Macro video with GH5 + 14-42 mm + CMC-1

Hi all,

I changed my GH5 wide kit to a Lumix 14-42 mm II and WWL-1B. Now I'm trying to test if by adding a CMC-1 macro lens I will get the same result of my Pana Leica 45 mm and flat port.

Due to the weather I had the chance to test it just one time, not in the best condition. 

Compared to my classic macro lens, the combo 14-42 mm + CMC-1 close-up lens It seems to focus a couple of cm in front of the lens and then have just a few mm of working distance (I mean working focus: I cannot focus on two spots maybe 5 mm apart). Is it normal?

On the Nauticam port chart, for my combo, I read Working Distance 49-72mm. So I should be able to focus from 5 cm to 7 cm in front of the lens. Plenty of space for video. 

On my Pana Leica 45 mm and flat port I had much more focus working distance.

On this combo, it seems to have a nearly fixed focus point so I have to move the entire camera to focus just a few mm before or after.

What am I missing?

Thats sounds about right. Your depth of field is about 5mm, meaning everything in that 5mm thick plane will be in focus. Your working distance is the maximum and minimum distance from your camera where you can move that 5mm plane.

From my experience, because of the very shallow depth of field, the cmc-1 is really a challenge to work with for macro photography. Video I feel will be a lot more challenging.

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I would think it would be challenging as your range it will actually focus is so small.  The CMC-2 I would think would be easier it only gives up a smidgen of magnification (0.6x max instead of 0.7x, neither quite get the 1:1 of the 45mm macro) but it will focus between 77 and 122mm - so more range and and more working distance.

I would expect the technique would be to focus the lens about midway on your hand flip down the diopter and move in till it comes into focus then fine tune by either rocking or re-focusing.   A downside of the CMC approach is the gap in magnification between the bare lens at about 0.17x and the min magnification of the CMC combo... and of course the working distance is less - you would have about 66mm working distance with the 45mm macro at 1:1 and it only gets better from there as you reduce magnification.

Depth of field is of course razor thin, in still photos I use f8-11 range on the 60mm macro.  If you use a depth of field calculator at 0.6x magnification depth of field is 0.7mm at f8 and 1.05mm at f11, so not much to play with. 

Thank you all for your replies. Basically you are confirming my findings.

Just a clarification: I was not complaining about the depth of field, but precisely the range of distances in which the lens is able to focus. From what little I have been able to try, I absolutely do not find myself with the values declared by Nauticam (from 49 to 72 mm then 23 mm) that seem good.
I was able to focus objects at about 2 cm from the lens and once obtained the focus, I could not move it (through AF) of a few mm back or forward but I was forced to move the camera.

For now, long live the 45mm macro lens that also has manual focus....

56 minutes ago, Davide DB said:

Thank you all for your replies. Basically you are confirming my findings.

Just a clarification: I was not complaining about the depth of field, but precisely the range of distances in which the lens is able to focus. From what little I have been able to try, I absolutely do not find myself with the values declared by Nauticam (from 49 to 72 mm then 23 mm) that seem good.
I was able to focus objects at about 2 cm from the lens and once obtained the focus, I could not move it (through AF) of a few mm back or forward but I was forced to move the camera.

For now, long live the 45mm macro lens that also has manual focus....

Interesting observation - was this on land or in water?  Seems like it might be some sort of issue with the camera/lens combination perhaps.  I think the big benefit of the macro lens is you frame loosely, then move closer bumping the focus as you go.

I was surprised trying it on my desk but then I thought in water it would be different. My few tests underwater confirmed my impressions.

I explained here why I couldn't test it extensively 

I will do some test in a controlled environment in a few days.

On 11/17/2021 at 4:26 PM, Davide DB said:

Hi all,

I changed my GH5 wide kit to a Lumix 14-42 mm II and WWL-1B. Now I'm trying to test if by adding a CMC-1 macro lens I will get the same result of my Pana Leica 45 mm and flat port.

Due to the weather I had the chance to test it just one time, not in the best condition. 

