Next I tried a further shot. This was set up at a range where the 60mm macro was focused at about 0.6m. Again, the camera was moved to account for differences in focal length so that the two lenses framed the same scene identically. Beyond my standard gear, I leverage a few other items to produce my macro images. For instance, when I am working with more skittish subjects like butterflies or dragonflies, I’ll pull out the M.Zuiko 40-150mm F2.8 PRO. While not really a “macro” lens, the 40-150 (80-300 FFE) has a short working distance that yields ≈1:4 magnification. Sometimes, I’ll even add the M.Zuiko MC-14 1.4x Teleconverter into the equation. The MC-14 is placed between the camera body and the 40-150mm PRO lens to extend reach (112-420mm FFE). Since it doesn’t increase the minimum focusing distance, the MC-14 gives the lens a slight magnification boost. The lens is built with a metal mount.There are three switches on the side. The top is a focus limiter with three positions: Macro, 0.25-0.5m, and 0.25-infinity. Below is the image stabilization switch with On and Off positions. Below it is an L-fn button which can be customized to your needs. Very nice review and nice shots, Nicholas. I own the Venus Laowa 50mm f2.8X Macro, and I believe there are also some advantages of this lens over this newer 90mm f/3.5 and vice-versa. I do think both are very close in sharpness, except that based on your review I feel that the OM System is a bit better at handling a loss in sharpness near 2:1. With the Laowa, I have tested that past f/5.6, it starts to degrade more rapidly.

Apochromatic lenses have special lens elements aspheric, extra-low dispersion etc. to minimize the problem, hence they usually cost more. In the example above, the blurred specular highlights aren’t perfectly circular when the lens is wide-open, but they’re not unpleasant either, and at least there’s no onion-ringing to mention; the heptagon shape is expected as the aperture is closed. Judging from my previous results with the Leica 45mm f2.8, I’d say the Leica delivered superior rendering to the Lumix, but then it is a lot more expensive.In particular, here are what my autofocus speed tests showed. I tested the focusing speed of both lenses from 1x to 0.5x magnification. After 10 replications with each test, the OM System 90mm f/3.5 Macro IS PRO grabbed focus in 5.8 seconds on average, while the 60mm f/2.8 grabbed focus in 5.2 seconds on average. (I also wonder if a newer copy of the 60mm would be even faster, since as I’ve said, mine has seen some things.) If you want the maximum 1:1 reproduction, you’ll need to position the Lumix 30mm, Leica 45mm or Olympus 60mm at a distance of 10, 15 or 19cm respectively. Written-down these numbers may not seem that different or even significant, but they refer to the distance from the subject to the focal plane, which in turn means you’re going to be much closer to your subject than you may at first realize for the maximum reproduction. Indeed with the Lumix 30mm, you’ll almost be touching it, which is not always convenient or practical.

As well as being technologically sophisticated inside, it is also built to last on the outside - with a dust- and splashproof outer body and specialist protective coating for the lens glass itself. You can also enjoy the focus dial to easily change the possible focus range (0.19-0.4m or 0.19m-infinity or 0.4-infinity). On top of this a special display indicates the actual focus distance for more control of your shots. Plus there’s the option of acquiring an automatic lens hood, which can slide up and down to reduce flare and protect your lens. I happen to have both the Panasonic Leica 45mm f/2.8 Macro and Olympus 60mm f/2.8 Macro lenses currently, and I thought there might be some interest in a compare & contrast between the two from a user's perspective. Mounted on the Panasonic Lumix GX7, it’s easier to know when the lens stabilization is running or not. Set to Off in the menus (when I believe the body based stabilisation is also disabled), I found I could handhold fairly successfully at 1/15 or faster under the conditions of the day. With Stabilisation enabled (again the lens IS takes priority over the body based IS on the GX7), I achieved a similar result at 1/8, providing one stop of compensation in practice. The results at 1/4 and half a second using stabilization were fairly good, but not as crisp as the body-based IS on the Olympus OMD EM1 under the same conditions.All in all, macro photography (and close-up photography in general) is one of the biggest strengths of the Micro Four Thirds format. You don’t give up much image quality compared to bigger camera sensors for close-up photography, and you gain a lot of maneuverability. DC-G9 + OLYMPUS M.60mm F2.8 Macro @ 60mm, ISO 800, 1/160, f/5.6 M.Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 Macro Lens Specifications I did a little bit of testing last night with the new Olympus 60mm f/2.8 Macro and I compared it with the only other dedicated macro lens for Micro 4/3, the Panasonic Leica 45mm f/2.8 OIS. Despite the use of plastic, I don’t doubt the lens’s durability. In particular, theweather sealing is advertised as dust-proof and splash-proof up to IP53, meaning extensive protection against dust and splashing water. It’s the same rating given to the rugged OM-1 itself. By comparison, I’ve used my M.Zuiko60mm f/2.8 for years of intense conditions. It doesn’t appear to have an official IP rating, yet has held up better than any of my other lenses. The new 90mm f/3.5 should improve on it even further.

