When I built my Hassy kit I went with a 50, 80, and 150mm lenses. I also purchased the 8, 16, and 32 extension tubes. I'm pretty satisfied with what I can do with the 80 mm or 150mm and extension tubes, but keep wondering if the 120mm Makro lens would be a good addition or would it be so close in image quality to what I presently have that I probably wouldn't notice much difference?
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120mm Makro vs 80mm & 150mm w/Ext Tubes
- Thread starter MarkF_48
- Start date
michaelhcothran
Member
My opinion -
If you need a lens specifically for macro work, then I'd buy a used 120. And more so, I'd opt for an older 120/5.6 version, since this version, while not performing as well at infinity, will provide the best performance from 1:10 and closer. However, the 120 lens, while a true macro design, will only go to 1:4 by itself. Since you already have some extension tubes, these will work very nicely with your 120 to get down to 1:2 and possibly beyond.
Extension tubes are great in general, but limit your focusing ability, whereas a macro lens has unlimited focusing from infinity downwards.
All that said, if you've got money burning in your pocket, and desire the ultimate in macro lenses, I'd find a 135/5.6 Makro and bellows. It will focus from infinity to 1:1 with the bellows unit. Caution - be careful handling the film so as to not cut yourself - as this lens is really sharp!! (a little humor there)
Good luck.
Michael H. Cothran
If you need a lens specifically for macro work, then I'd buy a used 120. And more so, I'd opt for an older 120/5.6 version, since this version, while not performing as well at infinity, will provide the best performance from 1:10 and closer. However, the 120 lens, while a true macro design, will only go to 1:4 by itself. Since you already have some extension tubes, these will work very nicely with your 120 to get down to 1:2 and possibly beyond.
Extension tubes are great in general, but limit your focusing ability, whereas a macro lens has unlimited focusing from infinity downwards.
All that said, if you've got money burning in your pocket, and desire the ultimate in macro lenses, I'd find a 135/5.6 Makro and bellows. It will focus from infinity to 1:1 with the bellows unit. Caution - be careful handling the film so as to not cut yourself - as this lens is really sharp!! (a little humor there)
Good luck.
Michael H. Cothran
I am fond of the 120 S-Planar lens because it is a no compromise true macro design.
I hope nobody will read this: the 120 S-Planar design is one of the most underrated lenses ever made for Hasselblad by Carl Zeiss.
Excellent samples change hands around 450 USD.
I have a couple of silver and black barrel S-Planars.
Lot of fun for a modest investment.
Vic.
Last 120 S-Planar I bought from a well known seller at evilbay.
This is an early black barrel lens with feet scale.
I hope nobody will read this: the 120 S-Planar design is one of the most underrated lenses ever made for Hasselblad by Carl Zeiss.
Excellent samples change hands around 450 USD.
I have a couple of silver and black barrel S-Planars.
Lot of fun for a modest investment.
Vic.
Last 120 S-Planar I bought from a well known seller at evilbay.
This is an early black barrel lens with feet scale.
Attachments
The differnce between the two 120 lenses is not extremely large.
If easier focusing is an importanr feature the choice should be the CF or later CFi/CFE models costing 2-4 times more than the price for a good S-Planar.
I like a clear choice which means I like the S-P?lanar design.
The 120 Makro-Planar performs better at infinity at the expense of close range results.
Vic.
If easier focusing is an importanr feature the choice should be the CF or later CFi/CFE models costing 2-4 times more than the price for a good S-Planar.
I like a clear choice which means I like the S-P?lanar design.
The 120 Makro-Planar performs better at infinity at the expense of close range results.
Vic.
In general going for the latest model lenses is not a bad idea.
Keep in mind the earliest CF lenses are now more than 25 years old.
New spares for those lenses are becoming extremely expensive and sometimes impossible to find.
Carl Zeiss used to supply front and rear elements at a very reasonable price.
That supply has dried up.
Hasselblad Sweden does not sell single lens elements anymore.
Hasselblad sells a complete front or rear group at 3-4 times the price for a single element.
Instead of 180 USD the price has gone up to 550 USD meaning lenses with a damaged front or rear element are a write off.
Plastic parts of CF series lenses are starting to desintegrate.
Keep in mind these parts will be expensive or impossible to find.
Vic.
Keep in mind the earliest CF lenses are now more than 25 years old.
New spares for those lenses are becoming extremely expensive and sometimes impossible to find.
Carl Zeiss used to supply front and rear elements at a very reasonable price.
That supply has dried up.
Hasselblad Sweden does not sell single lens elements anymore.
Hasselblad sells a complete front or rear group at 3-4 times the price for a single element.
Instead of 180 USD the price has gone up to 550 USD meaning lenses with a damaged front or rear element are a write off.
Plastic parts of CF series lenses are starting to desintegrate.
Keep in mind these parts will be expensive or impossible to find.
Vic.