Which macro lens for panny bodies ?

Noku Dzu wrote:

can't speak to focus stacking, but I am still very pleased with my Oly 60mm on my Panny GX7. I tried the Panny 30 & just didn't care for how close you had to be for macro work. The 60 gives a very convenient working distance.

too many choices, but don't think you'd be disappointed with the Oly 60.

100% Agree!  The 60 Macro is very highly regarded and thought of by many, as the best Macro on the system.

Had no idea its possible to ger these kind off results with tge raynox- i will consider getting this set.

Thanks everybody for the input.

Plant wrote:

Had the chance to get the 45mm Elmarit at about 400 usd used but due to liquidity issues i can't get it this time being.

That's been my flower lens for some years; the short working distance (about 3") has often been annoying.

Enter my new Panasonic 100-400mm lens with a Minimum Working Distance of 3' 11"

The magnification is 1:2 -- hard to believe! So that fairly small flowers are rendered beautifully.

For tiny things, I use my old Nikon 6T Achromat. It's 2.9 diopters which provides a potential 2.2:1 magnification @800mm with a MWD of about 1 foot. I normally use it at about 100-150mm which is equivalent to a 200-300mm macro lens at about 1:1. I don't need more than that for what I do.

With Nikon 6T

With Nikon 6T

With Nikon 6T

With Nikon 6T

Here is the 100-400 with Olympus FL-300R Flash, and Nikon 6T mounted

A pleasant surprise to discover this use for the lens!

I would try the suggestion to use the Raynox on a telephoto or zoom lens, if only for the greater MWD.

- Richard

Plant wrote:

Hi guys im in the market for a new macro lens my current gear includes GM1, 12-32 and 25/1.7. I'm planning to get the GX80 in the near future.

Had the chance to get the 45mm Elmarit at about 400 usd used but due to liquidity issues i can't get it this time being.

I think ill pass on the panny 30mm after seeing youtube review by the wonderful David Thorpe in which he noted that in order to get 1:1 ratio u need to get very very close to the subject and i already got the 25/1.7 which has close focal length.

The 45mm has OIS which will complement my current unstabilized body but its very expensive new and i'm not sure if the used-deal will be relevant.

Another option is the 60mm Oly. seem tack sharp and longer than the Panleica. Its lacks the OIS but the gx80 has stabilized sensor so its not really a problem but will it support focus stacking in panny bodies ? Panny jpeg engine will correct CA Distortion etc ? Focus will not slouch ?

In general i want the lens to be as sharp as possible, will not focus slowly than usual macro lenses and will do1:1 ratio is required.

Uses for the lens will be bugs and flowers (i'm a cacti head) and portraits from time to time.

Hello Plant

A few years ago I had the choice of between Panasonic Leica 45mm 2.8 or the Olympus 45mm 1.8. Both lenses share the same focal lenght but Olympus had the advantage of price and wider aparture. The Leica on the other hand has macro focusing and it came down to which lens would I use more.

In the end I paid the heavier price tag and got myself the Panasonic Leica 45mm 2.8. To begin with I used it mainly for macro and it took me a while to get some good shots with lens. It was only when I upgraded from the GF2 to the GM1 I started using manual focus with focus peaking to assist me. Over time I started to take better macro shots. However my favourite shot was taken with the GF2 because it was landscaping in macro style. It wasn't 1:1 ratio but it's an amazing shot of a small insect surrounded by gigantic leaves.

A few years later and my photography habits were changing.  At the moment out of my four prime lenses I'm using the 45mm focal length the most. Not only am I using the PL45mm 2.8 lens for macro but I'm using it for portrait and isolating my subjects more. Where before I would use my 25mm 1.4 but now I'm using the 45mm most of the time.

Now here comes the problem. The PL 45mm is a good macro lens and it secondary function of it being a portait focal length lens is good enough. The problem is the lens is a 2.8 and the 25mm 1.4 can create thinner depth of focus compared to the 45mm 2.8. The same isn't true with the Olympus 45mm 1.8. The point I'm making there maybe a point where you want a faster portrait lens. The PL 45 is a good all in one package and have lenses with dual roles is great for money worth. However you need to decided with one of these you will eventually fall into.

1. Owner of a PL 45mm 2.8

2. Owner of a O 60mm 2.8 with either O 45mm 1.8 or P 43mm 1.7

3. Owner of a PL 45mm 2.8 with a faster alternative lens for shallow depth of field for portrait photography.

At the moment I'm number one but I'm having a lot of thoughts of adding another portrait focal lens to my arsenal.

Thank you Sean, right now im using the 25/1.7 for portraits its not ideal but its ok for now, i think eventually i will become number 2 with the oly 60mm and panny 42.5 f1.7.