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30mm macro

Started Jan 30, 2016 | Discussions
robbinsbox Contributing Member • Posts: 648
30mm macro

I am quite unsure which macro to buy 30 or 60mm. Am considering the usual (fl, light shadow, image quality) Will be using a GX8. 30 sound short but good general lens too maybe?? 60 sounds perfect but more marginal use maybe? I assume that the OIS in the 30mm will prevent the image in the evf from shaking, not so the 60, for the panny bodies at least?

Many thanks

 robbinsbox's gear list:robbinsbox's gear list
Nikon Coolpix A Sony a7 Sony FE 55mm F1.8 Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS Sony FE 85mm F1.8 +1 more
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 Panasonic Lumix G Macro 30mm F2.8
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Mark Thornton Veteran Member • Posts: 4,570
Re: 30mm macro

I suspect it depends a lot on your likely subjects. Here are all 3 macros on one page:

http://www.four-thirds.org/en/microft/macro.html#i_030mm_f028_panasonic

 Mark Thornton's gear list:Mark Thornton's gear list
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 Olympus Zuiko Digital 11-22mm 1:2.8-3.5 Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 45mm F1.8 Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm 1:2 +8 more
OP robbinsbox Contributing Member • Posts: 648
Re: 30mm macro

thanks, good to see them all on one page.

 robbinsbox's gear list:robbinsbox's gear list
Nikon Coolpix A Sony a7 Sony FE 55mm F1.8 Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS Sony FE 85mm F1.8 +1 more
Mark Thornton Veteran Member • Posts: 4,570
Re: 30mm macro

I have puzzled over this choice too. As far as I can determine, at 1:1 the 30mm will have the subject not much more than 20mm from the front of the lens, versus about 90mm with the 60mm.

 Mark Thornton's gear list:Mark Thornton's gear list
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 Olympus Zuiko Digital 11-22mm 1:2.8-3.5 Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 45mm F1.8 Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm 1:2 +8 more
dontfret
dontfret Senior Member • Posts: 2,341
Re: 30mm macro

For macro work I actually prefer the set back distance to be longer, especially with insects, so went with the 60mm.  Makes a decent portrait lens as well, so long as you can step back far enough from the subject.

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Rich
Take many pictures - a few are keepers, the rest are are lessons.

 dontfret's gear list:dontfret's gear list
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 Panasonic G85 Panasonic Lumix G 20mm F1.7 ASPH Panasonic Lumix G Vario 100-300mm F4-5.6 OIS +12 more
howardfuhrman Veteran Member • Posts: 4,153
Re: 30mm macro

dontfret wrote:

For macro work I actually prefer the set back distance to be longer, especially with insects, so went with the 60mm. Makes a decent portrait lens as well, so long as you can step back far enough from the subject.

I got the 30mm macro when I purchased a camera as a package. While it is a good lens, I agree with Rich and I may sell the 30mm and get the 60mm as it would allow a greater distance between the subject and the lens.

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