Olympus 60mm F2.8 Macro - More samples and thoughts

My second attempt to use this lens for it's main purpose- MACRO

This is a follow-up from my first attempt. See the link for more samples- http://orislight.blogspot.sg/2013/03/olympus-60mm-f28-macro.html

Here are the Pro and Cons I feel. I have used a Canon 180mm f2.8 and Tamron 90mm F2.5 before therefore my judgement is based on my own experience.

Pros
- Very Light and small ( the Canon 180mm is not easy to use as a handheld lens)
- Relative bright F2.8  (for macro, we need to stop to f8-f11)
- Sharp
- Have 5 axis image stabiliser on my OM-D
- 3 focus distance to choose from (can be a con as I prefer those with fixed switch rather than the turning deisgn)
- with 3 focus distance, it seems to be 3-1 lens (marco, landscape, potraits)
- Weather seal with OM-D
- Good Bokeh. (smooth out-of focus )
- Fast focus (Do not expect it to be faster than 45mm f1.8) Due to the long focus distance due to it is a macro lens.
- Having a filter size 46mm diameter , it is now same as my 14mmf2.5 and 20mm f1.7. Can share filters.

Cons
- The 3-focus distances, when I swtich to 1:1, once I refocus other place, it will automatic go back to 1:4. Have to re-switch when I need close focus. Maybe there is a trick to solve it.
- Plastic body (but the finish is great)
- WHen this lens is used on a Panasonic m4/3 camera, there is no Image stabiliser.

This lens will be a hit due to the price and quality of image.
Here are some more samples.

Revamped Trinity Lenses for my OM-D

I got my Olympus EM-5 since last year July and is still very happy with it's performance. I have been taking more photos than all my previous cameras due to it's small size and great lenses (also small in size). It is never a decision whether to bring out my camera as compared when I was using a DSLR.  My 20mm and 14mm pancake lens can be slotted into any compartment inside my waist-pouch and the weight is not noticeable. To make things even smaller, I will bring my OM-D without any grip.

Since my Oct 2012 post about my Trinity lenses in my M4/3 system, I have replaced my Panasonic Leica 25mmf1.4 with the 20mm f1.7. Due to my style of shooting, I find the 25mm still too tight for general situation. For tighter perspective, I preferred to use 45mmf1.8.

Currently with a newly acquired 60mm lens from Olympus, my Trinity lenses is really hard to define. The Olympus 60mm f2.8 can be double up as a portrait and journalistic lens. But I still hold on the 45mmf1.8 due to it's wider aperture for low light and small size.

I also believe personally that for this m4/3 system, the best lenses are the fixed lens due to the small size and wide aperture. The new Panasonic 12-35mm and 35-100mm f2.8 professional grade zoom lens are some great lenses.


I do prefer the fixed-focal lens as these lens give me a sense of special character of each lens on how they are viewed and behave rather than a zoom lens that can be adjusted on a fixed position of the photographer.
A fixed-focal lens also "forced" me to be more conscious about the subject on how it is composed etc.


As for m4/3, many photographers' are still worried about the 1/2 size sensor as compared to a 35mm film Full frame sensor. As many serious and professional started to use this format, they do agreed that the m4/3 sensor really has it's advantage and many times it is hard to define whether it is shot by a Fullframe sensor or m4/3 sensor. Do check out this photographer for his great work and use on m4/3 sytem http://admiringlight.com/blog/

For me as I have only use a 1.3x sensor from Canon 1DmarkII before, I can say that for m4/3  true advantage is that the fixed- lens can have tag sharp images even it is open wide compared to a Full frame lens where we often hear they need to stop down to get sharper image. So even with a big sensor and due to the limit depth of field, aperture need to be stop down to get sharper image. In contrast, m4/3 sensor is optimised for the it's own lens. Other advantage is also on macro, for a Fullframe, to get a deep depth of view, one need to stop down to f16-f22 but a m4/3 we can get as much depth with just f8-f11. Some may say the bokeh is still better for fullframe, I do agreed but for m4/3's 45mmf1.8 or 75mm f.8, they can have some serious bokeh too.

 With rumors and development news coming we are expecting more tip-top lens coming from Panasonic , Olympus, Sigma, Norkton, Tamron and many more companies are joining in this system.

Buying and selling in the used market do help you to decide which lens really suit your style.

This system is a success compared to the original 4/3 mount.

Now with great 4 lenses, each has it's own character. My Trinity lenses is hard to define now.

Olympus 60mm f2.8 Macro

The past 2 years, Olympus is on the roll since the launch of some super lens like the 75mm f1.8, 45mm f1.8, 17mmf1.8, 60mm f2.8 macro and 12mm f2. I believe they are the best in the mirrorless business , 2nd or on par with Panasonic. The rest of the world are still hoping to continue with the tradition DSLR market and still quite slow in development in the mirrorless market.

