Since the Samyang XP 85mm ƒ1.2 lens has such a long focus throw... it makes manual focus bracketing particularly easy. Really sweet.

Doesn't like extension rings

The Samyang XP 85/1.2 lens does not like extension rings, as it degrades the optical quality significantly (at ƒ1.2) especially in the closer range, and in the borders (adapted to a Fujifilm GFX camera). I assume that the Samyang XP 85 has floating lens elements. Such lenses, (most modern ones have it today) do not like when you introduce extension rings in order to get closer.

You can sometimes still get away with it, if you stop the lens down. I have done that with the Fujinon GF 110/2 lens - and used the Viltrox 11 mm extension ring while enabling focus bracketing (100 photos). In the final photo, the sharpness was excellent. So, your mileage may vary. Sometimes things work out. Sometimes not.

But when using the lens at bright apertures / open apertures - optical quality clearly goes down a lot.

Simple lighting

The bluish light comes from the beginning of dawn outside, projected though the thin veil on our windows. The orange light comes from a salt lamp placed near, under the plant.

Just like that.

Macro / Closeups & focus bracketing

Is an activity i find utmost exciting. It brings smaller things to life. It is also an excellent indoor activity during the darker times up here in Scandinavia... I simply love it. Quite often I do that when i feel a bit bored from all that gloomy darkness outside the window. So, i go on a kitchen hunt, to see if there is anything that draws my attention to take close-up images (with focus bracketing and then stacking in Zerene Stacker software).