This is a well built special purpose macro lens with manual focus. It can only focus on very close, flat objects. This lens rewards patience with excellent sharp magnified photos. I only use this lens with a tripod, and a rack focusing rail, and generally have to use live-view to get the focus just...

The lens sharpness test is posted on http://pikespeakphoto.com/tests/canonlens_mp-e.html This is the best quality macro lens Canon has to offer. The image quality it delivers surpasses Canon's 180 mm macro lens.

The sharpest of all Canon Macro lenses

Could be a higher focal length (objects must be ridiculously close to the lens

Canon's all-manual 65mm is a 1-5x prime. This means that the magnification is 5x that of any other lens in test . In reality it's almost impossible to use handheld at its minimum focusing distance, as the depth-of-field is so incredibly shallow and, being so close to the subject, the lens obstructs...

I bought mine about 10 years ago. It's excellent for extreme close-ups of small insects, fungi etc.and could have been designed for stacking. (I do a lot of stacking and it's my main lens.)

A unique manual-focus lens designed exclusively for macro shooting, between life-size (1x) and 5x life-size -- at its maximum magnification, you can fill a 35mm frame with a grain of rice.

The Canon MPE6528 MP-E65mm has an extremely solid and hefty feel to it weighing it at almost three quarters of a kilo. The lack of any focusing ring is not an issue as your dealing at such close proximity to the subject.

"This is more of a microscope than a lens.. U absolutely need to use a tripod and focusing rail to get adequate results. Fly's eyes, pin heads, and dust mites are simple with this lens.. just be patient.