PHIL RUDIN
Contributor
Hello Nili,
With the M4/3 system you have two options, #1 using macro lenses not designed for the M43 system with an adapter or #2 using macro lenses made for M43.
With option #1 you have two more choices, #1 using the lenses in auto focus and #2 using the lenses with a manual focus gear. With option #1 auto focus tends to be SLOW, "hunting" for the subject. With the adapter for Olympus 4/3 lens, those macro lenses made for the Olympus DSLR cameras like the E-520, E-30 and E-5 you have two choices again. #1 the 50mm macro (one of the best macro lenses made) and #2 the under $200.00 35mm macro which has great image quality for the price. Both of these lenses can be used with the same adapter and if used in manual focus both could be used with the 1.4 and 2X tele converters. To do this you would need the proper port length and gears for each combination. You can also find adapters for just about any brand of lens so you could add say a Nikon 105 or a Canon 100 if you could find a port and focus gear to match. From a practical stand'point the Olympus 50mm F/2 makes the most sence to me because I owned the lens for years and I know how good it is. Keep in mind that this lens goes to 1:2 on the M43 sensor not 1:1 so max magnifaction is about the same as 35mm.
To me the better choice is the Panasonic 45mm macro which is designed for M4/3 cameras. If you are building a system you should be building it around the highest quality glass you can afford. Camera bodies will come and go but the glass is what determins how good the image quality will be, all things being equal. So if you own an E-PL1 now with a 14-42 kit zoom and you move to the new E-M5 with the same lens, chances are image quality will go down not up because of the quality of that lens. With the 45 macro image quality is going to get better because of the much higher quality lens. I would also think about holding out for the Olympus 60mm macro for M43 which will be coming in the next few months. This lens should fit existing ports and will have improved auto focus. Both the Pana 45 and the coming Oly 60 macro will get you to 1:1. The 14-42 will get you to about 1:2 with a closeup lens, this would not be my first choice but if it is what you can afford it is not too bad for the price and better than the kit zoom from Panasonic.
Phil Rudin
With the M4/3 system you have two options, #1 using macro lenses not designed for the M43 system with an adapter or #2 using macro lenses made for M43.
With option #1 you have two more choices, #1 using the lenses in auto focus and #2 using the lenses with a manual focus gear. With option #1 auto focus tends to be SLOW, "hunting" for the subject. With the adapter for Olympus 4/3 lens, those macro lenses made for the Olympus DSLR cameras like the E-520, E-30 and E-5 you have two choices again. #1 the 50mm macro (one of the best macro lenses made) and #2 the under $200.00 35mm macro which has great image quality for the price. Both of these lenses can be used with the same adapter and if used in manual focus both could be used with the 1.4 and 2X tele converters. To do this you would need the proper port length and gears for each combination. You can also find adapters for just about any brand of lens so you could add say a Nikon 105 or a Canon 100 if you could find a port and focus gear to match. From a practical stand'point the Olympus 50mm F/2 makes the most sence to me because I owned the lens for years and I know how good it is. Keep in mind that this lens goes to 1:2 on the M43 sensor not 1:1 so max magnifaction is about the same as 35mm.
To me the better choice is the Panasonic 45mm macro which is designed for M4/3 cameras. If you are building a system you should be building it around the highest quality glass you can afford. Camera bodies will come and go but the glass is what determins how good the image quality will be, all things being equal. So if you own an E-PL1 now with a 14-42 kit zoom and you move to the new E-M5 with the same lens, chances are image quality will go down not up because of the quality of that lens. With the 45 macro image quality is going to get better because of the much higher quality lens. I would also think about holding out for the Olympus 60mm macro for M43 which will be coming in the next few months. This lens should fit existing ports and will have improved auto focus. Both the Pana 45 and the coming Oly 60 macro will get you to 1:1. The 14-42 will get you to about 1:2 with a closeup lens, this would not be my first choice but if it is what you can afford it is not too bad for the price and better than the kit zoom from Panasonic.
Phil Rudin
