Pergear 100mm F2.8 2X Macro

The Pergear 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro is a manual focus macro lens for full frame cameras. It is offered for Sony E, Nikon Z, Canon RF, Canon EF and Leica L mount. Its main feature is a maximum magnification of 2:1, which means the subject is reproduced at twice its life size on the sensor. At the same time it works as a short telephoto lens of 100 mm, so Pergear markets it for macro, portrait and food photography.

Optical design

According to Pergear, the lens has 14 elements in 9 groups, including 4 low-dispersion ED elements and 3 high-refractive-index elements. The company says this design is meant to control spherical aberration and distortion. The diaphragm has 13 blades and the aperture range is f/2.8 to f/22. The closest focus distance is 0.3 m. Pergear gives the working distance at 2:1 as about 11 cm.

Focusing and handling

The lens is fully manual: focus and aperture are set on rings, and there are no electronics. Pergear states that focal length and aperture are therefore not written to the image data. The aperture ring is clickless, which Pergear recommends for smooth exposure changes in video. The focus ring turns about 130 degrees, with only about 15 degrees covering the range from 1 m to infinity. This matters for general shooting but not for macro work, where focusing is done close up.

Build and size

The body is all metal, according to Pergear. It is long and slim at roughly 157 mm and about 71 mm in diameter. The lens weighs about 790 g. The filter thread is 67 mm.

Where it fits

Among manual 2:1 macro lenses, the TTArtisan 100mm f/2.8 Macro 2X and the Venus Laowa 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO cover similar ground. Autofocus macro lenses with 1:1 magnification, such as the Canon RF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM, offer more convenience but a lower maximum magnification and cost considerably more.

Pros and cons

Pros

• 2:1 maximum magnification
• 13-blade diaphragm and f/2.8 maximum aperture
• Clickless aperture ring for video
• Offered for five mounts including Canon EF and Leica L
• Metal body

Cons

• Manual focus and manual aperture, no electronic data transfer
• Heavy at about 790 g and 157 mm long
• Short focus rotation range for focusing from afar
• No image stabilization

Verdict

The Pergear 100mm F2.8 2X Macro suits macro shooters who want life-size and larger reproduction on a limited budget and accept a fully manual lens. Its length and weight are the price of the 2:1 magnification and the 100 mm focal length.