Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 24
 Great Macro Lens February 28, 2007
Gary Carpineta (Maryland, USA)
46 out of 47 found this review helpful
If you want macro on a budget for your Oly SLR this is the lens to get. There are other options that give you better working distance like the Sigma 105mm and 150mm but you are going to pay. The Oly 50mm Macro is nice except to get 1:1 magnification you also need to get the EX-25 extension tube.
After two months of wning this lens I've found the photos to be very sharp. I'm amazed at the image quality from what is considered a budget lens. There are some drawbacks but not big ones, one is the working distance, you need to be right on top of your subject so this lens isn't great if you want to photograph insects. The other drawback is the autofocus is not great. Personnaly this is a non issue for me, I set it to manual focus, then dial in my magnification and then move the camera until the subject is in focus.
To sum it up, if you are on a budget, get this lens, you won't be let down. If you are going to be taking pictures of insects, save your money and grab one of the Sigma's. If you want a fast lens, that is great for portraits and can do macro shots then get the Oly 50mm f2.0.
I hope this helps...
Love this Lens August 27, 2007
A. Breuer (The Valley, Virginia)
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
I am a mother photographer, meaning, my daughter gets most of the lens time. Although I am an avid gardener and wanted to to pics of the 4,6 and eight legged creatures that I came across. After receiving this lens, I found a butterfly, snapped it, then zoomed in on its head. IT WAS PHENONMINAL. Definatly worth the money. I had read a review about needing a tripod to keep the lens steady, but I have not found that to be yet. A steady hand helps but I have not needed any more support.
Enjoy!!!
Approximately Normal Macro Lens for Four Thirds System Digital SLRs May 16, 2006
John Kwok (New York, NY USA)
18 out of 22 found this review helpful
Among the finest lenses which Olympus produced for its OM series SLR system were its exceptional line of macro lenses. For the relatively new Four Thirds System Digital SLRs pioneered originally by Sigma, but now including Olympus, Panasonic and Leica, Olympus has introduced a slightly longer than normal focal length (approximately 70mm in 35mm format) macro lens which goes to 1:1 magnification without any additional extension tubes or bellows. This is the ideal lens to use if you are working with relatively immobile objects and want to get close up with life-size (1:1) magnification of the object you are photographing. I believe that this lens is a fine performer in its own right, though I strongly suspect that the recently introduced 50mm f2 Zuiko Digital macro lens may be better.
Excellent All Around Lens February 16, 2008
Jesse W. Starks (APO, AE USA)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
I've owned this lens for about a year and a half and originally I purchased it strictly for macro (and it's cheaper than the 50 f/2). I've learned that this lens does it all. Portraits, landscapes, street shooting, in addition to macro work. It's a 1:1 lens so you can get really close and pick out amazing details. It's as small as it looks and is quite compact. it fits nicely on the E-300 with or without the grip. One vice is that you will have to move in closer to a subject at times due to it's short focal length. For jittery critters the 50 f/2 or Sigma's 105 f/2.8 and 150 f/2.8 macro lenses may be better options. Since I do a lot of studio/indoor shoots and all of these lenses are too long for my needs. Another thing to note (and this is true of all macro lenses) is that it's not the best for capturing fast moving subjects. It can be done with practice, but results would be easier to come by using a non-macro lens. If you already own the 50 f/2 keep it, but if you're still on the fence for which lens to get don't over look this gem!
so sharp it hurts January 11, 2009
Gerard Garcia (Irvine, CA)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
After dabbling with kit lenses with my E500, my photographic interests soon turned to macro. A brief stint with the Olympus EX-25 Extension Tube allowed me to use my kit lenses as macro lenses on a budget, but I really craved a true macro lens.
Needless to say, I ended up selling the EX-25 and purchasing the ZD 35mm 3.5 macro...and I sure wish I did it sooner.
This lens is amazing.
Pictures? Sharp sharp sharp.
Macro? Yep. Even does 1:1 without the need for an extension tube.
Focus? A little slow and it does hunt every now and then, but realize that this is a macro lens...there's more focus range to travel compared to a non-macro lens.
Weight? Like a feather.
Size? Miniscule, though not as small as the ZD 25mm 2.8 pancake.
Ever since getting this lens, I have a hard time justifying removing the lens and replacing it with my other lenses. I use it as my standard 'walkaround' lens and though I don't have zoom with this prime lens, I do have two feet so I can always walk closer to or away from my subject.
UPDATE: The E500 was replaced with an E410, and the kit is even lighter and smaller with the 35mm macro lens attached.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 24
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