E-500 Macro

[Doug]

Hi All,
Could anyone advise on a good Macro lens for the E-500?
I would love to take some close up photos of insects,butterflies and spider's webs - all that sort of thing.
Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Doug

[IainMacD]

Re: E-500 Macro

The 35mm f3.5 is unbelievable for the money and does full 1:1 or the 50mm f2 for a bit more money but not as close.

[Doug]

Re: E-500 Macro

Thanks for that , Iain , I will check them out.

[DavyG]

Re: E-500 Macro

If you can find one, the Sigma 150mm is an excellent macro lens.

Dave

[Doug]

Re: E-500 Macro

Thanks for the info , Dave , although I probably should have mentioned that I was on a tight(ish) budget and I think the Sigma may be out of my range.

[George Dorn]

Re: E-500 Macro

To get 1:1 with the 35mm you have to get the front element pretty close to the subject!

[Stewart G]

Re: E-500 Macro

A cheap close-up solution with good IQ is to get an ex-25 extension combined with a 40-150 kit lens. You'll get 1:2 magnification (i.e., a 34mm wide subject will fill the frame) at 50mm focal length, a bit less magnification at longer focal lengths. The subject-to-camera distance will be good, though focusing may require a blend of lens adjustment and camera movement. Technique and practice is important, but the 500 does have focus bracketing (up to seven shots), though the bracket range is most prominent at wide focal lengths. In my experience a sharp and well composed/lit image trumps magnification, so I find that a bit of distance to my subject is very helpful. And with that in mind, another suggestion would be to find a used 70-300, which will do 1:2 from about a meter away.

[Ross the fiddler]

Re: E-500 Macro

To get 1:1 with the 35mm you have to get the front element pretty close to the subject!

And being external focussing it moves in & out, with it being out the most for for the closest focussing.

[Ross the fiddler]

Re: E-500 Macro

......... And with that in mind, another suggestion would be to find a used 70-300, which will do 1:2 from about a meter away.

Also, for the closest focussing with that lens using MF allows it as close as 900mm (which gives the maximum magnification).

[George Dorn]

Re: E-500 Macro

Also, for the closest focussing with that lens using MF allows it as close as 900mm (which gives the maximum magnification).

A lot less frightening for the creepy-crawlies!

[alfbranch]

Re: E-500 Macro

Try reading THIS thread

A Raynox DCR 250 on a 40-150 lens can work wonders as will adding tubes and both at the same time.

Lighting is very important but practice focusing is the real key

I know this is an E-M1 but this will work with the E-500

It is a 40-15 mm lens with a Raynoc DCR 250 and Nissin Di466 flash and home made diffuser. The piece of card shows the minimum focus distance and without the Raynox this lens has a minimum focus distance of 1.4m the newer version focuses much closer

at 150 mm with raynox by alf.branch, on Flickr

Here is a shot taken with that set up

Hover-fly by alf.branch, on Flickr

Macro is not easy and takes practice lots of practice. I do not use a tripod my shots are handheld so flash is important.

My favourite lens is the Sigma 105 f2.8 though.

[Graham_of_Rainham]

Re: E-500 Macro

One very useful feature of the E-500 is Auto Focus Bkt., which provides for focus stacking in post processing.

[Ralph Harwood]

Re: E-500 Macro

Hi there Doug!

Another vote here for the Sigma 105mm - for a couple of hundred pounds second hand you get a very sharp lens with a good working distance. The Olympus 50mm with either an ec-20 or ex-25 will also give 1:1 but at a higher cost. I have both (and the Sigma 150mm as well) and find them all very sharp primes in their own right, but for macro use the 105 gives a great balance of reach and size / weight. You can also fit a cheap ring flash to the 105 ( I have a Starblitz which was around £15 second hand from ebay) which can make a very big difference to the quality of your images.

Cheers,

Ralph.

[Doug]

Re: E-500 Macro

Thanks for the advice and info gents , I have a lot to think about.