Olympus 60mm f2.8 Macro is it all hype?

jalywol wrote:

My own personal take:

I do a lot of macro work, but mostly of flowers and not so much very high magnification shots of insects.

I currently use a Micro Nikkor 55mm f3.5 (non-AI) which is an oldie but a goodie. It does not have 1:1 capability without an extension tube, but for what I shoot, that is actually not necessary.

I was very excited about the 60mm Oly, and bought one a couple of months ago. It is indeed a very, very sharp lens, and does have that 1:1 capability without using any extra bits to get it. However, after doing some comparison shots, I realized that my ancient macro lens was just as sharp, and I preferred how the old lens felt to handle and use, and its size and heft made it easier for me to hold steady vs the new Oly (I used Panny bodies, so I do not have IBIS). So, I returned the Oly, and kept my vintage macro lens.

My point is, the 60mm lens is a really terrific, sharp macro lens for M43. However, it is not the only option for getting the kind of shots you prefer, and you might be happier with one of the other options out there. I would do a little more experimenting with different focal lengths and their effect on DOF and magnification, before investing in this lens. It might very well work great for you, but it might not, and trying some other things first might be a really good idea.

-J