Getting Even Closer - Macro for Oly EM5?

Hello!

... are:

1/ adapting a lens that is designed for shooting beyond 1:1 (Canon MPE65, Minolta 1x-3x zoom lens) - a hassle free experience, not necissarily the best IQ;

2/ adding a diopter lens (fits on the front of your lens); Raynox DCR250 as a budget option, any other high quality two lens diopter designed for use with a 60mm lens - the most budget friendly option, the impact on IQ is moderate, but your close-up potential is limited;

3/ a TC - fits between body and lens (a 2x TC will give you 2:1 instead of 1:1); has some advantages such as doubled working distance at 1:1 and same working distance at 2:1), quality is depending on the TC used, limited close-up potential;

4/ lens reversal (on the body, on another lens) - budget friendly and potentially great IQ depending on the lens you use - limited by the working distance once you turn to the wider lenses;

5/ a dedicated bellows / modular extension setup - potentially best IQ and flexibilty possible with a vast selection of lenses from all ages and price ranges. Potentially more cumbersome to manage and handle.

Best,

Alex

Thank you. I have a x1. 4 TC for our telephoto and have been impressed with it. I don't think it fits any other lenses though. Can you recomment any that would work well?

I read about diopters last week, but the impression I got was that they were really for underwater work. Again, any recommendations?

Hello!

If your TC does (physically) fit the macro lens, it would give you a slight boost (x1.4) putting you pretty much in between life size (1:1) and double lufe size (2:1) - btw, the FOV of 1:1 is allready "closer" on MFT.

Unfortunately I don't have experience with MFT TCs, as I don't like that option myself. Maybe others can help rearding compatibility with the 60mm.

Diopters (closeup addon lenses) I recommended through own use are the Raynox Diopters (the 250 being the cheapest, Canon 500D and 250D as well as the old Nikon 5T and 6T diopters. Strength and suitabilty for different focal lenghts do vary. I would start with the Raynox DCR250, especially since the closeup potential is limited with diopters as well

Best,

Alex

The 1.4 TC I have is the one for the 40-150 f2.8 pro lens, and it only fits that lens, sadly.

There's a couple of TCs that look like they might fit, including this one:

Olympus ZUIKO DIGITAL EC-20 Tele-converter https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000XCRE8G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_CjCPzbXFSZZZC

But it's not clear how good quality it is. I'll have to do some research, and will also look into the Diopter you mention. Thanks again!

Yep, I saw that, but not sure if it gives more than the 1:1 zoom I'm already getting with the 60mm.

Hello!

TCs always have an impact on IQ in my experience (with Nikon, Canon, Sigma and third party TCs of the past) - and I doubt that even a 2x TC will be enough for your needs (2:1 is not THAT close after all).

You can always fake and optimize a micro zoom (like the Canon MPe65) using an old OM adapter plus the old OM-zoom extension tube and a Macro/bellows lens of your choice - you can go really close depending on the lens used and it is sort of a more solid, short bellows solution. Here is one of my setups for illustration purposes on another subforum here (depicted on a N1 body, I do use it on all of my cameras though) with an old Canon 35/2.8 macro bellows lens (one of THE best beyond 2:1 and relatively inexpensive):

bottom right is 2:1 btw

Best,

Alex

Will the EC-14 fit? That seems a good option, and the IQ seems reasonable given the cost.

Hello!

It is only 1.25:1 other than 1:1 - not that big a thing imho.

Best,

Alex

Oh wow, just seen that thread about the guy with the extension tubes. That looks awesome, and relatively cheap to try with my existing TC. I'll give that a go!

Hello!

I don't know, did you? (it seems so). That is the problem with flat view and posting at the same time as someone else on this site imho. You never know where you end up.

Best,

Alex

For the tiny blooms she could do well with one of these .

For the bugs, might be worth investigating one of the bodies that does focus bracketing with the 60mm. She seems quite close but doesn't have enough DoF.

Cheers,

Rick

Nice. I guess that's fixed focus though, so per the other thread makes things that move more challenging (although for the flowers it would work).

Going to start with my MC-14 and extension tubes. I presume I'll need one for each side where it sticks out? £45 seems a cheaper experiment than £400 for a new lens. 😁

Skeeterbytes wrote:

For the tiny blooms she could do well with one of these .

Ooh, that looks tempting....

For the bugs, might be worth investigating one of the bodies that does focus bracketing with the 60mm. She seems quite close but doesn't have enough DoF.

I suspect that might just be the settings, I think the two bug pics might have been taken at f2.8-f4.5; we've got some others taken at f14-f22 where the DoF covered the entire insect and looked much better. But I hasn't heard of focus Bracketing, so will read up about that too, thanks!

Love macro photography, it's just so interesting!