Nikon 50mm f 1.8 G vs 35mm f 1.8 G on Close up / Macro

What do you mean Macro on Nikon 50mm f 1.8 G and 35mm f 1.8 G? They are not macro lens. Well, I mean, with Canon 250D close up lens or Nikon BR-2A reverse ring.

Why the image you used is so bad? (Yes, because of the virtually none existing DOF, explain later)

So I set up and compare the two lens in 3 scenarios: 1. The lens by themselves; 2. The lens with the Canon 250D close up lens on; 3. The lens with Nikon BR-2A reverse ring.

The test is to see under the 3 scenarios, which lens take the larger size of the same object when focus as close as possible.

The camera used is Nikon D7000.

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1. The lens by themselves

Nikon 35mm f 1.8 G









Nikon 50mm f 1.8 G









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2. The lens with the Canon 250D close up lens on

Nikon 35mm f 1.8 G









Nikon 50mm f 1.8 G









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2. The lens with Nikon BR-2A reverse ring

Nikon 35mm f 1.8 G









Nikon 50mm f 1.8 G









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Result:

1. The lens by themselves:

--- Nikon 35mm f 1.8 G. (But these are not really macro or close up).

2. The lens with Canon 250D close up lens:

--- Nikon 50mm f 1.8 G.

3. The lens with Nikon BR-2A reverse ring:

--- Nikon 35mm f 1.8 G.

Note:

Nikon 50mm f 1.8 G is a new lens Nikon released this year 2011. I have bought it to replace my old Nikon 50mm f 1.8 D due to its advantages. I have done a few test of Nikon 50mm f 1.8 D with Canon 250D and Nikon DB-2A ring before (Link, Link, Link, Link, Link ).

Using Canon 250D is easier than the Nikon BR-2A ring, as you have AF and AE. But it doesn't have as big magnification as Nikon BR-2A.

Nikon BR-2A have a dramatic magnification, but there is no AF because the lens is reversed, however, on Nikon D7000, to my surprise, there is still AE. the ISO is however fixed on 100, maybe I can set it ahead (will try later). You have to spare one finger to hold the aperture level so the aperture is f 1.8. And then the shutter speed is automatically set based on "Center weighted metering". This was not possible on Nikon D90.

However, if you use Nikon BR-2A and f1.8, when taking so close the depth of field, aka, DOF is so narrow, it is virtually none existing. See the title image, almost everything is out of focus. The solution is to use higher f number, aperture smaller sized. But this will bump up the exposure time, you will have to use tripods, or you will use some high beam direct light to strike on the subject. Because this test is just for the macro/close rate, so I skipped those for higher image quality. For a better quality test, see here.

One feedback point out that it is "Hazy". Well, it is not haze. That is the reflection of the watch glass cover of the desk lamp. I tried a bit to avoid it, but I cannot, because the watch cover glass surface is flat.