want to buy a macro lens

[Tugboat]

I have decided I would like to buy a macro lens for my Olympus E520,how do I know what type to buy? I would like to take close ups of insects & flowers...any help would be much appreciated.

[ABphoto]

I can vouch for the Sigma 105 DG makro, it's a bit light hungry but the quality is superb.

[Nigel G]

I've been waiting for the long promised - but not yet delivered - Oly 100mm macro and for the moment am prepared to go on waiting. However the Oly 50mm macro has superb write-ups and would I think be fine for still life. If you are going to buy an Oly lens check out BHphotvideo in the US. For some reason Oly US prices are way lower than the rest of the world and even with shipping and tax there is still a substantial saving on some lens - their 50-200 is currently half the price of a UK copy and I look longingly at at the 300mm F2.8 which is less in $ than £ even before the conversion.

I digress. Even with our Oly x2 sensor the 50mm may be a bit short for bugs so either the Sigma 105 or 150 are probably the most popular. Certainly the 150 is very well like on all the UK bug sites.

Best advice as always is go down the camera store and try them out on your camera against the sort of objects you want to photograph.

[Tugboat]

thanks for info guys...I am going to be in America in July so will find out as much as I can,go into the shop where I bought my camera and as you say try the lens out in the shop...if I know what I am after I might pick up a bargain while we are away, otherwise will buy one when I get back.

[andy153]

Hi Trena - I would look in the region of 100 mm for a macro lens - this usually gives a reasonable stand back distance to magnification ratio for macro work of that type. I feel that with a 50 or 60 mm Macro's you need to be too close to the subject unless you are doing table top/light box macro.

[yelvertoft]

Trena, if you're looking for bugs, then something around the 100mm mark will be better than the 50mm macro. Having had a quick check at what's available in the 4/3 mount, I'd second ABphoto's recommendation of the Sigma 105. Shame they don't do the Tamron 90 in oly fit....

[ABphoto]

Yeah if your looking for bugs I would definately recommend 105 or longer, the problem with short macro lenses is that you almost have to squash a bug before you get it in focus. Although price limits all of us I would prefer something like a 180mm although 'finding' your subject is a nightmare with a long macro.

[Tugboat]

thanks all,I will do some research now I know what I should be looking for.

[miketoll]

I too would go for the Sigma 105 which would be equivalent to a 210mm on the Oly. The 150 would be a 300 equivalent and would probably necessitate a tripod all the time whether you wanted to use one or not.