Naturally stopped down

The first image shows the tulip at aperture ƒ2.8 - and the second at aperture ƒ11

While the depth of sharpness did increase ever so slightly, I didn't feel that it was sharper than the razor thin area taken at ƒ2.8

So, it seems that the lens doesn't tolerate to be stopped down beyond ƒ11, I would say prematurely. It takes of course days and weeks before I get "the spirit of the lens", which means, the nuances how this lens behaves with many different settings. The character and the quirks, so to speak.

The previous page showed the same tulip, but with manual focus bracketing (like 7-8 frames). It wasn't optical, and i had to make manual adjustments afterwards. Which isn't unusual when you do manual focus bracketing and then put the photos together in Zerene Stacker. But for my purposes with manual lenses, it was totally fine. I do not demand super high resolution and alignment when i do this totally manually.

Otherwise I use the Olympus OM-1 camera with a macro lens, when i wish to do finer focus bracketing and stacking in Zerene Stacker app.

So, while the TTArtisan 100/2.8 2x Macro lens didn't really blow my mind in anyway - it is a decent lens, and fun when used in the closer range. I wouldn't want to use it for normal photography. Perhaps portrait might work, as it still doesn't vignette in a distance of 2-3 meter (or very little).

And yes I do use a lens hood i found in the 67 Ø mm size. It is once of those China rubber lens hoods, which has 3 stages; you can fold it into different lengths. (Remember there that the lens can vignette at certain distances - so i needed a flexible lens hood, so I can adjust accordingly). It is at least better than have no lens hood at all. Given how extremely exposed that front glass element is... you need some sort of protection from stray light.

Funny...

It is kind of funny ,that there is no true Macro lens for Fujifilm GFX cameras. While Fujifilm did made the GF 120mm ƒ4 Macro lens - it only goes down to half macro. And the corners are soft. And when you add a 48mm extension tube - the lens becomes mediocre.

At other distances it is excellent - but what the heck - what kind of lens is that for 30.000 SEK / 2850 € ?!! Neither full macro, questionable corner performance - and even worse when using an extension tube. So, it is nothing more than a slow portrait lens.

Then rather use the fantastic GF 110mm ƒ2 lens instead.

There are many complains from photographers who are seriously into macro photography. Many of them basically give the thumbs down for Fujifilm's 120mm "Macro" lens. Sure it performs well as a close-up lens. But why calling it a Macro lens ?! When it isn't one, and it's flatness is not that great - and has questionable border performance. That is a lot for a 3000 € price tag, if you ask me. Then what is it for ?!?!

No. Thanks.

Erase. Rewind. Do better, Fujifilm.

In the mean time I am on a "mediocre" TTArtisan 100mm ƒ2.8 2x Macro lens for a mere 400 €. I didn't mean mediocre in the sense of bad - because it is not bad. But clearly isn't in a Fujifilm GF lens class. I do feel that it lacks that super crisp sharpness. And yet, it has something that attracts me. Plus that for a mediumformat lens, it is relatively sleek and handy.

The lack of crispy sharpness can easily be addressed with digital helper tools, such as from Topaz.

The other aspect is, that when you make smaller images, like i do in my Diary - then the images turn out sharper of course. So, yeah - it works.

The blackground blur

is actually VERY PLEASANT !