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Best M4/3 lens for magnification?

Started May 6, 2016 | Discussions thread
SteveY80 Senior Member • Posts: 2,087
Re: Best M4/3 lens for magnification?
1

One thing you might want to consider is that you can add an extension tube or diopter close-up filter to a zoom to increase its magnification.

I've tried using a Raynox DCR-250 +8 diopter on my Panasonic 100-300mm. That increases the magnification to around 1:1 at 100mm, and around 3:1 at 300mm.

The results were pretty good at 100-200mm, although quality suffers beyond that. Of course you can sometimes end up with too much magnification - I find it hard to get consistently good results handheld much beyond 1:1.

Here's an example from the middle of the zoom range, a bit less than 2:1:

Here's my best attempt at getting a shot at maximum 3:1 magnification:

Those little leafhoppers are about 3mm long - that should give you an idea of how narrow the depth of field is at that magnification, even when stopped down to f/22.

 SteveY80's gear list:SteveY80's gear list
Nikon 1 J1 Fujifilm X-M1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 Sony a77 II +1 more
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