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Short (perhaps inexpensive) route to macro on G series?

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Kriekira

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Hi. I'd like to play around with macros for a bit. I have a G1 with the 14-45, 45-200 and the 20. What is -
  • the least costly way to try out macro?
  • a good "starter" way to try out macro (not nec. least costly, but the least wasteful in the medium run (i.e.: upgradable))?
I have no adaptors yet, and I'm trying hard to get the most use for my money without knowing which fields are going to yield the best harvests If I get an adaptor, I'd like to end up using it with some other possible lenses. Right now I'm saving for either a wide-angle, or (more likely) a possible double-use portrait/macro lens.

Thanks!
 
1) buy the new 45mm f2.8 Macro lens

2) get a bellows and manual lens of your choice and use an adapter

I have an Olympus Pen-F 40mm F1.4 and the Pen-F bellows kit. With a Pen-F to m4/3 adapter I'm set to go. There are myriad other choices.
 
Perfect answer. Thanks. I hope I can buy you a drink one day.

Thanks to the other posters for their suggestions, which I will look into.
 
Your image sample is relatively close focusing, but far from macro. Stricly speaking, macro photography is where the actual subject size equals its size on the imaging plane (1:1 magnification).

If the OP is looking for close focusing as opposed to true macro focusing, a closeup filter is a good way to go. I'm quite pleased with the Canon closeup filter on the 14-45 lens.



Full res is available here: http://bjnicholls.zenfolio.com/p878383021
--
BJ Nicholls
SLC, UT
 
BJN said:
Your image sample is relatively close focusing, but far from macro. Stricly speaking, macro photography is where the actual subject size equals its size on the imaging plane (1:1 magnification).
Click to expand...
Oh jeez. Such a lot of stupid quibbling about minutiae on this forum. A correction, since you want to quibble over minutiae: macrophotography generally refers to photographic endeavors in the range from 1:4 to 2:1 magnification, not just 1:1.

I was trying to demonstrate that a simple close-up lens can turn some very nice work. I was just looking at that photograph and realized that it was a good demonstration, with about a 1:5 magnification ratio, taken with an 85mm lens and a very cheap +1 diopter accessory lens.

--
Godfrey
http://godfreydigiorgi.posterous.com
 
It won't outperform some of the more expensive options, but Panasonic makes (made?) a 52mm close up lens that works great on the 14-45 and 45-200 lenses. They're going new for under $30 shipped on eBay... search for DMW-LC52. I got mine used for under $10 a couple months ago. I don't shoot macro often, but it's nice to have the capability when needed.

 
BJN said:
If the OP is looking for close focusing as opposed to true macro focusing, a closeup filter is a good way to go. I'm quite pleased with the Canon closeup filter on the 14-45 lens.
Click to expand...
Don't want to be nitpicking but there is no such thing as closeup filter -- if it bends light, it is a lens. So the proper term is closeup lens.

Happy Holidays
Tikkis
 
Kriekira said:
Hi. I'd like to play around with macros for a bit. I have a G1 with the 14-45, 45-200 and the 20. What is -
  • the least costly way to try out macro?
  • a good "starter" way to try out macro (not nec. least costly, but the least wasteful in the medium run (i.e.: upgradable))?
I have no adaptors yet, and I'm trying hard to get the most use for my money without knowing which fields are going to yield the best harvests If I get an adaptor, I'd like to end up using it with some other possible lenses. Right now I'm saving for either a wide-angle, or (more likely) a possible double-use portrait/macro lens.
Click to expand...
If you are thinking about adapters, but aren't sure what lens/es you might end up with, then consider getting a Canon EOS to M4/3 adapter and then XXX lens to EOS adapters for whatever bramd you buy. The Canon EOS mount has the distinction of having the widest throat and one of the shortest "back flange" distances of any 35mm lens mount - meaning that more lens brands can be adapted to the EOS mount than any other. With the cost of other brand to M4/3 adapters being around $60 ( last time I looked) it makes sense to buy one M4/3 adapter and then add cheap ($10 or less) adapters to fit whatever lens to that mount. For example I have an EOS - M4/3 adapter and EOS adapter for Olympus OM, Leica R, 42mm screw mount and Contax mount Carl Zeiss lenses for a total of around $100, whereas individual adapters for any 2 of these lenses would cost $120 or more. It gives you the opportunity to experiment with several different brands without too much extra outlay. The Olympus OM 35mm f3.5 macro gave excellent results on my G1/GH1 ( though I have splurged on a 45mm PanaLeica recently). The humble OM 50 f1.8 plus extension tubes will give excellent results as well, but may end up more expensive if you don't already have any tubes.

GH1 with Oly OM 35 f3.5 macro:



--

Judge: ' This image may be better in black and white - perhaps even just black! '
 
...is to simply go into the menu and turn on the option that allows you to shoot with no lens attached, detach your lens and move it towards your subject to get closer focusing distances. This is what I do to get closer focusing with my M Mount glass:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sambennett/4066574162/



http://www.flickr.com/photos/sambennett/4061343391/



http://www.flickr.com/photos/sambennett/4047771107/



Now, this is a bit trickier with G lenses since they don't have an aperture ring, but you can adjust the aperture by selecting the aperture you want, hit the "Preview" button then disconnect the lens with Preview held down. You likely will want to set the focus to the minimum focus distance as well.

Needless to say, this is an imperfect solution - it's awkward in terms of re-focusing and changing aperture, it can let stray light in (which I usually block with my hand), it exposes your sensor more directly to the elements, etc. But you can see how you could improve on this capability (I still have plans to make a flexible bellows for my M Mount glass) probably using opaque fabric, a toilet plunger, etc.

--
Sam Bennett - http://www.swiftbennett.com
 
Thanks for the insights. Someone else mentioned the Olympus 35mm f3.5 -- in addition to adaptors I'll have a look at it. --Cheers.
 
BJN said:
I'm quite pleased with the Canon closeup filter on the 14-45 lens.
Click to expand...
The Canon 250D? Is there a sample shot (or shots) on your zenfolio pages?
 
One alternative is to use an old 50mm manual focus prime lens on extension tubes and an adapter. You may want to see how much you can get the following items for on eBay:
  1. An affordable lens adapter for an old manual focus camera system.
  2. A 50mm f/2 or f/1.8 prime lens for that system.
  3. A set of cheap, third party extension tubes for that system.
A quick search of eBay shows me the following items:
  • Canon FD - m4/3 adapter: $60
  • Canon FD extension tube set (6mm, 12mm and 24mm): $28
  • Canon FD lens, 50mm f/1.8: $10-$25
  • Canon FD 50mm macro lens w/tube: $100 (w/buy it now)
These prices are without shipping, of course. You may be able to do better by trying other systems, or just searching around a bit more.

With 25mm of extension on a 50mm lens you already get to 1:2. A subject that would require 1:1 on 35mm or 1:1.5 on APS-C will only need 1:2 on 4/3.
 
Kriekira said:
Am looking into this. Seems to be popular and a good value.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=getItemDetail&Q=&sku=405347&is=REG&si=rev#anchorToReadReviews
Click to expand...
The Olympus ZD 35mm f/3.5 Macro is a superb lens for the money and well worth it. The only small negative is that it is manual focus only on Panasonic Lumix G, but eh? Good news is that it's a great lens to work with even if you don't use it for macro, and it's not expensive. :-)

--
Godfrey
http://godfreydigiorgi.posterous.com
 
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