Showcase Panagor 90mm f/2.8 Macro

I have this lens since the 1980's with an MC (Minolta) mount. I always considered it to be a sharp and versatile lens. I recently got an MC-M43 adapter and gave this lens a chance for a second life. All in all I am quite pleased with it, but maybe even more, I am pleased with the focal length. I wish Panasonic would market a 90mm/2.8.

Technical stuff of this lens: FL 90 mm, f/2.8 max NA (I measured it to be f/3.0 btw), weight ~500g, focuses down to 1:1 (sensor-object distance 34 cm, working distance ~10 cm), filter thread 62 mm.

Pictures of the lens on-camera:



And with the lens in closest focus position:

 

Landscape samples

From a recent trip to Northumberland:

 

Portrait sample

Lighting was a bit difficult (strong green hue due to overhead branches). No sharpening, f/4.5:



100% crop:



This lens is indeed sharp, but a bit low on macro contrast. Together with its noticeable longitudinal chromatic aberration, this renders skin quite well.

 

Macro samples

Casual flower shot (f/11):



And now a tougher subject: diamond. Here you can notice the CA, and that it results in an overall unsharp rendering of the highlights. Shot at f/5.6.