My Olympus OM2n came with a 50mm f3.5 macro lens. I like it, but can it be used for general non-macro photography and, if so, what can I expect?
Using a macro lens for general photography. Thoughts?
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Fantastic results. Those are great lenses, and being also a macro lens makes them very versatile.
Same for the standard macros from Nikon, Minolta etc.
Same for the standard macros from Nikon, Minolta etc.
I use a 50mm and 100 macro all the time.
OP
OP
Seriously? I had no idea. I thought I was hamstrung with it and was looking to get a 50mm f1.8.
OP
OP
What does the 100mm macro give you over the 50mm?
No, they are really good lenses. I often use macro lenses for gen photography. The only time you are hamstrung is when the light gets low as f3.5 is not as handy as 1.8
Same thing a regular 100mm lens vs 50, plus in the macro world they normally give 1:1 vs 1:2. And you also do not need to get as close.
I frequently walk around with my Minolta 50mm macro lens attached and nothing else.
At 1:1 reproduction the minimum working distance of the 100mm is greater .
Handy for photographing insects and such or to avoid casting a shadow.
OP
OP
The 28-85mm lens that I got for the Maxxum 9xi has macro but I read that it's macro on the wide-angle end. Seems odd.
Glad to know I don't need to buy another 50mm lens for the OM2n!
Glad to know I don't need to buy another 50mm lens for the OM2n!
It's also only 1/4 life size , not life size . 1:4 not 1:1.
So it's just close focus rather than macro .
Modern lenses focus that close without a button , but back then they made a big deal of it !
It is possible to mount your Olympus OM macro on your Dynax 9xi .
No AF ( obviously!) and no automatic aperture, but still useable.
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It is designed to be a macro lens or a normal lens as you need it. It adds flexibility and convenience into one lens.
I am not familiar with that particular lens, but a lot of macro lenses are optimized for close distance and not ideal for infinity. Also, they tend to be heavier and slower.
I use the 100 as a short tele, great when I walk the Desert Botanical Garden.
OP
OP
Good to know! Thanks! Now if I could only use all the Pentax, Minolta, and Nikon lenses I have on it.
OP
OP
What mount? Olympus or another?
I've used a 60mm f2.8 AF Micro Nikkor on my F4 for many years shooting general outdoor/landscape scenes and closer up stuff. Never been disappointed. Recently, when I got into camera scanning my film, I bought an adapter to mount this lens on my Canon 5D II and it performed admirably. I did, eventually, get a Canon mount macro lens, but that move wasn't because I was dissatisfied with the Nikkor.
I use a 60mm Nikkor F2.8 macro and a 90mm Tamron Macro quite regularly, infact I bought the 60mm cheaper than I could find a 50/1.8 for, so it serves 2 purposes for the price of one. Some may think a 60mm too long for a standard lens but it isn't, after all most Pentax screw thread standard lenses were close at 55mm.
I've never used one, but if it's anything like the famously awesome Nikkor 55mm "Micro" lenses - great for both macro and "normal lens" use - it's probably great. Most Zuiko lenses are!
Minolta A mount, the 50 is a Sigma 2.8 macro, the 100 is a 5 pin Minolta, best buy is the 35 to 70 F4, first generation macro, a Leica design, downsize is it does not AF in macro mode, but sharp. In a number of mounts the Sigma 28 to 80 3.5 to 5.6 APO macro. I carry this as my standard lens on my Sigma film and digital bodies.
OP
OP
Thanks for that link! Not good for GAS, for sure.
MattKing
Moderator
If you compare your lens with the 50mm f/1.8 lens which was the basic, standard lens, you may notice some differences. From the wonderful Olympus OM Sales Information site:
The 50mm f/1.8:
The 50mm f/3.5 macro:
In terms of practical concerns:
1) The 50mm f/1.8 is smaller and lighter;
2) The 50mm f/1.8 focusses more quickly, because it requires a much shorter turn to go from infinity to normal over even close focus;
3) The 50mm f/1.8 is two stops faster;
4) The 50mm f/3.5 rarely benefits from a lens hood, due to its deeply inset front element, while the 50mm f/1,8 benefits from one. Both are well coated for their time, and reasonably flare resistant;
5) There seems to be a fair number of 50mm f/1.8 lenses out there that have sticky apertures in need of cleaning. That may be due to the fact that there are a lot of 50mm f/1.8 lenses out there.
As far as results are concerned, the floating element construction allows the macro version to perform very well at all distances. And the 50mm f/1.8 lens, as well as its wonderful older sibling, the 50mm f/1,4, are excellent performers at all non-macro distances.
The 50mm f/1.8:
The 50mm f/3.5 macro:
In terms of practical concerns:
1) The 50mm f/1.8 is smaller and lighter;
2) The 50mm f/1.8 focusses more quickly, because it requires a much shorter turn to go from infinity to normal over even close focus;
3) The 50mm f/1.8 is two stops faster;
4) The 50mm f/3.5 rarely benefits from a lens hood, due to its deeply inset front element, while the 50mm f/1,8 benefits from one. Both are well coated for their time, and reasonably flare resistant;
5) There seems to be a fair number of 50mm f/1.8 lenses out there that have sticky apertures in need of cleaning. That may be due to the fact that there are a lot of 50mm f/1.8 lenses out there.
As far as results are concerned, the floating element construction allows the macro version to perform very well at all distances. And the 50mm f/1.8 lens, as well as its wonderful older sibling, the 50mm f/1,4, are excellent performers at all non-macro distances.
You can expect it to make perfectly fine photographs.
Of course if you want the "best" of the best macro the Kern Swiss 50 1.7 made for the Swiss Alpa. I had a chance to shoot with an 11E and Kern, best 50mm I've ever used, although not listed as such on the barrel it is an APO. Chinon made a copy, some say the lens are left over stock from Kern other say based on the Kern design, in M42 mount for the Alpa M42 body. Has nothing to do with Alpa, different mount, not a hand built camera, but the lens might be worth looking into and will fit any M42 body.
OP
OP
So...picking up a 50mm f1.8 sounds like it's not necessary, but a good idea.
MattKing
Moderator
Look for a cheap OM-10 with a 50mm f/1.8 mounted on it - but watch out for the sluggish apertures.
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