Lense Panasonic G MACRO 30mm f/2.8 Question

Fulcanelli wrote:

I have the Olympus 60mm macro lens and when it finally focuses, does a great job. However, it has a difficult time focusing. Is this characteristic of this lens?

Well, I find it's quite reasonable when you take into account the very narrow depth of field on closeups and the long focusing travel it has (when operating unrestricted by the switch). Obviously limiting it with the switch speeds things up, but I assume that you're still not satisfied.

I am thinking of acquiring the Lumix 30mm macro and need to know if it focuses rapidly? Does it have a dial on the side to select a focus range like the Olympus?

Thanks.

I don't have that lens myself (though I've considered it, but haven't handled it). I would imagine, being a Panasonic, that it will focus quickly (but as I said, so does the Olympus in my opinion, given the spec). Being a 30mm, the Panasonic will have slightly more depth of field at a given distance and aperture; it has to go physically closer to achieve 1:1 though (10.5 cm vs 19 cm) so that equalizes things again. It doesn't have a focusing range switch, but does have OIS - relevant if you have a Panasonic body that isn't a GX7 or GX8.

Thanks for the reply.

I'm wondering if the lens might be defective. I have had it for a while now (less than a year) but I have nothing to gauge it against. Sometimes (when I'm in the right focus zone) it can take 3-4 seconds to finally focus.

The close proximity won't be a problem as I don't photograph birds, bugs, drones, etc.

I was doing some photos last night in a quiet environment and I could hear the focus mechanism very distinctly. Is that normal? It's a great lens and I've gotten some great shots with it, but with the noise and focus issues, I wonder if the lens is defective. It has worked like this since I purchased it last spring.

I just watched this video review of the lens: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K90uhkJMt0Y

At about 3:54 the reviewer demonstrates how fast it focuses. Mine is NOTHING like this. Sometimes it will search in and out, like waves, for a few seconds. I have found that by touching the screen to force focus that it works a little faster, but that does not seem necessary based on what I saw in this video.

I really don't want to buy a second macro lens if not necessary.  I have 25mm and 40mm Olympus lenses already.

The 60mm macro is an extremely fast focusing lens for a macro.  You will not improve AF speed by moving to another lens.

Fulcanelli wrote:

I have the Olympus 60mm macro lens and when it finally focuses, does a great job. However, it has a difficult time focusing. Is this characteristic of this lens?

I am thinking of acquiring the Lumix 30mm macro and need to know if it focuses rapidly? Does it have a dial on the side to select a focus range like the Olympus?

Thanks.

I own the 45mm Panasonic Lieca 2.8 lens and it too is a macro lens. This may come as a surprise but far as I'm aware all macro lenses has auto focusing problems when it comes to macro photography.

Your best bet is learn how to use manual focus and more importantly activate focus peaking if your camera/s has this feature. Focus peaking highlight on the screen which part of the subject is in focus and for macro photography this is very important especially if you're shooting insects. It allow you to choose what you want in focus and not the camera. By using manual focusing aided by focus peaking your keeper rate will be higher and you mastered the 'basics' in macro photography.

C Sean wrote:

Fulcanelli wrote:

I have the Olympus 60mm macro lens and when it finally focuses, does a great job. However, it has a difficult time focusing. Is this characteristic of this lens?

I am thinking of acquiring the Lumix 30mm macro and need to know if it focuses rapidly? Does it have a dial on the side to select a focus range like the Olympus?

Thanks.

I own the 45mm Panasonic Lieca 2.8 lens and it too is a macro lens. This may come as a surprise but far as I'm aware all macro lenses has auto focusing problems when it comes to macro photography.

I've owned 60mm and 45mm macro.  The 60mm is noticeably faster and more "sure".  But I like the 45mm better for portraits, so that's what I ended up with.

Your best bet is learn how to use manual focus and more importantly activate focus peaking if your camera/s has this feature. Focus peaking highlight on the screen which part of the subject is in focus and for macro photography this is very important especially if you're shooting insects. It allow you to choose what you want in focus and not the camera. By using manual focusing aided by focus peaking your keeper rate will be higher and you mastered the 'basics' in macro photography.

I think that is good advice when getting in near 1:1.   For 1:3-1:2 range, I like AF if it works.

One of the main reasons it has problems is that the DOF is so narrow in the macro ranges that sometimes only a portion of the AF box is in focus.  It makes it challenging for the sensor to know what it is focusing on.   I find using single point AF and making your AF target box smaller can help.

After seeing a review of the lens on YouTube, I think my lens is defective.  I am having these issues shooting it as a regular 60mm lens, not as a macro.  It happens in bright light.  As I already stated, this searching can go on for up to 3-4 seconds.  That does not sound like fast focus.  I am going to check to see if it is in warranty as I think, from what I've read here, that I would rather stay with a 60mm and skip the 30mm macro.