Compared to my classic macro lens, the combo 14-42 mm + CMC-1 close-up lens It seems to focus a couple of cm in front of the lens and then have just a few mm of working distance (I mean working focus: I cannot focus on two spots maybe 5 mm apart). Is it normal?

On the Nauticam port chart, for my combo, I read Working Distance 49-72mm. So I should be able to focus from 5 cm to 7 cm in front of the lens. Plenty of space for video. 

On my Pana Leica 45 mm and flat port I had much more focus working distance.

On this combo, it seems to have a nearly fixed focus point so I have to move the entire camera to focus just a few mm before or after.

What am I missing?

I already covered it myself. The CMC-1 is really only practical for photos

CMC-2 and old subsee 5 are the best combo for stacking

59 minutes ago, Interceptor121 said:

I already covered it myself. The CMC-1 is really only practical for photos

CMC-2 and old subsee 5 are the best combo for stacking

I read your articles but I could not find the info I was looking for: working distances (that is the most important parameter for video IMHO). As I wrote in the few test I made I was not able to use CMC-1.

Unfortunately we had very bad weather conditions so I arranged a test in my underwater controlled laboratories... AKA a large sink!

I borrowed from Pietro a CMC-1 and a Subsee +5. From what I found, Nauticam was correct and I was wrong (strange ).

Basically I agree with Massimo, CMC-1 for video is barely usable: maybe only for corals and in perfect conditions. the Subsee +5 is a much more versatile lens especially for me as a beginner. Personally I liked the 45mm Leica better but the flexibility that the Flip system gives you in the same dive is priceless.

These are some video frames from my test

14-42 mm @42mm + SUBSEE +5

Working distance: 110 - 270 mm 

110 mm

270 mm

14-42 mm @42mm + CMC-1

Working distance: 50 mm - 75 mm

50 mm

75 mm

Thanks to my dive buddy for enduring all that time in the cold sink water.

18 hours ago, Davide DB said:

I read your articles but I could not find the info I was looking for: working distances (that is the most important parameter for video IMHO). As I wrote in the few test I made I was not able to use CMC-1.

Unfortunately we had very bad weather conditions so I arranged a test in my underwater controlled laboratories... AKA a large sink!

 

I borrowed from Pietro a CMC-1 and a Subsee +5. From what I found, Nauticam was correct and I was wrong (strange ).

Basically I agree with Massimo, CMC-1 for video is barely usable: maybe only for corals and in perfect conditions. the Subsee +5 is a much more versatile lens especially for me as a beginner. Personally I liked the 45mm Leica better but the flexibility that the Flip system gives you in the same dive is priceless.

These are some video frames from my test

14-42 mm @42mm + SUBSEE +5

Working distance: 110 - 270 mm 

110 mm

 

270 mm

 

14-42 mm @42mm + CMC-1

Working distance: 50 mm - 75 mm

50 mm

 

75 mm

 

Thanks to my dive buddy for enduring all that time in the cold sink water.

 

It is written somewhere but there was a table from nauticam anyway that explained it.

In 4K you can use 1:1 pixel to achieve more zoom it is better not to be on top of things and be able to use light properly 

Subsee and CMC-1 make almost the CMC-1 however CMC-2 is still manageable for video on its own 

Subsee is the best option when you are doing close up and you don't have a scene that is 36mm wide which is most of the time the case for video

12 minutes ago, Interceptor121 said:

Subsee and CMC-1 make almost the CMC-1 however CMC-2 is still manageable for video on its own 

Sorry Massimo, I did not get you.

On 11/27/2021 at 11:25 AM, Davide DB said:

Sorry Massimo, I did not get you.

You can stack Subsee 5 and CMC-2 

The result is almost as strong at CMC-1

Are you happy with the CMC-1 compared to the 45mm macro?

5 hours ago, MaggieB said:

Are you happy with the CMC-1 compared to the 45mm macro?

I wrote about my test last week. Let me try it in the water. I'll let you know.