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Jul 11, 2018 20:49:12   #
jertrap
 
I have an evolt 510.
I am an avid fly tyer and would like to take macro pics of my finished products.
I have not purchased any macro lenses prior to this because of the macro lens prices, however a week or so prior to this there was a post on this site recommending macro tubes. Do macro tubes work?? If so, which ones??

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Jul 11, 2018 20:53:29   #
AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire
 
You can use older macro lenses, manual focus may be better anyway. Macro tubes work as well as they did in film days, just be sure to get a recent and compatible model. They are a bit fussier than a dedicated lens, imho. Get a slightly long version for your format. A ring light might also be a good investment.

Andy “Sparse Hackle” H

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Jul 11, 2018 21:30:08   #
Kuzano
 
There are various solution to the macro photography question. Good macro is a lens that will give you a true 1:1 lifesize image.

One option is lens tubes (usually a three ring kit) which moves the stock lens out from the film/sensor plane. Cheap but fussy.
Another is a bellows that does the same thing essentially...moves the lens out from the camera.
Reversing lenses with a fual threaded filter ring. again.... tricky/fussy.

If i had an Olympus E510 and I did, I would look for the older Zuiko OM (film) lens in 50mm f3.5 and mount it to the front of the 4:3 camera with a simple glassless adapter. It is/was a great 1:1 macro lens and the adaptor would allow you to use it manual focus on your 4:3 camera. It's very unlikely that you would use autofocus on macro anyway because of the thin plane of focus often found with macro.

I found a bunch of these on eBay in the $50 to $100 range. See here-ebay:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=om+zuiko+50mm+f3.6+macro&_sacat=0

The adapter BE VERY CAREFUL ON THIS. Most of the adapters listed now are OM Zuiko to micro mirrorless which you DON'T want. You want very specifically and adapter from OM Zuiko (lens) to Zuiko 4:3 (NOT MIRRORLESS AS YOUR CAMERA IS NOT A MIRRORLESS CAMERA BUT AN e SERIES 4:3. ) This should fix you up with a real and high quality Macro from the film era OM series to your E510.

Acaptor and lens should come to about $100 and be real Macro gear, albeit manual focus. Frankly, I cannot image even thinking about doing macro work with an autofocus system, but some will challenge on this. Mostly newb who would never think of turning of their AutoFocus.

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Jul 11, 2018 21:42:47   #
jertrap
 
Thank you, I will research the products as you have suggested.

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Jul 11, 2018 22:17:01   #
Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga
 
True macro lenses allow you to change the magnification & composition without having to swap out or add/subtract tubes and older manual focus ones are less expensive. The brand isn't critical as any brand can give you good results.. Tubes can give you good results though if you won't shoot many other macro shots...

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Jul 12, 2018 05:58:53   #
Blasthoff Loc: Life halved NY and IN
 
Hi Andy, I think what you would be most pleased with is to get an adapter to use old OM manual focus lenses and look for an affordable older manual focus OM mount macro lens either Olympus or third party (Vivitar, Tokina etc) in OM mount. There are very good practical reasons for this including the best and easiest focusing plus the best image quality for the buck your going to get. You may need to do some searching but you may be able to do it for under $50 with some luck.

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Jul 12, 2018 07:07:31   #
wteffey Loc: Ocala, FL USA
 
Or, you might consider a RAYNOX macro lens that snaps on the front of your existing lens. These work very well and can be installed and removed quickly.

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Jul 12, 2018 08:37:33   #
Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.
 
jertrap wrote:
I have an evolt 510.
I am an avid fly tyer and would like to take macro pics of my finished products.
I have not purchased any macro lenses prior to this because of the macro lens prices, however a week or so prior to this there was a post on this site recommending macro tubes. Do macro tubes work?? If so, which ones??


Yes they work.

