Swift1
Veteran
If you're note set on Zuiko, look for an old Vivitar/Panagor 55mm f/2.8 Macro. They are great lenses and you should be able to find one in OM mount for not much money.
Cheap way into macro photography?
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David Hughes
David Hughes
Hi,
Bellows are dirt cheap and often sell on ebay for the opening bid, if at all.
A reversing ring can't be beaten and, again, often found on ebay with bellows and dirt cheap.
Surely a 50mm ext'n tube for a 50mm lens? Or does the lens move forward the extra 25mm when focused at the nearest point?
Regards, David
Bellows are dirt cheap and often sell on ebay for the opening bid, if at all.
A reversing ring can't be beaten and, again, often found on ebay with bellows and dirt cheap.
Surely a 50mm ext'n tube for a 50mm lens? Or does the lens move forward the extra 25mm when focused at the nearest point?
Regards, David
Gregoyle
Well-known
A BGN grade 50mm f/3.5 is $49 at KEH right now. The UK may be different, but Ebay is usually cheaper than KEH.
-Greg
-Greg
sreed2006
Well-known
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/olympusom1n2/shared/zuiko/htmls/macrozuikoC.htm
The Zuiko 50/3.5 Macro needs only a 25mm extension tube to achieve 1:1 magnification.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
Cheapest ways to get started:
- a set of close up lenses
- a set of extension tubes
Use them with a standard 50mm lens to start.
You're well advised to also get a tripod and a cable release.
Beyond that, the sky is the limit. ... There are tons of specialized tools for macro work at all price ranges.
G
- a set of close up lenses
- a set of extension tubes
Use them with a standard 50mm lens to start.
You're well advised to also get a tripod and a cable release.
Beyond that, the sky is the limit. ... There are tons of specialized tools for macro work at all price ranges.
G
David Hughes
David Hughes
Chris101
summicronia
Bellows are expensive and take a lot of fiddling to get to work right. But they provide the highest magnification, the widest range of magnification, and can adapt almost any lens.
Reversed lenses are a pita. Proper exposure and focus are achieved by trial and error. They are most useful when used in conjunction with a macro lens, a bellows, and when you want more than 1:1.
Extension tubes work well, and are not very expensive for the OM system. Especially if you have the lauded 50mm f/3.5, they will provide the most bang-for-the-buck and provide almost as much versatility as does a bellows unit. They are slightly less stellar with non-macro lenses, but still work just fine. If you expose manually, pay attention to the extension corrections (this applies to bellows as well.)
Auxiliary close-up lenses are the easiest to use, and range from dirt cheap to quite costly. Expensive cu lenses provide better edge-to-edge sharpness; cheap works just fine in the center, especially in B&W so you don't get any color fringing issues. They're no bigger than a filter, so you can carry them anywhere. They will attach to any lens, as long as the thread size is right, or you have the appropriate stepper rings. There is no 'extension penalty' when using aux lenses.
Reversed lenses are a pita. Proper exposure and focus are achieved by trial and error. They are most useful when used in conjunction with a macro lens, a bellows, and when you want more than 1:1.
Extension tubes work well, and are not very expensive for the OM system. Especially if you have the lauded 50mm f/3.5, they will provide the most bang-for-the-buck and provide almost as much versatility as does a bellows unit. They are slightly less stellar with non-macro lenses, but still work just fine. If you expose manually, pay attention to the extension corrections (this applies to bellows as well.)
Auxiliary close-up lenses are the easiest to use, and range from dirt cheap to quite costly. Expensive cu lenses provide better edge-to-edge sharpness; cheap works just fine in the center, especially in B&W so you don't get any color fringing issues. They're no bigger than a filter, so you can carry them anywhere. They will attach to any lens, as long as the thread size is right, or you have the appropriate stepper rings. There is no 'extension penalty' when using aux lenses.
farlymac
PF McFarland
I found the Minolta MD 3.5/50 macro lens with 1-to-1 extender a good alternative, along with the dedicated 80PX TTL ring flash. It was inexpensive when I got it compared to what else was being sold at the moment, but I had to sort through a lot of sales to find the right price.
PF
PF
Tom hicks
Well-known
This should help and give examples as well .
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/663112
there is also a link within the link you should check out it shows the mag differences between some of the 50mm they are not all the same.
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/663112
there is also a link within the link you should check out it shows the mag differences between some of the 50mm they are not all the same.
sreed2006
Well-known
Here is an OM-1 with a reversal ring, a Zuiko 50/1.8 reversed, and a manual 7mm extension tube on the lens. I received the extension tube in the mail today, and can confirm that a manual extension tube does hold the diaphragm closed at the selected f/stop. The 7mm extension tube in LN- condition cost $13 from KEH.com.
OM-1 50/1.8 reversed by sreed2006, on Flickr
OM-1 50/1.8 reversed by sreed2006, on Flickr
skírnir
Member
Another alternative is the Vivitar 2x Macro Focusing Teleconverter. I use it as a TC, mostly, but it's supposed to be excellent for macro work too!
Here's a thread about it in another forum: http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/...ocusing-tele-converter-definitive-thread.html
Here's a thread about it in another forum: http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/...ocusing-tele-converter-definitive-thread.html
Sejanus.Aelianus
Veteran
Forgive my having a little chortle at this. I bought some no-name bellows, cheap, from a local camera shop a couple of years ago and sold them last year on eBay. The bidding was pleasantly brisk and the final price most acceptable.
😉 😀
In the Lowlands
Member
Cheap and easy way to start with macro is the use of extension tubes. Those can be bought for very little money on the internet as well at shops and thrift stores. These extension tubes can be used in combination with a standard 50 lens, a wide angle lens like te 28 or 24 as you can get even closer to your subject, but also a zoom lens like the OM 75-150 in combination with one or more extension tubes works very well.
A tripod as well as a cable release, or the self timer, is to be used, and therefore you can use a really slow film and get some good results.
Best regards from the Lowlands.
A tripod as well as a cable release, or the self timer, is to be used, and therefore you can use a really slow film and get some good results.
Best regards from the Lowlands.
sreed2006
Well-known
Field note:
The Olympus Zuiko 40mm F2 lens does not work at all well with a reversal ring because of the design of the aperture adjustment ring. The aperture adjustment ring is at the very front of the lens, and is the same part as the filter ring. When trying to change the aperture, the lens either unscrews from the reversal ring, or screws on so tight that the aperture ring binds and doesn't allow adjustment. The 40/2 is the only Zuiko lens with that design.
The Olympus Zuiko 40mm F2 lens does not work at all well with a reversal ring because of the design of the aperture adjustment ring. The aperture adjustment ring is at the very front of the lens, and is the same part as the filter ring. When trying to change the aperture, the lens either unscrews from the reversal ring, or screws on so tight that the aperture ring binds and doesn't allow adjustment. The 40/2 is the only Zuiko lens with that design.
Texsport
Well-known
I'd look for one of the Vivitar Series 1 macros in Olympus mount.
90/2.5 and 90-180/4.5 macros are cult classics often listed on eBay.
Texsport
90/2.5 and 90-180/4.5 macros are cult classics often listed on eBay.
Texsport
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