[matthew]

I'd say that this lens is working properly:





top: full frame, f/2.8. bottom: 100% crop. Shot with a monopod.

Irma, a ring light is one of those things that I occasionally think I want, but the reality is that I actually don't shoot a lot of macros. Hardly any, really, despite owning three macro lenses. (Sorry, NT, but Zig will understand.) There's a decent-looking ring adapter—the Ray Flash—for existing flashes that appeals to me in theory, but then I remember that I wouldn't use it.

Have a look at this flash instead: the twin heads can be moved to give you more control over shadow placement and fill light. The MR-14 is best left to dentists and fashion photographers.

[Zig]

No, I hadn't seen the fly: ace my man!
That's pretty nice Matthew; how are the corners, light-falloff wise(top left?)? I know wide-open will darken a bit...do edges stand up reasonably at smaller apertures?
Lervly!

[matthew]

Zig, I haven't had much chance to test the lens yet, but it seems pretty good. Partly it benefits from being cut for a 135-sized sensor, and I'm only using a small portion of it. I think that there is some vignetting at 2.8, but it's a fundamentally decent lens to begin with. (In the flower photo, it's actually being shaded in the top corner.)

Another early sample, taken to test the focus by targeting the face of the type instead of the wall. (Actually, I took it as an example of negative leading, but that's another story.)



I've been very happy with the focus accuracy this time around, it's just the promptness that's an issue.

[Pavel]

Amazing fly shot Matthew. Pavel

Something went funny. I did not open this page. I was looking on the fly.

[Zig]

That's a really good point: no need to worry about Zone C when the FoV covers A and B(it's with some trepidation that I stand on the edge of full-frame and consider how the 16-35 will fare). I have to say though Matt, that this looks a remarkably interesting lens and can only guess at the augmented spring in your step. Looks like real joy..and isn't it wonderful to get a lens that is real beaut! Am continuing to follow this and am even as we speak having a closer look at a few reports.