Ive been shooting with the R5 since it came out and honestly I thought I knew this camera inside out but I just got hired for this crazy product shoot for a tech startup here in Seattle and Im totally struggling. They want super high res shots of these tiny circuit boards and microchips for a catalog and my 24-70mm just isnt cutting it even at its closest focus distance. I tried using some extension tubes earlier today but the autofocus is hunting like crazy and Im losing way too much light for the f-stop I need to keep the components sharp across the frame.
I need something that can really handle the 45mp sensor without showing every tiny bit of chromatic aberration because these chips are reflective as hell and it shows every flaw. I've got about 1200 dollars to spend and the shoot is next Thursday so I really need to order something today or tomorrow at the latest to get it in time. I was looking at the RF 100mm L series macro but then I saw some reviews saying the SA control ring can be a bit wonky with the bokeh... is that actually an issue for flat product work? Or should I just get an adapter and go for the older EF version to save some cash? What is actually going to give me the best 1:1 or better magnification for this specific body?
Jumping in here because I went through this exact same headache last year with a jewelry gig. I spent way too much time looking at the RF version before realizing the older glass is actually more reliable for flat work. Honestly, the SA ring on the RF is a total gimmick for what youre doing... I found that it actually made my life harder when trying to keep things perfectly flat and sharp. In my experience, the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM is the sweet spot. It doesnt have the focus shift issues people complain about with the newer RF. Since youre doing circuit boards, you need that consistency. Plus, you can find them for like half your budget, leaving money for a macro rail. If you need crazy magnification, I used to use the Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro Photo but it's a huge learning curve. TL;DR: Grab the EF 100mm L macro and an adapter. It saves you $600 and the optics are still top-tier for 45mp.
I've been very satisfied sticking with reliable EF glass on my R5. It works well and avoids focus shift issues... basically saves a lot of stress.
- Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro: Solid performance, low CA on reflective parts.
- Sigma 70mm f/2.8 DG Macro Art: Incredible sharpness for flat subjects. Check out the charts on The Digital Picture. They really helped me confirm the detail.
Honestly, I was pretty disappointed when I moved to the Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM for my R5. While that 1.4x magnification sounds amazing on paper, I had issues with noticeable focus shift whenever I stopped down, which is a total nightmare for precision shots of microchips. Unfortunately, it's just not as reliable as I expected for such an expensive L-series lens, especially for flat product work. The SA control ring is basically a gimmick for what you are doing; it’s meant for softening bokeh in portraits, so it wont hurt your shots, but you're paying a huge premium for a feature you wont touch. Since you need to kill chromatic aberration on those reflective circuit boards, you should seriously check out the Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO. I picked one up after getting frustrated with the AF hunting on my Canon glass. It’s fully manual, but for static tech products on a tripod, that’s actually a blessing. The APO design is world-class at stopping those nasty purple and green fringes on metal parts. Plus, it hits 2:1 magnification natively, which blows the Canon out of the water for tiny components. If you absolutely need autofocus tho, just grab the older Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM and the Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R. It’s way cheaper and feels much more predictable on the R5 than the new RF version. Hang in there, the first high-res product shoot is always a bit of a learning curve!
