Macro where to start?

[Matt_Hirst]

Am interested in trying macro photography, we have a lot of dragonfly nearby and whilst I have some ok shots of the dragonfly from a distance, say around 1.5m away with the Panasonic Leica 100-400 lense I'd really like to try get some close up imagery...so started to think about trying macro.

Currently I have an em1 mk2 Panasonic Leica 100-400, Olympus 40-150f2.8, Olympus 7-14 so would be looking at getting a new lense plus whatever else I need to get started. Also have a suitable benro tripod.

So what kit do I need / need to look out for to get started, i.e. what's the best starting minimum equipment list I'd need?

What are your thoughts?

Matt

[blackfox]

I will be selling my 7artisans 60mm macro lens in a few days it will be at a very good price so keep your eyes peeled , just waiting on a lens delivery once checked I will have a few bits for sale

[bill edwards]

What do you plan to replace it with?

[blackfox]

Nothing at the moment bill ,my 100-400 suffices for close ups that suit me ,never been one for extreme insect shots either and now getting to old to get down to ground level

[linus1884]

I'd recommend watching either Gavin Hoey or Geraint Radford on Youtube/facebook, i found them both informative and enjoyable to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU9OgfLDjm0

https://www.facebook.com/events/566889764716712/

[Graham_of_Rainham]

The 60mm f/2.8 is very versatile and able to provide 1:1 macro.

[Matt_Hirst]

I thought about the 60mm macro but saw there's loads of rumours about a 100mm pro macro - these have been circulating for a long time though, does anyone have any updates to this?

Then I saw raynox, and extension tubes then it all started to get a bit complicated do thought I'd in doubt ask.

Matt

[Ian]

I thought about the 60mm macro but saw there's loads of rumours about a 100mm pro macro - these have been circulating for a long time though, does anyone have any updates to this?

Then I saw raynox, and extension tubes then it all started to get a bit complicated do thought I'd in doubt ask.

Matt

There is no recent new son the 100mm macro but now the 8-25 has been launched the 100 might be considered as a prime candidate to be next.

At the same time, if you can do some decent macro using Olympus zooms that have particularly close focusing.

Ian

[timboo]

The 60mm is pocket sized, weather sealed, also relatively inexpensive, sell on value wouldn’t take too much of a hit should u eventually progress to the 100mm once released. Its a very good lens I dont use extension tubes as I use macro here and there and don’t take it to the ‘Nth’ degree too many accessories and mounts are of no interest.
It depends on how long u are willing to wait for the 100, also what the gap in price might be v difference in performance and your own needs.
For me the 60mm strikes the perfect balance.
What can the 100mm be compared to cost wise at present? Erm the 1.2 primes, 8mm fish eye and the 75mm f1.8. Think the 60mm was around £365 new when I purchased and the 75mm f1.7 is still floating £700 upwards new. For a bit of fun I predict north wards of £800 for the 100mm. Size would be my biggest consideration followed by cost difference.

[bill edwards]

Having tried the Olympus 60mm macro and found the manual focus not to my liking as its "fly by wire" I purchased a 7Artisans 60mm (a bit on the heavy side but well built with excellent quality).
I prefer manual focus with focus peaking as it`s more precise.
Unless you are planning to focus stack, I would advise manual focusing for macro (just my opinion of course)

[timboo]

Cheers Bill for clearing that up, understand what you mean now.

[alfbranch]

Also the manual focus on the Zuiko 60mm is soooo slooooow

[Harold Gough]

I use, almost exclusively, except for high magnification, an Oly 4/3 50mm f2 macro (very sharp), with a dedicated x2TC when I want more magnification or working distance. I use mostly manual focus, much of the fine focusing via by my movement.

You will need an adapter. I find the MMF-2 more than adequate.

Harold

[Graham_of_Rainham]

As I tend to use Olympus Capture software the 60mm f/2.8 lens can be driven remotely to a focus point very precisely.

[bill edwards]

Could be a problem in the field Graham

[alfbranch]

I agree Bill especially handheld

[Downwind Dec]

Matt, I recently bought a 60mm f2.8 for macro use, and partially justified it on the basis that it could might double up as a 'poor man's 75mm' (would love one of those!). I haven't managed to make time for macro yet, but I absolutely love this lens for outdoor portraits. It seems to handle busy backgrounds, branches etc, better than any of my other Olympus lenses, and has quickly become a favourite.

[alfbranch]

Have you tried that and real macro shooting distances?

[Downwind Dec]

Not with any great success yet - still shuffling up that steep macro learning curve. Now's the time though, with the garden full of bugs and blooms.

[wanderer]

The other possibility for the likes of Dragonflies would be to use a telephoto.
I'm not suggesting you rush out and join the queue waiting for the 150-400mm but instead the 100-400 is a lot! cheaper and the 40-150 with 2x converter on can be useful.
4 feet away is less likely to disturb insects than 4 inches with the Macro.
A useful try out with whatever you intend to use would be to photograph, without a tripod, flowers on a slightly breezy day.

[Graham_of_Rainham]

If you have any problems with manual focus via the focusing ring, then setting it close to the focus of the subject and then rocking to and fro to get that final desired focal plane is a technique that we used for years in the past. Often a monopod was a very useful aid for this.

[blu-by-u]

Since you have some beautiful lenses, why not just add a set of cheap extension rings with AF. Then you can try doing macro with the lenses you have.

Take this for instance, it's shot with a 35-100/2.8. The 35-100 have a closes distance of 0.85m / 2.8ft. but with an extension ring, it did this

[Matt_Hirst]

I've been reading a few posts on other forums about extension rings, a lot of people said avoid due to weight of the 40-150 pro, so it kinda put me off.

The raynox lenses look interesting and relatively cheap in order to try things out - has anyone used these?

Matt

[alfbranch]

If you use Kenko tubes which I believe are metal you should be fine. with tubes plastic ones will fail

[blu-by-u]

Each to their own. in the days of the 4/3, Sigma made a 150mm macro. it's a bit heavy but that gave a good working distant. It's not very expensive to use extension tubes. It's cheaper than a raynox. So why not try it.