Macro with EPM1

Please register or login

Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.

Benefits of registering include

  • Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
  • A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
  • You can make this box go away

Joining is quick and easy. Log in or Register now!

Will the 12-50mm lens fit the PT-EP06 standard port?

It should as it is the same size as the 60mm macro lens and as it is an internal zoom it doesn't extend like the 14 - 42mm lens.

The 12 - 50mm is a very versatile lens and good if you are on a budget.

Karl
 
Thank you very much for all the suggestions.

It sounds like that the 60mm does not give me the flexibility that I am looking for (shooting stills and video.)

The 12-50 mm seems to be better for shooting video but Photozone was not very impressed with the quality of the stills.

Foxtrot: Is the 12-50 mm lens that you mention a Zuiko lens?

After reading your comments and various reviews it seems to me that I have to decide what's more important: taking good macro stills or video clips?

It looks like that there is not a lens that does it all and is reasonably priced.
 
The 12-50 mm seems to be better for shooting video but Photozone was not very impressed with the quality of the stills.

Foxtrot: Is the 12-50 mm lens that you mention a Zuiko lens?

Certainly is - M.Zuiko Digital 12-50mm f3.5-6.3 Standard Wide Zoom for Olympus PEN | Olympus Imaging Australia

I too also heard the reviews about the quality of the stills but I don't think they are right as I have no issue with mine.

It is a good all round lens.

As to wether you want to do stills or video, unfortunately I can not offer advice as that is your decision :D

Karl
 
After reading your comments and various reviews it seems to me that I have to decide what's more important: taking good macro stills or video clips?

It looks like that there is not a lens that does it all and is reasonably priced.

Well, check my web album (link below). I think some of the stills there from my trip to Aqaba last November (all taken with the 14-42mm lens) are pretty good, as good as those I took with my dSLR. Look especially at the photo of the fireworm, which is savagely cropped - the creature was two inches long at the most. I could have cropped it even harder without loss of image quality if I'd wanted to. I think that shows that the optics of the 14-42mm zoom lens are surprisingly good. If I were you, I would seriously consider repairing your 14-42mm and buying the wet diopter and swing-away holder (see the link I gave you earlier). You could then take ordinary and macro stills and video on the same dive with a very reasonable outlay.
 
Last edited:
You are not going to get that great of shots with just the wet mount close up lenses. why spend $250-300 when you can spend $400 and have a true macro lens. I really think you are doing yourself a disservice not going with the 60mm. I had at the 42mm with a close up lens before and it was no where near as good. Putting the 14-42mm lens on the e-m1 is like putting crappy tires on a Porsche.​


Better off buying it once and doing it right. The 60mm macro lens is AMAZING!



969488_10151746565202471_621396004_n.jpg

1477917_10151744664742471_1786944517_n.jpg

1474435_10151750130797471_658265107_n.jpg
 
Is the 60mm macro good for the big stuff also or are you dedicated to macro only with it? I have enjoyed this thread due to me being a new owner of a PM1. I really enjoy finding and shooting macro however I don't want to be limited in case I see some of the big stuff I like shoot too. For my situation it sounds as though I may need to go with the 14-42mm with a diopter, does this sound correct? I apologize for high jacking this thread.
 
Is the 60mm macro good for the big stuff also or are you dedicated to macro only with it? I have enjoyed this thread due to me being a new owner of a PM1. I really enjoy finding and shooting macro however I don't want to be limited in case I see some of the big stuff I like shoot too. For my situation it sounds as though I may need to go with the 14-42mm with a diopter, does this sound correct? I apologize for high jacking this thread.

Yes - to a degree. Remember that as it is a macro lens then this means that it will allow you to focus closer to your subject than a standard 60mm lens. That said, you are 'restricted' to the focal length of 60mm so you have to be some distance away from your subject to fit it in, so you may have to be too far away for some subjects to work. For example, on topside photography you could use this lens for a portrait shoot and it would do very well but for a group photo you may be too far away from the group to get a 'decent' image.

Karl
 
Certainly is - M.Zuiko Digital 12-50mm f3.5-6.3 Standard Wide Zoom for Olympus PEN | Olympus Imaging Australia

I too also heard the reviews about the quality of the stills but I don't think they are right as I have no issue with mine.

It is a good all round lens.

As to wether you want to do stills or video, unfortunately I can not offer advice as that is your decision :D

Karl

Considering that I can get some close ups with the 9-18mm lens after cropping the image like this one:

KRFish_C294486.jpg

KelpRFish_BettyBastai_copy.jpg

and, honestly, the E-MP1 is not a camera designed to shoot good quality video clips but still images; the best think to do in my case is to wait until I can afford to buy the 60mm lens. In the meantime it may be worth buying a 14-42 mm used. I saw one for $89, which is cheaper than getting my old lens fixed.

For me another reason to buy a 60mm is that I can shoot portraits in situations where I cannot get close to the subject and better landscape pictures. I have noticed that the 14-42mm with the optical zoom fully extended (I never use the digital zoom) does not perform very well.
 
You are not going to get that great of shots with just the wet mount close up lenses. why spend $250-300 when you can spend $400 and have a true macro lens. I really think you are doing yourself a disservice not going with the 60mm. I had at the 42mm with a close up lens before and it was no where near as good. Putting the 14-42mm lens on the e-m1 is like putting crappy tires on a Porsche.​


Better off buying it once and doing it right. The 60mm macro lens is AMAZING!



969488_10151746565202471_621396004_n.jpg

1477917_10151744664742471_1786944517_n.jpg

1474435_10151750130797471_658265107_n.jpg

Great pictures! The small purple crab is a real gem.

I know what you mean about trying to manage somehow by being cheap. I have done it so many times and at the end I have to admit it does not pay off.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/swift/

Back
Top Bottom