu 32mm f4 Printing Machine Lens
The Noritsu delivers the sharpest, most detailed image with the cleanest blacks of any of the lenses so far. The Copal lens is sharp but the blacks show a blue cast. The Tominon is CA free but is not as sharp as the others.
I’ve had this lens for a couple of years and only now have I gotten around to trying it in a stacked setup. The Noritsu came from an eBay seller in 2017 for $10 plus shipping with a large group of Tominon E36 lenses.
3.4x 100% VIEW CENTER CROPS: Fast Stacked Lenses
All three of these lenses in this stacked group were setup on a Schneider Makro-Symmar 5.9/120 focused at infinity. All three were setup normally or backwards, that is with the rear or small end of the lens forward. The APO-Xenoplan was tested wide open using a paper disk installed between the stacked lenses. The placement of the disk did not seem to make a difference in image quality. With the Componon and Xenon, using the paper disk seemed to make a nice difference in chromatic aberrations and flare. The Componon lens center section was removed and setup wide open, something like f/2, and stopped down slightly to something like f/2.2. Setup this way the results are fantastic and seem to match the Xenon f/2 lens!
Schneider APO-Xenoplan 35mm f1.8 Industrial Lens
Schneider Componon 35mm f4 (f/2.2) Industrial Lens
Schneider Xenon 35mm f/2 Industrial Lens
Best results: Schneider Componon 35mm f4 (f/2.2) Industrial Lens
The performance from three lenses is nothing short of amazing here at 100% view. The APO-Xenoplan has very slightly sharper details than the other two but that increase in sharpness comes with an increase in pink chromatic aberrations so I would rate the lens is last place out of the three. The Componon and Xenon are very close in sharpness but I give the CNP lens a slight edge.
3.4x 100% VIEW OFF CENTER CROPS: Focus by Extension
All three of these lenses were focused using normal extension only. The JML was setup mounted backwards, small end towards the subject, the normal direction or large glass side forwards results in an unusually small sharp area with an extremely curved field. I did not check the actual speed or focal length of the JML lens.
Canon Macro Photo 35mm f/2.8 Lens
Canon MP-E 65mm 1-5x Macro Lens
JML 21mm f/3.5 Lens
Best results: Canon Macro Photo 35mm f/2.8 Lens
The Canon MP35 is sharpest but with some pink CA fringing. The MP-E 65 crop is hazy and soft, I even double checked for finger prints when I saw the poor results. The JML has the best CA correction but is slightly softer than the MP35.
3.4x 100% VIEW OFF CENTER CROPS: Stacked Lenses
All three of these lenses in the stacked (slow) group, were setup on a Schneider Makro-Symmar 5.9/120 focused at infinity and with the Noritsu and Tominon setup facing forwards, which is the opposite of most lenses, the Copal was setup backwards, with the rear or small end facing the subject.
Copal 35mm f4 E18C Printing Machine Lens
Noritsu 32mm f4 Printing Machine Lens
Tominon 35mm f/4.5 Copy Lens
Best results: Noritsu 32mm f4 Printing Machine Lens
The Noritsu has the sharpest and cleanest output of these three, the two Canons or even the JML. It will be interesting to see how the Noritsu performs in the corners since consistent coverage is this lenses strength.
3.4x 100% VIEW OFF CENTER CROPS: Fast Stacked Lenses
All three of these lenses in the stacked (fast) group, were setup on a Schneider Makro-Symmar 5.9/120 focused at infinity. All three were setup normally or backwards, that is with the rear or small end of the lens forward. All three were tested wide open using a paper disk installed between the stacked lenses.
Schneider APO-Xenoplan 35mm f1.8 Industrial Lens
Schneider Componon 35mm f4 (f/2.2) Industrial Lens
Schneider Xenon 35mm f/2 Industrial Lens
Best results: Schneider Componon 35mm f4 (f/2.2) Industrial Lens
The results here are really close, almost too close to call. All three look fantastic. There seems to be less CAs with the APO-Xenoplan crop and slightly more with the Componon.
3.4x 100% VIEW Corner CROPS: Focus by Extension
All three of these lenses were focused using normal extension only. The JML was setup mounted backwards or small lens side forwards, the normal direction or large glass side forwards results in an unusably small usable area with an extremely curved field. I did not check the actual speed or focal length of the JML lens.
Canon Macro Photo 35mm f/2.8 Lens
Canon MP-E 65mm 1-5x Macro Lens
JML 21mm f/3.5 Lens
Best results: Canon Macro Photo 35mm f/2.8 Lens
The MP35 looks by far the best in the corners. The MP-E and JML look a lot softer compared to the MP35.
3.4x 100% VIEW corner CROPS: Stacked Lenses
All three of these lenses in the stacked (slow) group, were setup on a Schneider Makro-Symmar 5.9/120 focused at infinity and with the Noritsu and Tominon setup facing forwards, which is the opposite of most lenses, the Copal was setup backwards, with the rear or small end facing the subject.
Copal 35mm f4 E18C Printing Machine Lens
Noritsu 32mm f4 Printing Machine Lens
Tominon 35mm f/4.5 Copy Lens
Best results: Noritsu 32mm f4 Printing Machine Lens
The Noritsu has the best details and cleanest, CA-free blacks in the corners. Amazing consistent results from center to edge with the Noritsu, in fact, the off-center and corners seem to be even sharper than the center with this lens.
