OM-D E-M5 macro lens choice(s)?

There seem to be at least several macro lenses available for the OM-D E-M5: a 60mm f2.8, a 45mm 1.8 Zuiko and a 45mm f2.8 Panasonic. There may be other choices.

I'm thinking about giving one of them to kfish for Christmas.

She has the Nauticam E-M5 housing. Will I need to get another port, or will her port for the 12-50mm zoom work?

Anyone have any factual advice to offer about lens choice?

Thanks,

Tom

The Olympus 45mm F1.8 is an excellent lens but NOT a macro lens. I own the Panasonic 45 macro and the Olympus 60 macro. All things considered the 60 macro would be a better choice for you. It fits the 12-50 port, the 45 will not. Longer reach, focus limiting in the macro range and better suited to +5/10 close up lenses.

Phil Rudin

And another bonus is that the olympus 60mm macro is several hundred dollars less, plus it gives a weather-sealed fit when used on a camera like the olympus OM-D EM-5. The Panasonic has optical image stabilization but that is a moot point for an EM-5 user.

Bart

The Olympus 45mm F1.8 is an excellent lens but NOT a macro lens. I own the Panasonic 45 macro and the Olympus 60 macro. All things considered the 60 macro would be a better choice for you. It fits the 12-50 port, the 45 will not. Longer reach, focus limiting in the macro range and better suited to +5/10 close up lenses.

 

Phil Rudin

I use the Oly 60 mm in the 12-50 port with a +6 diopter (flip mounted). I do like the 12-50 a lot.

Bob

I use the Oly 60 mm in the 12-50 port with a +6 diopter (flip mounted). I do like the 12-50 a lot.

Bob

Just curious about the 60mm in the 12-50 port. Autofocus only I assume and would the Subsea flip adapter work with that to the new nauticam super macro lens? Thinking about getting a M1 system for my wife for Xmas. Sounds like Pan 8mm with 4.33 dome, 12-50 w/port and 60mm the best set up? If the 60 fits the 12-50 then just 12-50 port and small dome would be really great for travel.

Thanks for any info.

You can use the 60mm in the 12-50 port and you can use the manual focus gear for the 60mm in the 12-50 port. The 12-50 port has 77mm threads, which complicate adding a diopter (which are invariably for 67mm threads). The 60mm port has 67mm threads (and the 12-50mm works fine behind it with 3rd party gears, but w/o macro capability). The 4.33" dome works very well with the 8mm Panasonic and also works very well with the Oly 12mm f/2.0. So with the 2 ports, you can use the 12mm f/2.0, the 8mm FE f/3.5, the 12-50mm and the 60mm f/2.8.

Just curious about the 60mm in the 12-50 port. Autofocus only I assume and would the Subsea flip adapter work with that to the new nauticam super macro lens? Thinking about getting a M1 system for my wife for Xmas. Sounds like Pan 8mm with 4.33 dome, 12-50 w/port and 60mm the best set up? If the 60 fits the 12-50 then just 12-50 port and small dome would be really great for travel.

 

Thanks for any info.

I am using the 12-50 & the 60mm in the 12-50 port with the M5. As Coroander stated, you can either auto or manual focus these lenses. The macro zoom to 43 mm for the 12-50 is particularly nice. I have the Nauticam flipholder for 70 mm diopters with an Inon +6.

Bob