THE TEST
All of the eight lenses in this comparison are designed for greater than life-size, or 1x magnification, but I wanted to find out which of these lenses delivers the best image quality at 4x.
The results are only being presented here to share my findings. Since I own all the lenses the test, I am not promoting any one lens, or one lens brand over another.
The Setup
Camera: Sony α6300, model # ILCE-6300, also known as: A6300
Sensor size: 23.5 × 15.6 mm. APS-C. 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
For this test, the Canon MP-E 65 was used with a Sigma MC-11 E-mount to EOS adapter. The rest of the lenses were mounted on my 42mm studio set-up, for more information on the setup used for this test, follow this link: https://www.closeuphotography.com/42mm-setup
All images were shot in Sony ARW file format and processed in PS CC with all noise reduction and lens correction turned off, RAW camera calibration was set to standard, all settings were zeroed out (true zero) and the same identical settings were used on all of the images.
The lenses
Minolta 25mm f/2.5 Micro Bellows Lens
Canon Macrophoto 20mm f/3.5 Bellows Lens
Canon Macrophoto 35mm f/2.8 Bellows Lens
Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro Photo Lens
Noritsu 32mm f/4 Lens
Yashionon Tomioka 32mm f/3.5 Lens
Tominon 17mm f/4 Lens
Tominon 35mm f/4.5 Lens
The Results
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Canon Macrophoto Lens 20mm f/3.5
Canon Macrophoto 20mm f/3.5 Lens
Canon Macrophoto Lens 20mm f/3.5
Lens type: Bellows Lens
Filter threads: none
Mount: RMS. 20.32 mm x 0.706, or 0.8" x 36tpi
Optical design: 4/3
Note: The trim ring at the top with the lens name, unscrews for a slightly slimmer profile.
Retail Price when new: This lens was amazingly cheap in the 80s. It sold in camera stores for only $83 in 1981, at the same time the 55mm f/3.5 Canon FD SSC macro lens sold for $153!
Typical used price: $200-350 with case
https://www.closeuphotography.com/canon-macrophoto-20mm-lens/
It's amazing to me that a lens designed and manufactured in the 80s, is still one of the best macro lenses on the market, 38 years later. The strength of this lens is the big image circle and good corner performance. The biggest downside of this lens is the slow maximum aperture, that limits resolution, but this conservative lens design must have also helped to keep the design simple, cheap, with good chromatic aberration control.
Lighting is really easy with this lens thanks to the compact size, and cone shaped nose that was designed not interfere with lighting. For some reason Canon decided to throw that design-friendly design concept out the window when they designed the MP-E 65!
Canon Macrophoto 20mm f/3.5 Lens at 4x
100% center crop Canon Macrophoto Lens 20mm f/3.5 Lens at f/3.5
100% corner crop Canon Macrophoto Lens 20mm f/3.5 Lens at f/3.5
The Canon MP-20 easily covers the APS-C image circle, with good sharpness, resolution, and chromatic aberration suppression. Looking at the 100% crops above, I think it's interesting that the design of this lens places chromatic aberration control ahead of sharpness and resolution (slow maximum aperture), but with the design of the MP-E 65 the design priorities are the opposite, there is more resolution, but CA control was not a design priority obviously.
Canon Macrophoto Lens 35mm f/2.8 Lens
Canon Macrophoto 35mm f/2.8 Lens
Canon Macrophoto Lens 35mm f/2.8 Lens
Lens type: Bellows Lens
Filter threads: none
Mount: RMS. 20.32 mm x 0.706, or 0.8" x 36tpi
Optical design: 6/4
Retail Price when new: $98 in 1981, thats equal to equals $274.16 in 2017.
Typical used price: $250-350.
https://www.closeuphotography.com/canon-macrophoto-35mm-lens/
Like its sibling, the MP-20, this lens is a proven performer, and a great value if you can find one. Usually common on Ebay, they have been hard to find lately.
Canon Macrophoto Lens 35mm f/2.8 Lens at f/4
100% center crop Canon Macrophoto Lens 35mm f/2.8 Lens at f/4
100% corner crop Canon Macrophoto Lens 35mm f/2.8 Lens at f/4
The images above were photographed at f/4 where the lens is sharpest. The Canon MP-35 performed well here at 4x, but I think its peak in performance is about 2.5x - 3x. Looking at the 100% crops the lateral CA control is very good, maybe even better than the MP-20.
Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro Photo Lens
Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro Photo Lens
Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro Photo Lens
Lens type: Macro Lens
Filter threads: M58
Mount: Canon EOS
Optical design: 10/8
Note: It is possible to find deals on this lens, I picked up an MP-E 65 from the Canon online store for $770 new, with free shipping.
Full retail Price when new: $1049. USD.
Typical used price: $600-800
The Canon MP-E 65mm is a unique lens that is capable of making some really sharp images at 1-5x on a full frame camera, but the lens has some issues. The short working distance, and the beer-can shaped barrel can make lighting very difficult in the field. (why Canon would design a lens thats so user-unfriendly is beyond me, after all they got it right on the MP-20 and MP-35!) Personally I prefer the MP-20 and MP-35 lenses.
Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro Photo Lens at f/2.8
100% center crop Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro Photo Lens at f/2.8
100% corner crop Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro Photo Lens at f/2.8
100% center crop Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro Photo Lens at f/4
100% corner crop Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro Photo Lens at f/4
The MP-E 65 can make nice, sharp images, no doubt. The lens is sharpest at f/2.8 at 4x, but shooting at f/2.8 comes with a chromatic aberration penalty. Closing down to f/4 helps clean up the CAs, but at the same time, the resolution also starts to go away. I need to mention that this lens has some of the worst longitudinal chromatic aberrations in the group (LoCAs will not show up on a flat image image like a wafer). The MP-E 65 uses a sophisticated multi-element floating design scheme but with only one UD glass element, it's a shame that Canon couldn't spend a little more money on more low dispersion glass to correct at least some of LoCA issues with this lens.
Minolta 25mm f/2.5 Micro Bellows Lens
Minolta 25mm f/2.5 Micro Bellows Lens
Minolta 25mm f/2.5 Micro Bellows Lens
Other official names: Minolta Bellows Micro Rokkor-X 25mm 1:2.5, Leitz Photar 25mm f/2.5
Lens type: Bellows Lens
Filter threads: none
Mount: RMS. 20.32 mm x 0.706, or 0.8" x 36tpi
Optical design: 6/4
Preferred Mounting: normal orientation
Note: This is the latest and last version of this lens released in 1981 and is optically identical to the Minolta Bellows Micro Rokkor-X 25mm 1:2.5, and Leitz Photar 25mm f/2.5.
Retail Price when new: $119 in 1981.
Typical used price: $400-600.
This lens like the Canon MP-20/35 was made in the 1980s, and has was part of a partnership with Leica, and was also sold as a 25mm Photar. This lens is very sharp, but, cannot offer the same level of chromatic aberration correction as microscope objectives that cover the same magnification, and aperture range. Nikon objectives, with an NA of 0.2, come in at a nominal f/2.0, and the Mitutoyo 5X Plan APO can be bought for as low as $250 and has much better CA control than this lens.
Minolta 25mm f/2.5 Micro Bellows Lens at f/2.5
100% center crop Minolta 25mm f/2.5 Micro Bellows Lens at f/2.5
100% corner crop Minolta 25mm f/2.5 Micro Bellows Lens at f/2.5
100% center crop Minolta 25mm f/2.5 Micro Bellows Lens at f/2.8
100% corner crop Minolta 25mm f/2.5 Micro Bellows Lens at f/2.8
This lens has awesome center sharpness and resolution wide open, but it also has some of the worst lateral chromatic aberrations at that aperture. Stopping down to f/2.8 will clean up some of the CAs, but the corners will still have some chromatic aberration issues.
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Noritsu A805451 32mm f/4 Lens
Noritsu A805451 32mm f/4 Lens
Lens type: Mini-lab Printing Machine Lens
Filter threads: none
Mount: 40mm x 0.75
Preferred Mounting: normal orientation
Used price: $10 on Ebay.
This lens was used in a Noritsu printing machine before being replaced with newer servo controlled zoom lenses.
Noritsu A805451 35mm f/4 Lens
100% center crop Noritsu A805451 35mm f/4 Lens
100% corner crop Noritsu A805451 35mm f/4 Lens
This lens has a flat field, and very good chromatic aberration control but the sharpness is a little limited by the f/4 aperture. This lens might be really good at lower magnifications. 4x may be pushing this lens out of its range too much, it may perform better at 2-3x.
Tominon 17mm f/4 Lens
Tominon 17mm f/4 Lens
Tominon 17mm f/4 Lens
Lens type: Copy/duplication
Filter threads: M22.5
Mount: M40-0.75 These lenses are made to fit Copal #1 shutter front threads.
Preferred Mounting: normal orientation
Note: the M40 adapters needed to mount this lens are easy to find on ebay.
Retail Price when new: unknown
Typical used price: $20-50. No need to pay more than that. Lens should come with both caps.
This lens is one of the best bargains today for macro photography, thanks to the fact that Tominon lenses are not well known. I have picked up the 17mm for $20, maybe $25 USD, although a quick check on Ebay today, shows only 3 on sale now, all for asking prices over $100. This lens, as well as the 35mm version, were made for the Polaroid MP-4 repro-camera system, in the Tomioka factory in Japan. This is the same factory that made Contax lenses (Zeiss’s flagship 35mm lenses). The Polaroid MP-4 manual gives the range for lens as 10x - 32x, but, I would not recommend going beyond 4x. With a modest f/4 aperture, this lens would be an effective f/44 at 10x. At that effective aperture, most of the fine details would be wiped out by diffraction.
