Minolta 100mm Macro f/2.8 on Sony A7II with LA-EA4 Adapter

One of the few A mount lenses I kept to use on my E mount mirrorless cameras (having sold ALL of my A mount cameras) is Minolta 100mm Macro f/2.8 lens. Admittedly, I haven't shot very much macro photography, if at all, but I really want to shoot more. I know I have a lot to learn in this area of photography. But one of the things I do know, is that you either need some macro extension tubes OR a really good macro lens.

For those of you who don't know, macro lenses allow you to focus for extreme close up shots. This is used a lot to photography insects, flowers etc.

I sold nearly all of my A mount lenses when I switched over to mirrorless digital cameras exclusively, but this Minolta survived the cut.

I was watching "Das Boot" for about the 40th time tonight, had buried my sorrows in a tub of Baskin Robbins Chocolate Chip ice cream and was generally bored. One of the luxuries of owning a sizeable inventory of cameras, is that I am never at a loss for a photography subject. So, I grabbed one of the all time classic cameras, the Leica M3 and dropped a simple, one light set-up so I could capture some sample shots with the Minolta Macro lens.

As you can see below, the results are impressive. Consider this, all photos were taken HAND HELD using only one small LED light. Imagine the possibilities when it's done right, with a tripod and plenty of lighting!

Naturally, you'll want to use manual focus when shooting macro but just for your peace of mind, the auto focus works flawlessly with the LAE-EA4 adapter.

Sony A7II with Minolta 100mm Macro f/.28 lens and Sony LA-EA4 adapter

Close up of a Carl Zeiss Lens Hood on a Zeiss Planar 50mm f/2. lens.

Film advance lever and shutter speed selection dial close up.

 

The classic Leica M3 double stroke.

Mr. Ant, Mr. Dragonfly, Mr. Frog and Ms. Flower

I knew spending time out in the field this week, North of Seoul, way North of Seoul, near the DMZ, would provide some opportunities for macro photography.There's never a shortage of bugs, gnats and assorted other creatures just waiting to crawl in your sleeping bag out there. I went well-prepared by including a nice macro lens in my camera bag; the Minolta 100mm f/2.8 macro lens. By all accounts a very fine macro lens, and you can see just why in the results below. Keep in mind, these are all hand held shots by an inexperienced macro photographer! Not too shaby.

I had gone out yesterday without a macro lens and managed to get a decent close up shot of a dragonfly, but today I wanted to see if I could top that. Fortunately for me, the wildlife seems to like me taking their photos. Hats off to Mr. Ant, Mr. Dragonfly (I wonder if he is the same one from yesterday?), Mr. Frog and Ms. Flower for posing so eloquently for my photos.

As captured by the Sony A77 with Minolta 100mm f/1.8 macro lens.

First Shot - Sigma 28-80mm Macro

It's safe to say I was more than a little excited to find that my new Sigma 28-80mm Macro lens was waiting for me when I returned to Korea (I had been attending an army leadership school at Fort Sill, Oklahoma for the past 30 days or so).

My unit rolled out to the field for a few days which provided a few excellent opportunities to snap a few photos with the new lens. You can judge the results for yourself in the photos below. A few photos were shot in Macro and the rest are standard zoom.

I was hoping to use the Sigma as a second every day, walk around lens and it sure seems to fit the bill.

Needless to say, I'm quite please with my purchase.

Macro froggy. :)

Macro flower.