Can a Mitakon 20mm Super Macro on Micro Four Thirds work for digitizing 35mm negatives?
Asked 4/15/2020
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I want to digitize 35mm negatives by photographing them with a Lumix Micro Four Thirds camera. My current 25mm lens cannot focus close enough to fill the frame with a 35mm negative. I am considering the Mitakon Zhongyi 20mm f/2 Super Macro and noticed the listed minimum working distance is 0.8 inches. Would this kind of macro lens be suitable for copying 35mm negatives, or is it unnecessarily high magnification for the job? More generally, what lens characteristics matter most for negative digitizing on Micro Four Thirds?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
6y ago
2 Answers
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It does not mention a maximum
Most lenses, macro or not, have no maximum working distance - it's referred to as "focus at infinity" or other similar terms. Only when you start using extension tubes, diopter "close-up" lenses and other means do you lose the ability to focus on distant objects.
I know nothing about that specific lens, but I would check various in-depth reviews for that and other similar lenses. For close-up shooting of film/negatives/prints/etc, what you want to look for are good performance with respect to the various aberration types, and a reasonably flat field of focus.
Once you've narrowed down the field, perhaps try renting a couple of the lenses for a week or two, rather than rushing out to buy one, then figure out which one(s) you like best.
EDIT: To come at this from a different angle: the 135 film you are wanting to capture is nominally an aspect ratio of 3:2, and 36mm x 24mm. You want to capture that full image on a sensor that has a 4:3 aspect ratio and a nominal 17.3mm x 13mm size. Given the mismatch in aspect ratio, the important measures are the 36mm and 17.3mm ones. This gives a needed magnification of around 0.48x. That is far lower than the 4-4.5x magnification of this lens. That would suggest that you're not looking at the right type of lens here.
Originally by user68706. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user68706
6y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes, a macro lens can work for digitizing 35mm negatives, and the quoted minimum working distance does not mean it is “too macro.” Lenses normally also focus much farther away, often to infinity; only some close-up accessories remove that ability.
For copying film, the bigger concerns are image quality traits rather than maximum magnification: look for good control of aberrations and a flat field of focus, since you want edge-to-edge sharpness across the negative. A macro lens is often a good fit for that kind of work.
Another option is a film-copying attachment or close-up setup, which can let you use a regular lens and provide stable framing.
Because performance varies by lens, it’s smart to read detailed reviews and, if possible, try or rent a couple of options before buying. In short: the Mitakon type of lens could be suitable, but choose based on flat-field sharpness and close-copy performance, not just the minimum working distance spec.
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