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Jul 12, 2018 08:46:51   #
rjimd1221
 
I used to have a 510 (loved it) then moved to oly mirrorless. The Olympus 50mm macro for 4/3 is an outstanding lens (imho). Used copies on ebay are pretty cheap. It would be worth it if you can afford it. I know that doesn't answer your question but just a suggestion.

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Jul 12, 2018 09:53:45   #
gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast
 
Since you're doing tied flies in a controlled setting, a set of extension tubes would works just fine. Lighting is important, of course, a ring light would do well. A decent quality 50mm prime lens would be a good addition for image quality. Just be sure the subject is in the middle of the composition. I'm assuming your camera is a crop sensor and the 50mm would be a 75mm full frame equivalent and you'd get a bit more working distance for your lighting than with a shorter prime.

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Jul 12, 2018 11:20:23   #
alfeng Loc: Out where the West commences ...
 
gvarner wrote:
Since you're doing tied flies in a controlled setting, a set of extension tubes would works just fine. Lighting is important, of course, a ring light would do well. A decent quality 50mm prime lens would be a good addition for image quality. Just be sure the subject is in the middle of the composition. I'm assuming your camera is a crop sensor and the 50mm would be a 75mm full frame equivalent and you'd get a bit more working distance for your lighting than with a shorter prime.

A 50mm lens on either a 4/3 or m4/3 is equivalent to a 100mm lens on a Full Frame camera ...

The OM Zuiko lenses are great; but, a vintage Canon FD, Nikon/Nikkor lens, or Pentax Takumar lens can also be used on a 4/3 or m4/3 body with the appropriate adapter.

BTW. If you (jertrap) don't already have-or-use a tripod, then you will find that using a tripod will be very beneficial for most close up photography.




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Jul 12, 2018 11:21:44   #
aphelps Loc: Central Ohio
 
jertrap wrote:
I have an evolt 510.
I am an avid fly tyer and would like to take macro pics of my finished products.
I have not purchased any macro lenses prior to this because of the macro lens prices, however a week or so prior to this there was a post on this site recommending macro tubes. Do macro tubes work?? If so, which ones??


I have an Oly 50 mm macro lens (old 43 not m43) that was for my E-610. I now longer use this lens having switched to m43. Lens is in pristene condition. If you are interested make an offer.

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Jul 12, 2018 13:33:36   #
Pochon53
 
You might try using a closeup filter, as I am doing now on a classic Pentax SMC Takumar 50MM 1.4 lens. The only problem with this is that you lose Infinity, but of course what does Infinity matter if the interest is macro? Hope this helps.

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Jul 12, 2018 13:46:32   #
Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga
 
Besides the loss of infinity focus, they also suffer from an inability to change composition or magnification unless one adds/removes them & even then, one is limited to set magnification ratios. A true macro lens will offer variable magnification thus allowing for more composition choices. The better close up filters (actually they are close up lenses, not filters) have multiple diopters and cost more than the commonly available sets of single diopter ones. The suggestion of a Raynox above is an example of the better type of close up lens. Bottom line still comes down to how much one will actually need to shoot macro. If only occasionally, then the filters or tubes will suffice, otherwise a true macro lens (not a standard lens with a close focus ability like many zooms) is a better bet.
Pochon53 wrote:
You might try using a closeup filter, as I am doing now on a classic Pentax SMC Takumar 50MM 1.4 lens. The only problem with this is that you lose Infinity, but of course what does Infinity matter if the interest is macro? Hope this helps.

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Jul 12, 2018 14:39:10   #
AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire
 
Blasthoff wrote:
Hi Andy, I think what you would be most pleased with is to get an adapter to use old OM manual focus lenses and look for an affordable older manual focus OM mount macro lens either Olympus or third party (Vivitar, Tokina etc) in OM mount. There are very good practical reasons for this including the best and easiest focusing plus the best image quality for the buck your going to get. You may need to do some searching but you may be able to do it for under $50 with some luck.


I think you've got the wrong guy - I'm not the OP. I use a Nikon micro on a DX system.

Andy

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