Question for 5050 users past and present

[scubaguy655]

I have been considering purchasing a macro lens for my Oly PT 015 housing (UCL165M67 macro lens).

My question is do you gain anything by using this lens or are you just as well off using the macro settings on the camera?

Thanks for the info.

 

[jlyle]

Since you need to shoot in macro mode with the lens adapters, one adapter doesn't give you any more magnification than you get with supermacro mode on the camera.

You need two of the 165s. Stack them for additional macro.

 

[livewire]

Agree w/ jlyle. I actually tested this once with a ruler, the magnification with just one lens is so slight that it's not worth it at all if you're just using one. Super Macro is just as good. Only down side to two lenses is that it costs twice as much plus it's two lenses to burp, store, clean, manage etc. In my case I decided to just learn to live with what super macro mode gives me, which is pretty good in a lot of cases!

 

[scubaguy655]

Great info and what I suspected. No reason to spend the money if there is minimal benefit.

 

[jlyle]

Great info and what I suspected. No reason to spend the money if there is minimal benefit.

With stacked 165s:

 

[Reefwalker]

Using one Inon UCL165 lens will actually make a difference over the standard macro and super macro modes - here's why:
The standard lens on the Oly 5050, when in macro focus mode, focuses closer to the camera than the standard focus, from memory down to about 200mm. If you add the UCL165 lens and use the macro focus mode (not super macro), not only can you get closer to the subject (now 165mm closest focus), but it also has a magnifying effect, so the subject looks larger than if you could get the same distance away without the Inon lens.
Also you wll be able to use a lot more zoom (to make the subject appear much larger in the final image) with the Inon lens attached, than you will with the standard lens. You will find with the standard lens zoomed in to maximum telephoto, that the closest you will get (and still achieve focus) may only be 300mm. With the Inon lens you will still be able to get down to 165mm focus.
The super Macro on the Oly 5050 is a fixed zoom setting, its OK, but nowhere near as versatile as the Inon UCL165 lens is.
Certainly two Inon UCL 165 lenses are good for tiny/tiny subjects, but one on its own is far more versatile than just the standard lens.