M.Zuiko 40-150mm F/2,8 lens + M.Zuiko MC-14 Teleconverter for Close-up Photography

JeanPierre Martel wrote:

A few years ago, after trying many lenses, I’ve settled on the M.Zuiko 60mm Macro F/2,8 as my favourite lens to take shots at butterflies. For three years, it was the only lens used for that purpose.

Last month, I’ve acquired the teleconverter M.Zuiko MC-14 and I’ve decided to give a try of the M.Zuiko 40-150mm F/2,8 + M.Zuiko MC-14 for close-up photography.

I was so pleased with the result that this combo has replaced the M.Zuiko 60mm Macro F/2,8 as my favourite gear to take shots at butterflies.

Why?

In order to get a butterfly and its environment, I might need to frame about 20cm of nature. Since a 60mm lens and a 210mm lens have different angles of view, the camera has to be at a distance of 60cm with a 60mm lens, and at 250cm for a 210mm lens (note: these figures are approximative).

For the same brightness (F/5,6), the ’Simple DoF’ applet of my iPhone tells me that on a µ4/3 cameras, a 60mm lens gives a DoF of 1,5cm while a 210mm lens gives a DoF of 2,2cm.

So it easier to get a butterfly in focus with a 210mm lens.

But what about sharpness and bokeh?

My subjective feeling is that the M.Zuiko 60mm Macro is sharper than the combo.

The bokeh? I’ve always like the 60mm’s creamy bokeh. But the combo is in a different league: it’s not cream, it’s butter.

In a nutshell, if you’re willing to lose a wee bit of sharpness, the M.Zuiko 150mm + teleconverter MC-14 is a very good alternative.

In order to judge by yourself, hereunder are examples of the typical shots obtained with them:

Zebra Lingwing Butterfly

Laparus Doris Butterfly

Hypolimnas Bolina Butterfly

Eumaeus minyas Butterfly

All the butterflies shots published so far:
http://jpmartel.quebec/category/entomologie/ (skip the Frech Text)

Same thing with me 😀 95% of these photos were taken with 40-150mm Pro + MC-14 https://www.flickr.com/photos/princecody/albums/72157647525749104