Zuiko 90mm Macro IS Pro lens

I have now been using the Zuiko 90mm macro lens for a couple of months and I am very pleased with it. In the past I have used the Nikon and Sigma 105mm lens, bellows, extension tubes and reversing rings with a 50mm lens.

Out of the lot I prefer this lens coupled with the Olympus OM-1, its a great combination. I first had the 60mm Zuiko lens but found I couldn't get on with it. The 90mm lens is easier to handle even though it is a larger lens, compared to the tiny 60mm lens.

So why this lens. First because it is on a micro 4/3 camera it works as a 180mm lens (FF comparison), this has many advantages as you can give the subject more breathing space. It is also a 2:1 reproduction rather than the 60mm 1:1 and has auto focus, which is a first for this size macro lens, normally at this reproduction you are always on manual focus. But because of its 2x crop factor on the OM-1 4/3 camera this really equates to a 4 magnification in 35mm terms.

Filling the frame is a dream, that is with a subject of about a third of an inch, compared to a more common 1:1 which only fills the frame with something approaching three quarter of an inch. Which is great for photographing small subjects.

The working distance is not just about the subject feeling at ease but also making it easier to light. It was always a nightmare trying to light something with the bellows as the end of the lens was virtually touching the subject.

Shetland Sea Urchin

Very impressed with the 90mm Zuiko and OM-1, these Urchin photos are at 2x magnification

These using the 15 photo stacking method which takes 2 forward of the focus spot and then 13 beyond in RAW, then combines them and produces 1 jpeg final photo

 

Olympus OM-1 & 90mm Zuiko macro

 Whether you are taking bird or close up photos you can never have enough magnification. We all want more but sometime this is not practical, the size and weight is often a problem. Not so with this new set up, the outstanding Olympus OM-1 and the new 90mm Zuiko macro lens.

While I found the 60mm Zuiko and OM-1 slightly disappointing as the image stabilisation never worked for me (this may have been down to a faulty camera) I could never find anyone to confirm whether this was a common issue with this set  up. I asked the question on numerous forums and to individuals.

Anyway having returned the camera & the 60mm I ended up with a new system. Reviews I had read all seem to confirm that this was the best set up for macro.

It was an instant upgrade from the 1:1 60mm to the 2:1 90mm lens. But there is more, having worked with full frame cameras for many years with a limited depth of field for macro suddenly this 4/3 system allowed more depth of field with the smaller sensor.

Also the 2:1 magnification actually equals (4:1 in a Full frame 35mm system) and you can increase this further with a teleconverter to 4:1 or as a 35mm equivalent 8:1- just mind blowing.

With the image stabilisation of the lens actually working with the in camera stabilisation, it is equivilant to 8 stops which makes it the best set up you can get. Now you can hand hold the lens and work without the tripod, making life a lot easier.

I could see, in the view finder, that the image actually stop shaking and become rock solid, I could not see this with the 60mm Zuiko. This makes focusing a lot more easier, especially with extreme close ups