I personally preferred the fixed lens due to the wider aperture than the more expensive pro zoom of m4/3 from Panasonic 12-35mmf2.8 and 35-100f2.8.

With my current setup of 14mm, 20mm and 45mm, I added a 60mm f2.8 to replace the manual 90mmf2.5 adaptall from Tamron.

The 60mmf2.8 is a weather-seal lens and will match my EM-5 OM-D perfectly. With the Auto focus accuracy, I am able to capture some shots which may not be very possible from a manual lens. I spotted the spider at a arms length from the path I was walking. The bushes prevent me from stepping in and to use a mono-pod and manual focus as using the 90mm tamron, I would have push the tall grasses and branches thus scaring the spider away.

So with the help of Auto-focus on 60mm and the tlited LCD of OM-D, I am able to hand held it and let the camera snap the photo. The faith of the AF accuracy is needed as I can't see the LCD or Viewfinder as I stretched out to shot the spider.

This Olympus 60mm f2.8 is bought at a used price and has replaced my 90mm f2.5 tamron. It's definitively a  sharp lens as review by many.

Here are some more samples from this Olympus 60mm. This is my frst try of the lens, practice is still required to understand the lens.

Changi Boardwalk Landscape

This location is well know by the fishing hobbyists and photographers. It is one of the last frontier in Singapore with nice scenery.

I do come here often but to get the nice light at right place was not easy. This time round I do feel the timing is good. All are shot with OM-D and 14mm Panasonic. Tripod is used as support for long exposure.

One lesson learn from this shooting session is that I was not totally prepared and was rushing to get the right angle after reaching the site. There was a moment in the middle of action that I realised my camera was not secured properly onto the tripod head. Thank God I realised it and correct it fast, if not I may need to buy another camera. As it was dark then it is important to check the tripod head and camera mounting. If not my OM-D and lens may drop into the seawater.

Also the shots were done at ISO1000 which was a mistake too, I remember setting it at ISO200 at home as I prefer long exposure to blur the sea waves. While shooting anxiously, I also forgot to check again. Neverthelss most of the shot were at 4seconds at F22 aperture with the help of the ND filter. The best light only last 10-15mins so I tend to be anxious.

Be prepared in advance and practice is the safest!

Macro shoot

After a long break from macro for almost 1month due to work and chinese new year celebration, I found myself once again using my OM-D and old Tamron 90mm f2.5 SP lens.
Went to the Eco park at Tampines again. The best time is 7am-8am. After that, the sun seems to be too harsh and the worst enemy of macro is the wind. I uses a Nissin flash and monopod for support.
Here are some shots taken today.

Panasonic DMC-LX3

This is the compact camera that top the list during the 2008/2009 era. That time the big player Canon and Nikon has the G10/G11 or P6000 serious compacts which are chucky and they gave the consumers a small aperture lens (aperture 3.5-5.6). This LX-3 from Panasonic change it. They feature a bright lens of F2-2.8 on a compact and the body design is very beautiful. Look at the latest XZ-1 /XZ_2 from Olympus, Samsung and Canon S90/100/110. They soon copied this camera in terms of the lens configuration. Today's top compact I believed is the Sony RX_100, featuring a bright lens and much relatively big 1" sensor.

To me and most photographers, we prefer a brighter lens than a high iso sensor.

I had the more expensive cousin from Leica, D-Lux4 before. It was almost 3times as expensive than the LX-3. Some say the lens coating on the D-lux 4 is better and the rest of the stuff are the same. Many people have attached a lens tube on this camera and add a Raynox close-up filter (Raynox 250/202 )  to do macro with great results. Although smart phones nowadays are the preferred choice than compact cameras, I believe these serious compact will still be useful.

I got this camera again from used market. I got is at $150 SGD. A bargain as it was relatively mint in condition. Although this model is overshadowed by the newer model like LX-5 and LX-7 (with f1.4 lens), it is still a good camera and will be my back-up. My OM-D system is still my main. I just love these camera designs.

The D-Lux 4, leica. Sold.

The same camera in different body.

 

 

Landscape in East Coast Park

During the weekdays, after fetching my daugther to school around 715am, I will detour to east coast park for a 30min run. I do enjoy the run as it was along the stretch of east coast beach. As many agreed, our shores are packed with ships from all over the world. To shoot a nice landscape is not easy. It was during one of the run, I spotted a falled tree ran ashore on the seaside, and I saw an opportunity to use it as a foreground during the sunrise. As sunrise is around 645am, I need to plan a trip specially for the shoot.

So came along saturday, I packed a 14mm and OM-D and start to make my way to the location. Luckily it was a low tide at that time, I set up my tripod on the water edge and started to shoot. ND filter was used.

Photography usually requires planning before execution. Timing is important to ensure the lighting is dramatic. For the same scene if shoot on mid-day, there will be not much impact.

My OMD with 14mm

Final image f22 , 5s with ND8