The Venus 60mm Macro – A Hidden Gem for Macro Photography

Including macro shots in a portfolio or wedding album is a great way to add variation and make the work stand out. This is the time of year when we get a lot of questions not only about macro lenses but about which lenses are best for shooting weddings. These questions are often asked in the same conversation, as many photographers want to capture every detail of an event, especially the all important ring shot, but don’t want to switch lenses constantly. Recently I have been recommending a lens to customers that offers something new and fresh for their macro photography needs.

The Venus 60mm f/2.8 Macro made by an up and coming Chinese optics company is the first lens to offer 2:1 magnification with infinity focus. This basically means its possible to go from taking an ultra close detail shot to taking a portrait without switching lenses.

To show the real difference between this lens and the one already in your bag, here is a side by side comparison of the Venus 60mm f/2.8 (at 2:1) and the Canon 60mm f/2.8 (1:1). Each is at minimum focusing distance, mounted on a Canon 7D Mk II.

A magnification of 2:1 refers to the ratio of subject size to image size. Most common macro lenses have  a 1:1 ratio creating an image on the sensor that is equivalent in size to the actual subject. A 2:1 ratio makes the image of the subject twice as large.

The vignetting and bokeh of this lens gives it a romantic feel that often comes from bargain priced manual lenses (I happen to enjoy it). The manufacturers website advises against using this lens on a full frame sensor for anything other than macro work. I tested it out and it works just fine aside from the dark corners, which are noticeable…you’ve been warned.

Here are some images to show the variation of looks that can be achieved in succession. These are shot on a full frame camera, the Canon 5D MkIII, and show vignetting.

There is one detail that some may consider a drawback. The Venus lens is strictly a manual focus lens! The manual focus allows for very deliberate focusing, but it is not the quickest option for those without experience. When focusing very close the Venus lens tends to cut out some of the available light. The proximity also narrows the field of focus which is why in the example I stopped down to f/5.6 to give a similar look to the Canon lens. So keep in mind that the Venus will have slower shutter speeds when taking 2:1 macro photos.

I found that it’s fairly easy to focus in well-lit situations, but as it gets darker you will have a harder time. If planning to shoot stopped down you will need to open your aperture, focus, and then close it down to the desired f-stop.

There are many great macro lenses to choose from; the Canon 100mm f/2.8L IS comes to mind.  The big advantages of a lens like that are  autofocus and image stabilization. The Venus, however, is a different animal with the ability to get much closer and capture shots with unexpected intimacy and detail. The flexibility gained by getting as close as possible has convinced me to actually take a macro lens to my next  event rather than just using the wide end of the 24-70mm. You can try it for yourself here.

Sarah McAlexander

Author: Sarah McAlexander

I’m Sarah. I have a BFA in Photography from the University of Memphis. I’ve been shooting professionally for over 6 years. When I’m not working here or freelancing, I enjoy yoga and traveling.