70-180mm F4.5-5.6 Zoom Macro

michellelee · 25th March 2009

For those of you who have purchased this lens, any regrets buying it?

ortega · 25th March 2009

is it still available?

PreciousP · 25th March 2009

So far only heard good things about this lens. Hard to come by. If you got lobang please share.

nightwolf75 · 25th March 2009

AFAIK, the only true macro zoom lens ard. but i think it is out of production, rite? so far, when it does appear on ebay, it is northwards of $1k...

can read abt it http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_spec.html looks like once you changed the tripod foot, it is one heck of a lens... if you can find it.

cteckwee · 25th March 2009

I saw this lens two years ago at one of the shops in Sim Lim square, not sure whether it is still available.

Zeddy · 26th March 2009

It is one of the rare lenses. Only 18,000 were produced according to Thom Hogan.

http://www.bythom.com/70180Macrolens.htm

Seems like a very good lens with 1:1.33 magnification ratio. Add a Nikon 6T, you will get 1:1.

KNIGHT ONG · 26th March 2009

I saw a new piece about 2 weeks ago while oversea, but it was quite expensive > 3k.

agape01 · 26th March 2009

I used it once before.

Limsbros · 26th March 2009

This is a good lens but not true 1:1, there is one on sale over at the buy and sell forum a few days back fpr $1300 but sold in a flash.

Limsbros · 29th March 2009

Anyone else has this lense and care to share?? Thanks.

brian · 29th March 2009

I've got one. Yup, its not a 1:1, but the good feature of this lens is that you can focus on a macro object and then change the framing by zooming in and out and the focus does not change. On a macro prime you change framing by moving the lens physically and then refocus.

The aperture is consumerish, yes, but this lens has to be used with a tripod. The tripod mount is a little weak, but shooting with mirror-lockup will solve this, or do a long lens technique with it. Not sure you can change the tripod foot at all, I'm not aware of any aftermarket foot from RRS or Kirk... maybe I should ask. But I agree with all the reviews, the stock tripod mount sucks.

For me, I like the lens so much I have sold my 2 ring 80-200 f2.8 and kept it. Works well at infinity and close up. Much more versatile for hiking and a little smaller as well.

25th March 2009	#1
michellelee New Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 18	70-180mm F4.5-5.6 Zoom Macro For those of you who have purchased this lens, any regrets buying it?

25th March 2009	#2
ortega Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: NorthEast Posts: 16,507	Re: 70-180mm F4.5-5.6 Zoom Macro is it still available? __________________ The Law

25th March 2009	#3
PreciousP Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 146	Re: 70-180mm F4.5-5.6 Zoom Macro So far only heard good things about this lens. Hard to come by. If you got lobang please share.

25th March 2009	#4
nightwolf75 Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: in bet MORE diaper changes... Posts: 14,590	Re: 70-180mm F4.5-5.6 Zoom Macro AFAIK, the only true macro zoom lens ard. but i think it is out of production, rite? so far, when it does appear on ebay, it is northwards of $1k... can read abt it http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_spec.html looks like once you changed the tripod foot, it is one heck of a lens... if you can find it. __________________ When did ignorance become a point of view? - Dilbert budget AD/ROM shooter, anyone?

25th March 2009	#5
cteckwee Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 155	Re: 70-180mm F4.5-5.6 Zoom Macro I saw this lens two years ago at one of the shops in Sim Lim square, not sure whether it is still available.

26th March 2009	#6
Zeddy Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 661	Re: 70-180mm F4.5-5.6 Zoom Macro It is one of the rare lenses. Only 18,000 were produced according to Thom Hogan. http://www.bythom.com/70180Macrolens.htm Seems like a very good lens with 1:1.33 magnification ratio. Add a Nikon 6T, you will get 1:1. __________________ Nikon D80 \| Tamron 17-50 \| Nikon 70-300 VR \| Fujifilm F30 My Flickr

26th March 2009	#7
KNIGHT ONG Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Snow Mountain Posts: 5,729	Re: 70-180mm F4.5-5.6 Zoom Macro I saw a new piece about 2 weeks ago while oversea, but it was quite expensive > 3k. __________________ AMPA * Studio * J team

26th March 2009	#8
agape01 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Somewhere Out There Posts: 2,269	Re: 70-180mm F4.5-5.6 Zoom Macro I used it once before.

26th March 2009	#9
Limsbros Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sembawang Posts: 137	Re: 70-180mm F4.5-5.6 Zoom Macro This is a good lens but not true 1:1, there is one on sale over at the buy and sell forum a few days back fpr $1300 but sold in a flash.

29th March 2009	#10
Limsbros Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sembawang Posts: 137	Re: 70-180mm F4.5-5.6 Zoom Macro Anyone else has this lense and care to share?? Thanks.

29th March 2009	#11
brian Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Shanghai, China Posts: 388	Re: 70-180mm F4.5-5.6 Zoom Macro I've got one. Yup, its not a 1:1, but the good feature of this lens is that you can focus on a macro object and then change the framing by zooming in and out and the focus does not change. On a macro prime you change framing by moving the lens physically and then refocus. The aperture is consumerish, yes, but this lens has to be used with a tripod. The tripod mount is a little weak, but shooting with mirror-lockup will solve this, or do a long lens technique with it. Not sure you can change the tripod foot at all, I'm not aware of any aftermarket foot from RRS or Kirk... maybe I should ask. But I agree with all the reviews, the stock tripod mount sucks. For me, I like the lens so much I have sold my 2 ring 80-200 f2.8 and kept it. Works well at infinity and close up. Much more versatile for hiking and a little smaller as well. __________________ Leicanaut & Nikonaut @ http://nangka.org/events http://flickr.com/dufffader