0
\$\begingroup\$

So recently I got a 90mm macro lens, installed a focus bracketing app onto my camera and let it run. Unfortunately, turned out that this lens has focus breathing which means the actual zoom level in each frame is slightly off.

How can I tell before purchase if a lens has focus breathing? (This was a Sony FE 90mm, in case you're curious.)

Improve this question
\$\endgroup\$
4
  • 2
    \$\begingroup\$ By the time you stack them in Zerene etc, it doesn't really matter, so long as you frame the closest zoom large enough that you can afford to lose the content outside that. You get exactly the same if you use a rail instead of focus. \$\endgroup\$
    – Tetsujin
    Jun 23, 2019 at 10:53
  • \$\begingroup\$ Related Is there a way to overcome focus breathing in deep macro focus stacking? \$\endgroup\$
    – mattdm
    Jun 23, 2019 at 13:16
  • \$\begingroup\$ Possible duplicate of Are there any good resources that provides information about the focus breathing of various lenses? — although I'm not super-keen on that question as it is a request-for-a-resource rather than a direct question. \$\endgroup\$
    – mattdm
    Jun 23, 2019 at 13:17
  • \$\begingroup\$ Not going to add this as an answer, even though it sorta is. If you're a normal person (i.e. money is an issue) and you can afford it, then it most likely breathes with focus... Some more than others, but almost all non-fixed-focus lenses do. \$\endgroup\$
    – twalberg
    Aug 2, 2019 at 12:32

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
1
\$\begingroup\$
  1. Get s few paralel lines (at least 5) with equal distance between them printed on a sheet of paper. You can also find test grid photos online.

[edit] Try for example 7 lines with 1cm between each 2 of them. Thickness of lines ..let's say 2mm would work great. You can also use a simple ruler.

  1. Position the paper and the camera so you see through the viewfinder the paralel lines horisontally. The angle on which you watch should be somewhere below 35 degrees or so. Or in other terms, the angle between the sheet of paper and the imaginary axes centered with all your lens glass elements.

  2. Test the focus several times on a single line, without modifying the camera position or lens zoom. If for the same position of camera and same zoom, your lens focuses differently, you might have focus breathing.

Also, keep in mind the focus is dependent of course on what is in front of camera. There might be better examples of test grids online, that put the camera and lens to a better test.

Improve this answer
\$\endgroup\$
1
  • \$\begingroup\$ I think what you're implying is that I should rent the lens and test it. I'd rather have this info already available without having to do detective work. \$\endgroup\$
    – Dmitri Nesteruk
    Dec 29, 2019 at 12:33

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.