Thank you Spencer for an excellent review, as always. I have this lens and also the Z 105/2.8. I think both are excellent macro lenses but in different ways. I like the 105 for its bokeh and ability to make the background more blurry due to the longer focal length. As you said, the 50/2.8 is more lightweight and when I go for long hikes in the mountains, the low weight is appreciated. Although I prefer the 105/2.8 as my go-to among the two, there is one situation where the 50/2.8 is preferable. I take an interest in alpine plants and some of them grow in steep mountain slopes. Some habitats are vertical and I have to balance on narrow mountain shelves to reach them. These shelves might not be high above the lower part of the terrain but still, they are narrow and you need to step on them to get close to the alpine beauties. In those situations I need the 50/2.8 because there is no way to step backwards. Having both the 50/2.8 and the 105/2.8 is such a blessing! Again, thank you for your excellent review!
You’re very welcome, Anders! And thank you for sharing your experience with both lenses. I’d think the light weight of the 50mm is also useful for maneuvering the camera into position on those mountain shelves. Sometimes I find that macro photography needs to be done one-handed to get the best angle, and that’s much easier with a lightweight setup.
Dmitry
February 24, 2025 1:57 am
This is the best lens for commercial subject photography (handbags, perfumes, clothes, etc.). The images retain their natural proportions. Its main drawback is that it does not completely eliminate the focus gap, which makes it more difficult to glue images to increase the depth of field when photographing small objects. In combination with the Z5, it turned out to be a wonderful and cheap tool for making money. And when working indoors with subject shooting, protection from moisture and dust is not important.
True, I should have mentioned that there are times when the wider 50mm perspective is useful for its different perspective. I sometimes find that macro and close-up photos with longer lenses can flatten the subject and make it feel distant. Not so with the 50mm. Some photographers will even use wide-angle macro lenses for a similar reason (though a lot more exaggerated).
As for protection from moisture and dust, I didn’t find that to be a problem on the 50mm MC. Granted, I would still prefer a lens like the 105mm MC in a rainstorm, but the 50mm has pretty extensive internal sealing.
Thank you Spencer for an excellent review, as always. I have this lens and also the Z 105/2.8. I think both are excellent macro lenses but in different ways. I like the 105 for its bokeh and ability to make the background more blurry due to the longer focal length. As you said, the 50/2.8 is more lightweight and when I go for long hikes in the mountains, the low weight is appreciated. Although I prefer the 105/2.8 as my go-to among the two, there is one situation where the 50/2.8 is preferable. I take an interest in alpine plants and some of them grow in steep mountain slopes. Some habitats are vertical and I have to balance on narrow mountain shelves to reach them. These shelves might not be high above the lower part of the terrain but still, they are narrow and you need to step on them to get close to the alpine beauties. In those situations I need the 50/2.8 because there is no way to step backwards. Having both the 50/2.8 and the 105/2.8 is such a blessing! Again, thank you for your excellent review!
You’re very welcome, Anders! And thank you for sharing your experience with both lenses. I’d think the light weight of the 50mm is also useful for maneuvering the camera into position on those mountain shelves. Sometimes I find that macro photography needs to be done one-handed to get the best angle, and that’s much easier with a lightweight setup.
This is the best lens for commercial subject photography (handbags, perfumes, clothes, etc.). The images retain their natural proportions. Its main drawback is that it does not completely eliminate the focus gap, which makes it more difficult to glue images to increase the depth of field when photographing small objects. In combination with the Z5, it turned out to be a wonderful and cheap tool for making money. And when working indoors with subject shooting, protection from moisture and dust is not important.
True, I should have mentioned that there are times when the wider 50mm perspective is useful for its different perspective. I sometimes find that macro and close-up photos with longer lenses can flatten the subject and make it feel distant. Not so with the 50mm. Some photographers will even use wide-angle macro lenses for a similar reason (though a lot more exaggerated).
As for protection from moisture and dust, I didn’t find that to be a problem on the 50mm MC. Granted, I would still prefer a lens like the 105mm MC in a rainstorm, but the 50mm has pretty extensive internal sealing.