The Mitakon Zhongyi 55mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro is built for a very specific purpose: letting you see the world closer than most lenses allow. Extreme macro work pushes both your skills and your gear, and this lens gives you access to magnifications that would normally require specialized, expensive equipment. If you’re looking to capture the tiniest details in everyday subjects, this lens offers something unusual and challenging.
Coming to you from Christopher Frost, this detailed video shows what the Mitakon Zhongyi 55mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro can do. It’s a fully manual lens with no electronics, designed only for macro distances, meaning you can’t focus to infinity. That limitation matters because it makes this lens strictly for close-up work, not a flexible everyday option. What it does give you is the ability to hit an impressive 5:1 magnification, which is far beyond what standard macro lenses can reach. Frost points out that such close shooting comes with problems: light levels drop significantly, and even the smallest movement is magnified, so using a tripod becomes essential.
Frost also highlights the lens’ design choices. The build is solid, with a tripod collar included, which is crucial for this type of shooting. The focusing mechanism is stiff, which makes precision difficult, though he found pushing and pulling the lens barrel more practical than relying on the focus ring. There’s also a simple clip-on LED light at the front, powered by a micro USB source, giving you extra illumination for subjects that might otherwise be lost in shadow. That light won’t solve every problem, though, especially when shooting reflective subjects that can easily become blown out. Still, having a light source designed to work directly with the lens is useful when working at such extreme magnifications.
Key Specs
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Focal Length: 55mm
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Aperture: Maximum f/2.8, Minimum f/22
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Lens Mounts: Canon EF, Nikon F, Fujifilm X, Fujifilm G, Hasselblad X, Canon RF, Nikon Z, Sony E, Leica L
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Format Coverage: Full frame
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Minimum Focus Distance: 2.55" to 5.9" (6.48 to 15 cm)
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Magnification: 5:1 Macro Reproduction Ratio, 5x Magnification
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Optical Design: 13 Elements in 8 Groups
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Aperture Blades: 9
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Focus Type: Manual focus
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Image Stabilization: None
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Tripod Mount: Removable and rotating collar
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Filter Size: 58 mm
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Dimensions: 67 x 87 mm
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Weight: 1.5 lb / 690 g
At 1:1 magnification, wide open at f/2.8, the resolution is better than expected, though contrast is low. Stopping down improves detail until diffraction, the softening effect caused by light bending at small apertures, takes over. At higher magnifications, especially 5:1, diffraction becomes unavoidable no matter the aperture. Frost notes that contrast could be stronger at the highest settings, but the trade-off is the ability to reach magnifications that few other lenses allow.
The Mitakon Zhongyi 55mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro isn’t an easy lens to use. It requires patience, precise handling, and extra gear like rails and lights to get the best results. For anyone who enjoys pushing limits and doesn’t mind the learning curve, it opens the door to subjects that are normally invisible to the eye. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Frost.
