CAMERA

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8 Marco Lens Review

9/6/2013 9:13:14 AM

This telephoto macro lens provides cameras the Micro Four Thirds system from Olympus which offers a view angle equivalent to 120mm lens using on a 35mm camera. There is also a MSC focus motor which is very quiet and creates life size magnification at its closest focal length.

Handling and features

Weighting just 185g, this lens is really compact and light when comparing with the other telephoto macro lenses equivalent to 35mm or the APS-C camera system. Dustproof, moisture-proof and light-weight, it sets a good balance when using with Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 which is chosen for testing, and they work just like brothers, even on the most compact Micro Four Thirds system.

The telephoto macro lens

The telephoto macro lens

The auto focus is conducted internally, quickly and very precisely and locks the subjects at normal distance immediately. If hunting for focus is needed, which is very likely to happen in low-light shooting conditions or close distance, a focus limiter switch is provided to limit the amount of hunting. There are also settings to move the focus to its closest points automatically in this switch. Sometimes, on the testing Panasonic camera, using this feature may create a warning asking you to use manual focus, but not in all cases. The manual focus ring operates smoothly and is well damped, making focus adjustments relatively easier.

Magnifying at life size at the closest focal length

Life size magnification at the closest focal length

The closest focal length is 19cm, letting you get reasonably close for frame filling shots and also providing proper working distance at the same time. On the front side of the lens you will clearly see a useful distance scale with magnification values clearly.

There is a 46mm filter thread provided, which does not rotate when focusing and no extension of the lens. This makes the lens very ideal to be used with polarized filter and GND. There is, unfortunately, no lens hood as standard. The optical LH-49 hood retails for $68 if you need. This hood features new sliding design, allowing it to be pulled back to the barrel when it is unnecessary or when shooting at close distance.

The closest focal length is 19cm

The closest focal length is 19cm

Performances

This compact telephoto lens leaves the impressions of extraordinary sharpness in the center of the frame at maximum aperture, and the clarity towards the edges is very good. Stopping down the aperture leads to obvious enhancement of the center’s sharpness to f/4, and improve clarity towards edges to f/5.6. The sharpness starts to be        diffracted at smaller aperture, but the clarity is still kept at excellent level across the frame until f/8.

The resolution at 60mm

The resolution at 60mm

How to read our chart?

The blue columns represent the figures recorded in the center of the frame at many different apertures, and the green ones show that towards the edges. Their advantages make up the red columns.

The scale on the left indicates the real resolutions of the image. The higher the column, the better performance the images have, just as simple as that.

For this review, the lens is tested on the Panasonic Lumix G3 using Imatest.

The chromatic aberration is well-controlled, just exceeding half a pixel width towards the edges of the frame for most apertures. If stopping down more than f/16, the fringing surround the frame would be clearly visible, so it should be very careful to take a shot of high-contrast subject at very small aperture.

Chromatic aberration at 60mm

Chromatic aberration at 60mm

How to read our chart?

Chromatic aberration indicates the inability of the camera to focus on sensor of film all of the visible light color simultaneously. Extreme chromatic aberration creates sharp fringing or halo effect around the sharp edges of the frame. They can be eliminated by software.

The Apochromatic lens owns special elements (aspheric, low-polarized...) which can minimize the problems, so it usually cost more.

For this review, the lens is tested on a Panasonic Lumix G3 camera using Imatest.

Falloff of illumination towards the corners of the frame is well controlled for this kind of lens. The frame is just 1.02 stops darker at f/2.8, compared the center, and the illumination is uniform when the lens is stopped down to f/4 onwards.

Just 0.253% barrel distortion is detected by the Imatest during the test, which is really an extremely low level. This distortion level is too low that makes the lines running parallel with the frame’s fringing literally straight.

Even when shooting into the light, this lens is anti-glare and provides high contrast in most of the case, except for shooting under the most extreme environments.

Sample photos

Stopping down creates excellent sharpness across the frame | 1/500 sec | f/6.3 | 60.0 mm | ISO 160

Stopping down creates excellent sharpness across the frame | 1/500 sec | f/6.3 | 60.0 mm | ISO 160

Impressive performance of the maximum aperture at the center of the frame| 1/1600 sec | f/2.8 | 60.0 mm | ISO 160

Impressive performance of the maximum aperture at the center of the frame| 1/1600 sec | f/2.8 | 60.0 mm | ISO 160

Life size magnification at the minimum focus length of 19cm | 3.2 sec | f/8.0 | 60.0 mm | ISO 200

Life size magnification at the minimum focus length of 19cm | 3.2 sec | f/8.0 | 60.0 mm | ISO 200

The contrast is still good when shooting into light | 1/800 sec | f/2.8 | 60.0 mm | ISO 160

The contrast is still good when shooting into light | 1/800 sec | f/2.8 | 60.0 mm | ISO 160

1/640 sec | f/6.3 | 60.0 mm | ISO 160

1/640 sec | f/6.3 | 60.0 mm | ISO 160

1/1300 sec | f/2.8 | 60.0 mm | ISO 160

1/1300 sec | f/2.8 | 60.0 mm | ISO 160

1/125 sec | f/2.8 | 60.0 mm | ISO 160

1/125 sec | f/2.8 | 60.0 mm | ISO 160

1/640 sec | f/2.8 | 60.0 mm | ISO 160

1/640 sec | f/2.8 | 60.0 mm | ISO 160

1/125 sec | f/5.6 | 60.0 mm | ISO 320

1/125 sec | f/5.6 | 60.0 mm | ISO 320

Chân dung | 1/160 sec | f/11.0 | 60.0 mm | ISO 200

Chân dung | 1/160 sec | f/11.0 | 60.0 mm | ISO 200

Value

Admittedly, there is no direct equivalent rival for this lens currently in the Micro Four Thirds segment. Its price of $555, which is relative a temporary one, reveals that this lens will be capable of providing features on offer.

The nearest equivalent rival for the Micro Four Thirds camera system could be the Leica 45mm f/2.8 from telephoto from Panasonic, retailing at $825.

Conclusion

This lens provides a wonderful combination of the excellent optic performance, weight, compact design and worth the money.

The owners of the Micro Four Thirds who are fancy of macro photography should definitely add this product into their dream list. Actually, even though you are not very interested in macro shooting, this lens might also impress you with its quality and affordable price, which makes it the most rational choice for portraits shooting on a relative budget.

Advantages

·         Really good performance with proper price

·         Good built quality

·         Light

·         Compact

·         Dustproof and moisture-proof

Disadvantages

·         No hood provided as standard

·         Optional sliding hood is quite expensive

Verdicts

·         Feature: 4/5

·         Handling: 5/5

·         Value: 4.5/5

·         Overall: 4.5/5

Specifications

General

·         Lens Mounts: Panasonic Micro Four Thirds, Olympus Micro Four Thirds

Lens

·         Focal Length: 60mm

·         Angle of View: 20°

·         Max Aperture: f/2.8

·         Min Aperture: f/22

·         Filter Size: 46mm

·         35mm equivalent: 120mm

·         Internal focusing: Yes

Focusing

·         Min Focus: 19cm

·         Stabilized: No

Construction

·         Blades: 7

·         Elements: 13

·         Groups: 10

Box Contents

·         Box Contents: M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 60mm 1:2.8 Macro, LC-46 Lens Cap, Micro Four Thirds lens rear cap (LR-2), Warranty Card, Operating Instructions

Dimensions

·         Weight: 185g

·         Height: 82mm

 

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