Macro lens help

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Pudding1

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Wendy
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Hi...
I have a Panasonic G1 and would love to get a Macro lens
Does anyone have any recommendations ... do i have to stick to Panasonic
And if i change to a different make how will i know it will fit on my camera
what do i need to look out for
 
Hi,

Would have thought you can get a decent adapter and pick a brand you prefer.

You'd need a dedicated macro with a 1:1 ratio.

Nikon/nikkor:
60mm
105mm

Sigma:
105mm
150mm
180mm (possibly)

Tamron
90mm

Canon
mpe...something that is a really macro lens and costs a lot but is wonderful :) when you get the hang of it.

There should be at least one macro lens for Panasonic, but I don't know which it would be.
 
Thanks for the reply but i am not sure what adapter i would need
they seem to come in different sizes...
Panasonic do, do a Macro 45mm F2.8
But as you say they are a round £600.00..... i thought i may be able to get a used one
As i have only just splashed out on a 20mm F1.7
 
Your G1 is micro 4/3 mount, that means any micro 4/3 lens will fit on it.
Unfortunately there aren't many choices for macro on micro 4/3 mount, but the panasonic 45mm seems to get good reviews.

I would steer clear of most adaptors for now, the cheap ones you see on ebay are purely mechanical so you have no automated functions on the lens. This really throws you into the deep end, and while some would say that's a good thing (forces you to learn), macro is frustrating at the best of times and you're more likely to be able to get into it with a lens that's easier to use.

However, I believe olympus and panasonic make micro 4/3 to 4/3 adaptors which keep electronic control (google panasonic DMW-MA1E or olympus MMF-2), though they are quite expensive. But this would allow you to mount any 4/3 lens (there are a lot more macro lenses available in 4/3) onto your G1 and keep at least some electronic functions (though the details I've seen on what electronic functions they retain are a bit sketchy). Then you could get something like the excellent sigma 105mm macro in 4/3 mount and it could still work out cheaper than the panasonic 45mm (plus it also widens your lens selection for any future requirements.

The advantage of something like a 105mm with adaptor would be that although it's bigger and heavier you get more working distance from your subject and the longer focal length creates more diffuse, pleasing backgrounds. But the panasonic 45mm is nice and compact and light.
 
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I use an old Canon FD 50/3.5 with adapter on my GF1 but the Panasonic 45mm macro is your best bet. Old manual lenses can be cheap and quite good but a bit of a hassle sometimes with extension tubes etc.

Don't get a modern DSLR lens for adapter use, just wasting your money on glass with electronics that won't be used. On a Canon lens, it also means you can't even control the aperture as there is no aperture ring on the EF lenses.
 
squishy said:
Your G1 is micro 4/3 mount, that means any micro 4/3 lens will fit on it.
Unfortunately there aren't many choices for macro on micro 4/3 mount, but the panasonic 45mm seems to get good reviews.

I would steer clear of most adaptors for now, the cheap ones you see on ebay are purely mechanical so you have no automated functions on the lens. This really throws you into the deep end, and while some would say that's a good thing (forces you to learn), macro is frustrating at the best of times and you're more likely to be able to get into it with a lens that's easier to use.

However, I believe olympus and panasonic make micro 4/3 to 4/3 adaptors which keep electronic control (google panasonic DMW-MA1E or olympus MMF-2), though they are quite expensive. But this would allow you to mount any 4/3 lens (there are a lot more macro lenses available in 4/3) onto your G1 and keep at least some electronic functions (though the details I've seen on what electronic functions they retain are a bit sketchy). Then you could get something like the excellent sigma 105mm macro in 4/3 mount and it could still work out cheaper than the panasonic 45mm (plus it also widens your lens selection for any future requirements.

The advantage of something like a 105mm with adaptor would be that although it's bigger and heavier you get more working distance from your subject and the longer focal length creates more diffuse, pleasing backgrounds. But the panasonic 45mm is nice and compact and light.
Click to expand...

THANK YOU so much this is what i need I will put the panasonic 45mm
on my Birthday list For March .... you never know
is it very tricky to take Macro photo..... i am not very good with my other lenses yet??? i have 14-45mm f3.5-5.6 and 45-200mm f4.0-5.6 and my new one 20mm f1.7
Thank again fab advice
 
vaizki said:
I use an old Canon FD 50/3.5 with adapter on my GF1 but the Panasonic 45mm macro is your best bet. Old manual lenses can be cheap and quite good but a bit of a hassle sometimes with extension tubes etc.

Don't get a modern DSLR lens for adapter use, just wasting your money on glass with electronics that won't be used. On a Canon lens, it also means you can't even control the aperture as there is no aperture ring on the EF lenses.
Click to expand...

Thank you your right i am going for the Panasonic 45mm macro
 
Pudding1 said:
THANK YOU so much this is what i need I will put the panasonic 45mm
on my Birthday list For March .... you never know
is it very tricky to take Macro photo..... i am not very good with my other lenses yet??? i have 14-45mm f3.5-5.6 and 45-200mm f4.0-5.6 and my new one 20mm f1.7
Thank again fab advice
Click to expand...

It is tricky, but its also very rewarding. If you fancy it, its well worth having a go. Besides, if you're buying the lens used and take good care of it you can sell it on for very little loss at a later date if its just not suited to you.


You should also look at lighting or support, for moving things you really need flash or or stationary things a tripod is great for long exposures.
 
Canon
mpe...something that is a really macro lens and costs a lot but is wonderful when you get the hang of it.
Click to expand...

It's true it is a great lens, but not one I'd suggest as a starter. I got one recently but I'm using it more as a a toy to play with rather than a serious lens at the moment. I've got a Canon 100 2.8 L IS which is far more usable as a serious macro lens and if you can find a micro 4/3 to Canon adapter it would be a good lens for anyone.
 
modchild said:
I've got a Canon 100 2.8 L IS which is far more usable as a serious macro lens and if you can find a micro 4/3 to Canon adapter it would be a good lens for anyone.
Click to expand...

Except there would be no aperture control, no IS and no autofocus.
 
modchild said:
........ I've got a Canon 100 2.8 L IS which is far more usable as a serious macro lens and if you can find a micro 4/3 to Canon adapter it would be a good lens for anyone.
Click to expand...

:thinking: Nothing a MP-E can't do as a macro lens that a 100mm can do........
but plenty a MP-E can do as a serious macro lens that a 100mm cant do.

Stick with the 45mm it will allow you to use all the functions of a lens as designed, which will make taking photos much easier and enjoyable. You need to think about light (Flash) as you'll be shooting a fairly small apertures.
 
oh yer i have got a flash... This one
Panasonic DMW-FL220 Lumix Flash Gun
 
That's a good start for macro then :).

You might also want to look into ways of diffusing it and brackets, for macro with very close subjects you can seriously improve the quality of the light by using a softbox and a flash arm to make the light diffuse and better angled.
Have a look at the macro section of this forum, there is a sticky thread for people showing their setups, lots of ingenious lighting solutions. It's an area where it just pays to mess around and experiment till you get an arrangement you're happy with.
 
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Pudding1 said:
i have 14-45mm f3.5-5.6... and my new one 20mm f1.7
Click to expand...
How do you find the pancake is vs the zoom 14-45 ?
Bought a gf3 for the missus and kit lens, she says she'd like the pancake lens.. but I didn't get it when I could've.. :/
 
The 20/1.7 is amazing compared to the kit zoom. Actually it's pretty amazing full stop :)
 
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