Moose Loc: North Carolina

Is anyone aware of better macro lens for the Olympus EM-5 micro 4/3's camera than the 12-50mm lens that has macro built in?

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

The 60 mm macro by olympus is very highly regarded. I want it bad!

h2odog Loc: Brooklyn NY

The Oly 12-50 is not a true 1:1 macro. However, you can get some really nice macro-like images with it. For 1:1 macro work, the 60mm macro is the way to go...a very nice lens.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Extension tubes are an inexpensive way to go. But your lens won't focus at the far end.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

60mm hands down.

khrunner Loc: Aurora, CO

I have Olympus' 60mm macro lens and like it a lot. It is a step up from the 12-50 macro feature. There are some interesting articles out there on other things it does well. Google will find them for you. If you aren't in a hurry for it, get on Olympus' email list and watch for specials. They do discount it by $50 - $100 periodically.

h2odog Loc: Brooklyn NY

Yes, good advice. Right now the Olympus 12-40mm 2.8, is being discounted by $100, for anyone interested.

Lynn L Loc: Northern IL

Zuiko 60mm f2.8--I got it & love it; you will too.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Problem with the 60mm is that it puts you really close to your subject. That scares off skittish insects & makes lighting your subject a bit difficult... It's good for static subjects & copy work though...

jcboy3

The Olympus 12-50mm provides 1:3 magnification, so it's technically not a macro lens but a good close-up lens. True "macro" lenses have at least 1:1 magnification. Still, it's pretty good, and Robin Wong had a nice post reviewing the capabilities:

http://robinwong.blogspot.com/2011/12/olympus-mzuiko-12-50mm-f35-63-review.html

Some other options:

The Olympus 60mm f/2.8 for m4/3 is a great lens, including for use as a macro lens since it does 1:1 macro. Close focus distance is about 3.5"

The Olympus 50mm f/2 for 4/3 is also a great lens; it does 1:2 but will do 1:1 with the EX-25 extension tube. Close focus distance is about 2". It will not auto focus very quickly with the EM5, but it's usable (I've used it on an EM5 and gotten great shots). The advantage of the 50mm is you can also use the EC-14 or EC-20 teleconverters on the lens.

I also use the Nikon Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 AI-s. It does 1:2, but with the PN11 extension tube it does 1:1 and the extension tube has a tripod collar which is really handy. Close focus distance is about 6". Add the Nikon E2 extension with aperture button and you can easily open the aperture for focus and close for exposure. And its a nice lens for normal shooting.

And there is the Nikon Micro-Nikkor-P 55mm f/3.5. It does 1:2, but with the M2 extension tube it does 1:1. The lens is too slow for use other than macro.

Finally, there is the Olympus 35mm f/3.5 for 4/3; it does 1:1 macro but it's focal length is so short you have to really get close to your subject. Close focus distance is about 1".

If you can find one, the Olympus SRF-11 ring flash or STF-22 twin flash attach to all three macro lenses, but are effective only with the 60mm. The FR-1 adapter for the 50mm and 35mm is 2" deep, which is not compatible with the close focus distances of these lenses. The FR-2 adapter for the 60mm, however, is only 1" deep and that leaves some room (but not much)

I have modified an FR-2 adapter for use with a step-up ring, and that helps with the 50mm but also means I can mount the flash on the Nikon lenses. With the Nikon 105mm, that makes for an awesome combination with very good working distance.

I also have a Nikon SB-21 Macro Speedlite, its really a twin flash unit, but it has a 52mm screw on adapter so it works native with everything but the 60mm (which needs a step-up ring). That's a totally manual flash setup, but it works well enough.

My recommendations will depend upon how manual you want to go. If you don't mind manual, then the Nikon 105mm plus extension tubes has the best working distance, which is important for flexibility in lighting. It is long (8") and heavy, so hand holding is difficult, but the working distance is very good.

Otherwise, the 60mm f/2.8 provides good auto focus and exposure, but has less working distance. It is out of the box compatible with the Olympus ring flash, and it is light.

Lynn L Loc: Northern IL

While a 60mm macro on a full size 35mm puts you very close to the subject; a 60mm on an Oly MFT gives you the equiv of a 120mm macro on a full frame. It really does work quite well.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

I'm afraid that is incorrect. You do get the field of view of a 120 mm , but the minimum focus distance is not affected nor is the magnification. I have 7 different macro lenses going from 55 to 18mm & have used them on my mirrorless Oly, my AF-S DSLR &you older film cameras... My niche is macro & I know firsthand what I said to be correct

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

This is because with the small sensor, the need to actually go to 1:1 will be mitigated.....in other words, for some of your larger subjects that on full frame you would be at 1:1 on m4/3 you could be at 1:2 .....

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

That does not change what I said about the minimum focus distance. It remains the same regardless of the sensor size. The focal length of the lens in use doesn't change either. The only difference being what is captured by the sensor. The larger sensor captures more of the original image & the smaller sensor "crops"the projected image. Thus the magnification is apparent, not actual. A half life size image is still a half life size image. When viewed on a monitor, it is simply enlarged more....

jwhphotos Loc: Maryland

The 60mm macro and the 45mm macro are both very good lenses. Depending on your definition of macro and the depth of your pocket, the 12-40 is a good close-up lens.