Tominon 17mm f/4 Lens at 4x
100% center crop Tominon 17mm f/4 Lens at f/4
100% corner crop Tominon 17mm f/4 Lens at f/4
The Tominon 17mm is not the sharpest lens here, but the overall image quality is probably at the top, with the best balance of sharpness and chromatic aberration control. Even in the far corners, the CA suppression is just beautiful, the Tomioka engineers did an amazing job with this lens. For the price you can buy one of these lenses on the used market, it's a steal.
Judging by the 100% crops here, the Tominon 17mm looks like it should be called a Super-Apochromat, when compared to a lens like the Schneider APO-Componon 45/4.
Use care when buying these lenses, I owned four 17mm Tominon lenses, and when I compared them for this test, there was definitely a gap in image quality between all 4 of the samples. My worst looking lens performed the best, the pretty lens in the photo above went back on Ebay for $30. My advice is to buy more than one lens sample, if you can afford it, and test your lenses to find the best unit.
Tominon 35mm f/4.5 Lens
Tominon 35mm f/4.5 Lens
Lens type: Copy/duplication
Filter threads: M27
Mount: M40-0.75 These lenses are made to fit the Copal #1 shutter front threads.
Preferred Mounting: normal orientation
Note: Adapters needed to mount this lens, typically M40 to M42, are easy to find on ebay for a low price. These lenses were made in same Tomioka factory as Contax lenses (Zeiss’s flagship 35mm lenses). These were made for the Polaroid MP-4 repro-camera.
Retail Price when new: unknown
Typical used price: $20-50. No need to pay more than that. Lens should come with both caps.
The 35mm Tominon is more common that the 17mm but the performance is not up to the same level. I tested two 35mm samples, and they performed at about the same low level.
Update May 2018
It turns out the 35mm Tomino lens used in this test was not performing at the level that it should be possibly due to damage. After this test I purchased a new-old-stock lens and found the image quality to be much better so I need to re-shoot these test images for this lens when I get a chance.
Tominon 35mm f/4.5 Lens at 4x
100% center crop Tominon 35mm f/4.5 Lens at f/4.5
100% corner crop Tominon 35mm f/4.5 Lens at f/4.5
Yashica Yashinon Tomioka 32mm f/3.5 Lens
Yashica Yashinon Tomioka 32mm f/3.5 Lens
Lens type: Industrial Application
Filter threads: none
Mount: none
Preferred Mounting: reverse orientation
Note: This lens seems to perform best at about 3x.
Full retail price: This lens is sold new at the SurplusShed.com for $6 but I am told the lens is now coming up as sold out.
This lens is actually labeled Yashinon and was probably made in the Tomioka factory, later owned by Yashica. Zeiss eventually took over control of the same factory to produce the Contax lenses in Japan, which were Zeiss’s flagship 35mm lenses.
Yashica Yashinon Tomioka 32mm f/3.5 Lens at 4x
100% center crop Yashica Yashinon Tomioka 32mm f/3.5 Lens reverse mounted
100% corner crop Yashica Yashinon Tomioka 32mm f/3.5 Lens reverse mounted
The Yashica Tomioka 32mm lens does okay at 4x. Sharpness is very good in the center with some CAs, but sharpness in the corners drop off a little at 4x. Even so, the little Yashicas corners are still better than most enlarger lenses I have ever used, and almost all of the enlarging lenses in the last group.
The Yashica 32mm is sharp, costs just $6 bucks, and covers an APS-C sensor. Mounting threads would be nice, but what do you expect for $6?
Want to know more about this lens? I set up a page with more info and sample images: https://www.closeuphotography.com/yashinon-tomioka-32mm-lens/
Recommendations
All three Canon lenses work well at 4x, they are sharp, with a big image circle that will cover even full frame sensor. I prefer the more compact size, and cleaner, more CA free image of the Canon MP-35 or MP-20, over the the MP-E 65. You can't go wrong with any of these 3 lenses.
The Tominon 17mm wins the best buy award clean, sharp, CA free images, from corner to corner at 4x.
Notes
Getting some of the lenses here, like the Tomioka 17mm, or the Canon 20mm, down to 4x on a body other than a Sony, might be a problem. This could be due to the longer register distance of other brands, like 49mm for Nikon F-mount, compared to 18mm for Sony. One of the reasons I chose a Sony body for this test was the short register distance, also called flange focal distance.
Keep in mind that some cameras have built-in lateral chromatic aberration correction and some RAW file convertors have manual chromatic aberration correction. These can really help reduce or remove CAs when using some of the lenses in this test.
More lenses at 4x
To see other parts of the 4X comparison see the links below:
1. 4X For Less Than $100: https://www.closeuphotography.com/4x-lens-test/part-one-4x-for-less-than-100-dollars
2. High-End Objectives: https://www.closeuphotography.com/4x-test-part-two-high-end-objectives
3. Enlarging Lenses Compared at 4x: https://www.closeuphotography.com/4x-lens-test-part-3/4x-lens-test-enlarging-lenses
4. High-magnification macro lenses at 4x: you are already here.
5. 3x and 5x lenses tested at 4x: Coming soon