3.4x 100% VIEW OFF CENTER CROPS: Fast Stacked Lenses
All three of these lenses in the stacked (fast) group, were setup on a Schneider Makro-Symmar 5.9/120 focused at infinity. All three were setup normally or backwards, that is with the rear or small end of the lens forward. All three were tested wide open using a paper disk installed between the stacked lenses.
Schneider APO-Xenoplan 35mm f1.8 Industrial Lens
Schneider Componon 35mm f4 (f/2.2) Industrial Lens
Schneider Xenon 35mm f/2 Industrial Lens
Best results: Schneider Componon 35mm f4 (f/2.2) Industrial Lens
The Componon and Xenon are almost too close to call again. The APO-Xenplan is softer than the others with pink and blue CAs around the edges of the micro-lettering.
IMAGE QUALITY results
Best overall: Schneider Componon 35mm f4 (f/2.2) Industrial Lens or Schneider Xenon 35mm f/2 Industrial Lens
Both of these lenses are excellent performers, the Componon is especially tiny and compact, weighing in at less than 2 ounces (50 grams)! The 4/35 CNP lens tested here was picked up as part of a pair for $100, an excellent value that would be hard to beat. The Componon and Xenon performance is so close, they might actually use the same optical design (take a look at the similar front elements in the image at the top of the page).
Best Cost vs. Performance Ratio: Noritsu 32mm f4 Printing Machine Lens
For $10 + shipping, this is easily the best lens value of the test, beating the almost unbeatable deal of all, the JML 21mm lens for $10.
Worst Overall Performance: Canon MP-E 65mm 1-5x Macro Lens
Easily the worst performing lens of the 3.4x test and at the same time the most expensive lens of the test at a cost of $775 new from Canon USA website.
Xenon 2500 pixel image sample
Check out the Xenon sample image below, full of fine details from edge to edge, made at an f/2.2 aperture at 3.4x. Click on the image to see a larger version, right click/two finger click and select option Open Image in New Tab, or Save As. To make sure the image is full size, check the URL, it should end in 2500, if not, change it to number in the URL to 2500 and refresh/return.
MORE Lens INFOrmation
The original 3.4x lens test here on Closeuphotography.com:
https://www.closeuphotography.com/three-point-four-x-lens-test
Canon MP 35mm f/2.8 Macro Photo Lens
Tested aperture: f/3.3, effective aperture: f/14.5, setup: extension only
Notes: better IQ, easier to use, and cheaper than the MP-E 65.
Canon MP-E 65mm 1-5x Macro Lens
Nominal aperture: f/3.2, estimated effective Aperture: f/15, setup: normal
Notes: The Canon MP 35 and MP 20 are better lenses that cost 50% less than of the price of the MP-E 65.
Copal 35mm f4 E18C Printing Machine Lens
Nominal preset aperture: f/4, Effective Aperture: f/13.6, setup: stacked SR120
Note: The Copal E18C 35 isn’t bad at all for the cost but the E18C 40mm is a better lens, https://www.closeuphotography.com/copal-e18c-lens
JML 21mm f/3.5 Lens
Nominal preset aperture: f/3.5, effective aperture: f/15.4, setup: extension only
Note: worth the original eBay selling price of $10 for sure, but I wouldn’t pay a whole lot more than that since the Noritsu 32 and Tominon 35 are better performers and have mounting threads.
Noritsu 32mm f4 Printing Machine Lens
Nominal aperture: f/4, effective aperture:f/13.6, setup: stacked SR120
Note: one of the most underrated macro lenses available, outperforms the JML 21mm, Canon MP 35 and MP-E 65.
Schneider APO-Xenoplan 35mm f1.8 Industrial Lens
Nominal aperture: f/2, effective aperture:f/6.8, setup: stacked SR120
Note: the performance of this lens reminds me of a Nikon microscope objective, very strong performance in the center, but it fails to cover an APS-C sensor.
Schneider Componon 35mm f4 lens Industrial Lens
Nominal aperture: f/2.2, effective aperture:f/7.48, setup: stacked SR120
Notes: Excellent image quality, very easy to use and a nice value for imaging at 4x and beyond. One of my favorite lenses, I own 5 different 4/35 CNP lenses. BTW the Componon 4/28 is even better than the 4/35!
Schneider Xenon 35mm f/2 Industrial Lens
Nominal aperture: : f/2.2, effective aperture: f/7.48, setup: stacked SR120
Note: Xenons are also some of my favorite lenses, the 2/28 Xenon is also excellent, maybe even better than the 2/35, https://www.closeuphotography.com/schneider-kreuznach-xenon-28mm-f2-lens
Tominon 35mm f/4.5 Copy Lens
Nominal aperture: f/4.5, effective aperture: f/15.3, setup: stacked SR120
https://www.closeuphotography.com/tominon-35mm
Note: Great image quality for a low price, one of the best performance value lenses out there.
SCHNEIDER MAKRO-SYMMAR 120MM F5.6 LINE SCAN LENS on Closeuphotography.com:
https://www.closeuphotography.com/schneider-makro-symmar-sr-120
https://www.closeuphotography.com/schneider-makro-symmar-120mm
Note: As a main lens or a tube lens the performance of this lens is excellent, one of my favorite top 5 lenses that I own.