tell me about the 35mm f3.5 macro

It's very sharp, small, light, cheap and it's Zuiko

Some samples for you:



















No regrets here.

KB

Hi Keith,

the 35mm macro is quite a competent little lens with quite good image quality.
It's small and light and should be a good physical match for the E-620.

Like its bigger brother the 50mm macro, its AF is rather slow and a bit noisy.
So while it can focus to infinity it's not a lens that I use for general photography.
However, AF performance is not usually important for macro work where MF is usually preferred.

As you are already aware, the 35mm is capable of 1:1 magnification without an extension tube.
It's tiny size means that I can throw it in my bag without worrying about space.

Mine is a store demonstrator I got at a bargain price, and the AF mechanism failed on me - it developed a loud "click-click-clack" in the mechanical train of the AF as if something had broken. It was repaired under warranty. Whether that speaks to low quality or heavy handling in the store is anyone's guess, but I suggest you have a close listen to the AF with the camera set to MF and go full range close-far-close

Peter

Super sharp and well corrected. Slow aperture and wandering focus, plus the working distance for macro is very short, making shadows a challenge.

Even with the limitations I like it and never saw the need to upgrade to the better 50.

Cheers,

Rick

AF is slow, snail pace slow. I had one for a bit, light and sharp but it too slow.......

I originally purchased mine with an mmf3 adapter to use with my mft bodies. Focus was slow, but i was using it as a macro lens most of the time so i would resort to manual focus.

I recently purchased an E450 body from KEH and popped the lens on it. Focus was faster, but in no way comparable to a native mft lens (e.g. olympus 25mm f/1.8) on an mft body.

It is a useful focal length, giving reasonable distance between subject and camera. It can also be used for portraits, in my case, typically my dogs and cats.

If i had it to do over again, i would consider the 4/3 50mm f/2.0 macro. I do a lot of available light inside the house and the 35mm's f/3.5 does bump the ISO up a notch. But price was my first consideration when i purchased the 35mm. The adapter and lens, refurbed from Olympus was around $225. Hard to resist. At the time the 50mm was $399. Anyway, I am happy with the lens, although it is taking a break while i give the new(used) 11-22mm a workout.

Two samples below. Both are OOC JPEGs from E450.


Bee Borage in our garden. Olympus 35mm 4/3 Macro


PigPen. Olympus 35mm 4/3 Macro

mark

Basically my experience is the same as the previous posters. Sharp little prime lens with Zuiko's best 4/3rds macro capability (the more expensive 50mm only goes to 1:2). Drawbacks are the slow focus (macro lenses are typically slow because the macro end requires far greater lens movement), but manual focus usually works better for macro anyway, and the relatively short focal length. The latter can be a problem with skittish bugs, but wouldn't matter with water drops.

Overall very happy with it - I still use it for macro on m4/3 cameras when focus speed is not an issue.

Here's one contemporary review:

http://slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/44/cat/14

Rick

Used my 35mm for about a year. It took great shots of flowers and small bugs. Very light it reminds me of the original lens in my E-500 kit years ago.

Most of the time it spends its life in a lens bag where I store all my optics when not in use. I throw in a hand full of the moisture mini sacks for protection. If anyone else is looking for one I'm up for selling it.

Happy shooting

Chris

I recently paid $129 for an immaculate copy of the ZD 35 mm macro from KEH. My understanding is that KEH and B&H actually test the lenses before sale. Then, they give you a liberal return policy and guarantee. The copy of the lens I got is just excellent. It focuses quickly for a macro, is sharp, and has no trouble locking focus decisively. I'm using it on two E5s and its performance is identical on both. I suspect that you have got hold of a duff copy of the lens, and perhaps there are many duff copies, but not the one I got. I had to have one after seeing the pix posted on this forum. Just the pix posted by Kiwi Bloke should convince you. My only complaint is regarding my back. You have to get in close with the little gem and I don't bend over as well as I once did. I'm a bit of a macro nut and have the ZD 50 mm macro, Sigma 105 mm macro, Sigma 18-50 macro zoom along with the 35 mm. Interestingly, I've found nothing better for macro than the ZD 50-200 with the EX 25 tube, if you can hold the monster still and learn to focus with the zoom and your feet. The Leica D 25 mm f/1.4 Summilux is also brilliant with macro work ( if you want to shoot macro in the dark), as is the Leica D Vario 14-150. I'd buy the 35 mm again and pay extra again for a pristine copy if I couldn't find another on sale. I bought a Vello hood for mine, trying to keep spurious light out of the works. I've found that a hood, particularly with macro, enhances auto focus. I have no problem with manual focus, as that's all I had for thirty five years, but the auto focus on my ZD 35 mm is quite adequate. I think that after you've decided what used lens you want, the most important factor is where you buy it. Long distance post purchase negotiations can be a pain unless you're dealing with a company as concerned about their reputation as their profit.

Rich

All with E5, ZD 35 mm macro.

Using the 100% view, along with the zoom tool really helps these downsized and compressed jpegs.









http://photobucket.com/dfr49_pix

Hey, KB, if you're going to post a set of pix as a testimonial to a lens, yours are the pix to post. Really excellent work, indeed! Rich

It may not have the 50mm's weather sealing or f-2 abilities but even stacked on a 2x converter and at high apertures it has the sharpness to show every whisker on a dragonflies face. Just getting close enough to a live bug to use it at 1-1 is an lesson in patience but once you are there, oh boy the shots you can take.

The biggest issue I had when being that close was the lens shading the subject. I created the Foam ring flash to compensate for that. It is a small foam ring that sits in front of the lens and a FL 20 fires down into it and gives frontal illumination.

I have never paid attention to the focusing because at that level I set it to manual and move the rig in and out slightly to control the DOF which is slim even at higher apertures.























--
JimB
Bug Whisperer
Join us in The Weekly Close up every weekend

thanks for all the replies. Even though my relationship with 4/3 is a bit strained with my E-620 and my 12-60 swd now working well I still picked up a seemingly like new version of the 35mm f3.5 today. and i'm looking forward to taking some awesome close up photos in the next few months

Congratulations, Keith. You're going to love it. I just stick the little lens in my coat pocket. I'm looking forward to seeing your work with it. Rich

You'll be happy with it's a real bargain of a lens. You do have to get close, but that works OK for me. If I'm shooting something that I'm scared of, like a rattlesnake, I'm gonna use a long lens and back up anyway. Also, if you ever upgrade to the EM1, the 35 works very well with the adapter. It does not work as well with the old EM5, I gave up on it there. Not sure about the new EM5.

No guts no glory minniev. Bring it on Rattle Snake smile and say cheese.......

Have a good time shooting.

Chris

Put the camera on a "selfie stick" but use it as a "youfie stick." Mr. Snake will never suspect a thing.

Cheers,

Rick

Hi

here is one example of a 35mm macro + E510

,,,the lens works just as well with my EM 1



jpg pic +pp









--
Harri