kdellaquila
Member
Does anyone know which macro lenses do not require the use of the bellows and can be used as a conventional lens as well? Thanks.
Olympus OM Macro Options
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Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I have the 50mm f3.5 Macro which is a very good general lens ... probably the sharpest 50mm I've used.
ferider
Veteran
Zuiko 50/3.5, 50/2 and 90/2.
There are also non Zuikos that are very good. I personally use the Vivitar Series 1 90/2.5. The "Bokina". Outstanding and not expensive.
Roland.
There are also non Zuikos that are very good. I personally use the Vivitar Series 1 90/2.5. The "Bokina". Outstanding and not expensive.
Roland.
hans voralberg
Veteran
Most versatile are the 50/2 and 90/2. The 50/2 has 55mm filter and quite a bit bigger though, but it is a very sharp lens, very much worth having if you can find one.
kdellaquila
Member
Would a macro tube work to convert a standard telephoto lens to a macro one?
ferider
Veteran
Yes. There are many options: standard 7/14/21mm tubes, the OM variable extension tube (which is practical for 135mm and longer), and there are 2x tele converters that can also be extended for macro use (from Vivitar, for example). Olympus also used to have close up lenses (49 or 55mm filter size) which were pretty good.
The good thing about a dedicated macro lens is that it has a very flat field, typically, and usually also is a great general purpose performer. True for the lenses mentioned above anyways.
Roland.
The good thing about a dedicated macro lens is that it has a very flat field, typically, and usually also is a great general purpose performer. True for the lenses mentioned above anyways.
Roland.
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Jani_from_Finland
Well-known
Just got the 50/3.5 and it feels real good to work with, but havent got the first films shot with it developed yet. It is very compact and light when compared to the 50/2. The 90/2 is nice lens when i've had a few chances to try them out during the years.
Also waiting for the scandinavian summer is the 80/4 with Auto telescopic tube 65-116, but this is very slow to work with and is only a genuine macro lens.
Also waiting for the scandinavian summer is the 80/4 with Auto telescopic tube 65-116, but this is very slow to work with and is only a genuine macro lens.
flip
良かったね！
This is quite a timely thread for me. I obtained a black OM-1n, but have yet to find a lens. I'd mostly been considering the 90 for the rave reviews it gets. If the OM macros are half as good as the Pen macro, I am sure they are fantastic.
cliffpov
Established
A dedicated macro lens would be best but since that has been discussed I would like to add an inexpensive option(s).
1. A decent wide angle lens with a reversing ring works tremendously well. I use the 28/3.5 and reversed is a very good macro but obviously more limited than a dedicated macro lens.
2. Canon makes a very high quality lens called a 500d close up lens and it is simply a lens you screw on to the lens threads as you would a diopter set. Since most of the Zuiko lenses have 49mm threads you would need to buy a 49mm to 58mm step up ring which you could purchase quite inexpensively. I believe 58mm is the smallest Canon makes this close up lens although you may want to check Adorama, KEH and others for used Canon 500d lenses. I believe they used to make smaller sizes as well. They come in a 250d as well which is not quite as much magnification. I have been very impressed with mine.
So there are other options besides dedicated macro lenses and some are fun to experiment with.
1. A decent wide angle lens with a reversing ring works tremendously well. I use the 28/3.5 and reversed is a very good macro but obviously more limited than a dedicated macro lens.
2. Canon makes a very high quality lens called a 500d close up lens and it is simply a lens you screw on to the lens threads as you would a diopter set. Since most of the Zuiko lenses have 49mm threads you would need to buy a 49mm to 58mm step up ring which you could purchase quite inexpensively. I believe 58mm is the smallest Canon makes this close up lens although you may want to check Adorama, KEH and others for used Canon 500d lenses. I believe they used to make smaller sizes as well. They come in a 250d as well which is not quite as much magnification. I have been very impressed with mine.
So there are other options besides dedicated macro lenses and some are fun to experiment with.