And an even stronger crop to really push things: DC-G9 + OLYMPUS M.60mm F2.8 Macro @ 60mm, ISO 125, 1/200, f/11.0 DC-G9 + OLYMPUS M.60mm F2.8 Macro @ 60mm, ISO 125, 1/200, f/11.0 M.Zuiko 30mm f/3.5 E-M1, 1/40, f/8, ISO 200 – M.Zuiko 30mm E-M1, 1/80, f/5.6, ISO 640 – M.Zuiko 30mm E-M1, 1/320, f/3.5, ISO 400 – M.Zuiko 30mm E-M1, 1/60, f5.6, ISO 200 – M.Zuiko 30mm E-M1, 1/4, f/4, ISO 200 – M.Zuiko 30mm E-M1, 1/500, f/8, ISO 400 – M.Zuiko 30mm The 60mm has an aperture range of 2.8 to 22, which provides a little more flexibility than the 3.5 to 22 range of the 30mm.On distant subjects, I actually found that the OM System 90mm f/3.5 Macro IS PRO outperformed my old M.Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 macro in focus speed, especially in brighter conditions. However, at close focusing distances, the 60mm lens was faster – probably because it didn’t need to examine the whole range from 2:1 to wider magnifications. So, to sum it up, the M.Zuiko 60mm macro is really the best macro lens for Micro Four Thirds right now. It’s the only option for an autofocusing macro lens that can achieve a 1X magnification at a reasonable working distance. Normally, having just one lens option to choose from isn’t ideal – but here, it’s not an issue because the lens performs so well anyway. DC-G9 + OLYMPUS M.60mm F2.8 Macro @ 60mm, ISO 250, 1/250, f/11.0 Conclusion The Olympus ED 60mm f/2.8 Macro delivers extremely good optical performance with compact and lightwieght build quality As far as construction goes, they are similarly built. Both have high-grade plastic bodies built to tight tolerances and feel solid in the hand. The 60mm is a bit longer. The 45mm is fatter and a little bit heavier. The 45mm’s focus ring is ribbed rubber, while the 60mm uses ribbed plastic. As far as construction goes, the biggest difference is that the Olympus 60mm is a weathersealed lens, so used on a body like the Olympus OM-D or Panasonic GH3, you’ll get some protection against splashes and dust when shooting in the rain or the desert.

With the appropriate adapter, one can mount regular four-thirds lenses on a micro four-thirds camera, making this an attractive option for macro shooters. It doesn't offer quite the same reproduction ratio (only 1:2 instead of full 1:1) but its performance, even wide open at ƒ/2, was extremely sharp. I don't tend to take table top type shots but on the creative side of things different angles and perspectives are often fun. You will notice that the distance from the subject makes a difference to the perspective you see in the final picture. Perspective is a function not of focal length but of distance to the subject and things that can give the same subject a different look relative to other things in the frame (if there are any) or even from one point on the subject to another are the angle you shoot from and the distance the shot is taken from. What you can do is either take the shot from close distance or from a greater distance and crop post capture. The two pictures, focusing from near and further away, can have quite different perspectives. We haven't yet tested this lens: it offers built-in optical image stabilization as well as full 1:1 reproduction. The minimum focus distance, magnification and focal length are the main characteristics that distinguish these two lenses from each other. To my eye, the Olympus is ever so slightly sharper, but the differences are close enough that it’s really hard to say for sure that the Olympus is better here. Close focus test – Full image

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The Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 60mm f/2.8 Macro Lens is a Micro Four Thirds lens compatible with Olympus mirrorless digital cameras. Being a dedicated macro lens, it lets you take shots at close range in true (1:1) life size, as well as offering you continuous focusing from this distance to infinity. Built with incredible precision, it features an internal focus system with floating lenses that is capable of producing equally high image quality when shooting macro, landscapes, portraits, and more. Create shallow depth of field effects with its open aperture and really show off the contrast between razor-sharp details and circular bokeh that this lens creates. At its closest focusing distance of 10cm, the Lumix G 30mm will deliver 1x magnification, reproducing subjects at actual-size on the sensor. Since the Micro Four Thirds format employs sensor measuring around 17x13mm, that’s the minimum area this lens will capture.