Jani_from_Finland
Well-known
The guy i purchased my first OM-1 [VSOP] from praised the 50/3.5 and i have seen some outstanding shots from it and it is really a pleasure to work with in daylight at least. Feels very solid and it is light and with no need for a shade due to the design.
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dtcls100
Well-known
Each of the OM macro lenses (50/3.5, 50/2.0, 90/2.0) that mount directly are superb optically and mechanically in my personal experience. The 50/3.5 is the most readily available, least expensive and smallest. The other two are a bit chunky and may interfere with mounting on a tripod head absent a motor drive/winder or a spacer being used.
Richard Sch
Newbie
Bokeh of OM Zuiko 50mm 3.5
Bokeh of OM Zuiko 50mm 3.5
The 50mm 3.5 Zuiko is already wide open a very sharp and contrasty lens.
It is the most undervalued lens in relation to its performance in the OM Zuiko line up (good for buyer).
There is some hearsay about “bad Bokeh”, which I can not confirm, from this lens which might have led to this valuation.
Here is an example of excellent Bokeh produced by the 50mm 3.5 Zuiko, wide open:
Taken with Macro Zuiko 50mm 3.5 and OM-4 on Velvia 50, scanned with Minolta Dimage 5400
Bokeh of OM Zuiko 50mm 3.5
The 50mm 3.5 Zuiko is already wide open a very sharp and contrasty lens.
It is the most undervalued lens in relation to its performance in the OM Zuiko line up (good for buyer).
There is some hearsay about “bad Bokeh”, which I can not confirm, from this lens which might have led to this valuation.
Here is an example of excellent Bokeh produced by the 50mm 3.5 Zuiko, wide open:
Taken with Macro Zuiko 50mm 3.5 and OM-4 on Velvia 50, scanned with Minolta Dimage 5400
pggunn
gregor
@ Richard Sch
Very nice! Love the colors, and the bokeh is very pleasing. Well composed too.
Very nice! Love the colors, and the bokeh is very pleasing. Well composed too.
DanOnRoute66
I now live in Des Moines
The 50mm 3.5 Zuiko is already wide open a very sharp and contrasty lens.
It is the most undervalued lens in relation to its performance in the OM Zuiko line up (good for buyer).
There is some hearsay about “bad Bokeh”, which I can not confirm, from this lens which might have led to this valuation.
Here is an example of excellent Bokeh produced by the 50mm 3.5 Zuiko, wide open:
Taken with Macro Zuiko 50mm 3.5 and OM-4 on Velvia 50, scanned with Minolta Dimage 5400
Impressive!
kdellaquila
Member
Thanks everyone for your help. I ended up going the extension tube route and here's the result:
20110515_017 by k_dellaquila, on Flickr
20110515_017 by k_dellaquila, on Flickr
ferider
Veteran
Very nice.
Nothing wrong with extension tubes. This also was shot with one (7mm + 50/1.4) a couple of weeks back:
Nothing wrong with extension tubes. This also was shot with one (7mm + 50/1.4) a couple of weeks back:
TXForester
Well-known
I've got the 50/3.5 and it's nice.
Extension tubes work well with many lenses. You can also use close up lenses (diopter), but you are putting another piece of glass between your lens and subject. You'll get what you pay for. Cheap lenses work, but you may lose some sharpness and get some distortion. Not the case with extension tubes.
Extension tubes work well with many lenses. You can also use close up lenses (diopter), but you are putting another piece of glass between your lens and subject. You'll get what you pay for. Cheap lenses work, but you may lose some sharpness and get some distortion. Not the case with extension tubes.
Frontman
Well-known
I have the 90/2, and it rates as one of those "special" lenses. Although it is a macro lens (and does macro work very well), I have used it for general and candid photography. It's a beautifully made lens, though it's also beautifully expensive, I rarely see them sell for less than $600.
Renzsu
Well-known
I used to have the Vivitar 90mm macro, was a fine lens, and dirt cheap.
