Customer Reviews

Olympus 35mm f/3.5 1:1 Macro Zuiko Lens for E Series DSLR

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you want macro on a budget for your Oly SLR this is the lens to get. There are other options that give you better working distance like the Sigma 105mm and 150mm but you are going to pay. The Oly 50mm Macro is nice except to get 1:1 magnification you also need to get the EX-25 extension tube.

After two months of wning this lens I've found the photos to be very sharp. I'm amazed at the image quality from what is considered a budget lens. There are some drawbacks but not big ones, one is the working distance, you need to be right on top of your subject so this lens isn't great if you want to photograph insects. The other drawback is the autofocus is not great. Personnaly this is a non issue for me, I set it to manual focus, then dial in my magnification and then move the camera until the subject is in focus.

To sum it up, if you are on a budget, get this lens, you won't be let down. If you are going to be taking pictures of insects, save your money and grab one of the Sigma's. If you want a fast lens, that is great for portraits and can do macro shots then get the Oly 50mm f2.0.

I hope this helps...

Lenses get expensive, and I wanted something to extend my capabilities beyond the initial offerings with my Olympus E-500. The 35mm f/3.5 is a very nice addition not only for its macro capability, but also as a general purpose, or portrait lens. I find myself using this now instead of either of my Zoom lenses for most situations.

I love this lens, so why not give it 5 stars? F3.5 is great for most situations, and most macro work isn't done running down my subjects, so I can afford to setup my tripod. However, one of the attractions of this lens is as a general purpose lens, and I've found myself in shade on overcast days really wanting a faster lens.

Autofocus with this lens seems to run from adequate to useless, never great. With my eyes and no split prism to assist manual focus, I'm getting too many images fuzzy images.

I really do love the lens, but I can see spending a little more down the road for a better macro lens... after I get a fast big lens.

I am a mother photographer, meaning, my daughter gets most of the lens time. Although I am an avid gardener and wanted to to pics of the 4,6 and eight legged creatures that I came across. After receiving this lens, I found a butterfly, snapped it, then zoomed in on its head. IT WAS PHENONMINAL. Definatly worth the money. I had read a review about needing a tripod to keep the lens steady, but I have not found that to be yet. A steady hand helps but I have not needed any more support.

Enjoy!!!

I've owned this lens for about a year and a half and originally I purchased it strictly for macro (and it's cheaper than the 50 f/2). I've learned that this lens does it all. Portraits, landscapes, street shooting, in addition to macro work. It's a 1:1 lens so you can get really close and pick out amazing details. It's as small as it looks and is quite compact. it fits nicely on the E-300 with or without the grip. One vice is that you will have to move in closer to a subject at times due to it's short focal length. For jittery critters the 50 f/2 or Sigma's 105 f/2.8 and 150 f/2.8 macro lenses may be better options. Since I do a lot of studio/indoor shoots and all of these lenses are too long for my needs. Another thing to note (and this is true of all macro lenses) is that it's not the best for capturing fast moving subjects. It can be done with practice, but results would be easier to come by using a non-macro lens. If you already own the 50 f/2 keep it, but if you're still on the fence for which lens to get don't over look this gem!

Among the finest lenses which Olympus produced for its OM series SLR system were its exceptional line of macro lenses. For the relatively new Four Thirds System Digital SLRs pioneered originally by Sigma, but now including Olympus, Panasonic and Leica, Olympus has introduced a slightly longer than normal focal length (approximately 70mm in 35mm format) macro lens which goes to 1:1 magnification without any additional extension tubes or bellows. This is the ideal lens to use if you are working with relatively immobile objects and want to get close up with life-size (1:1) magnification of the object you are photographing. I believe that this lens is a fine performer in its own right, though I strongly suspect that the recently introduced 50mm f2 Zuiko Digital macro lens may be better.

After dabbling with kit lenses with my E500, my photographic interests soon turned to macro. A brief stint with the Olympus EX-25 Extension Tube allowed me to use my kit lenses as macro lenses on a budget, but I really craved a true macro lens.

Needless to say, I ended up selling the EX-25 and purchasing the ZD 35mm 3.5 macro...and I sure wish I did it sooner.

This lens is amazing.

Pictures? Sharp sharp sharp.

Macro? Yep. Even does 1:1 without the need for an extension tube.

Focus? A little slow and it does hunt every now and then, but realize that this is a macro lens...there's more focus range to travel compared to a non-macro lens.

Weight? Like a feather.

Size? Miniscule, though not as small as the ZD 25mm 2.8 pancake.


Ever since getting this lens, I have a hard time justifying removing the lens and replacing it with my other lenses. I use it as my standard 'walkaround' lens and though I don't have zoom with this prime lens, I do have two feet so I can always walk closer to or away from my subject.

UPDATE: The E500 was replaced with an E410, and the kit is even lighter and smaller with the 35mm macro lens attached.

I bought this lens for my Olympus E500. I've been more than pleased (see uploaded photo "Morning Kiss II") I uploaded the same photo to Olympus web site for their monthly gallery. I was surprised when Oly rep called me for permission to use it to headline their corporate web site! Cool!

I am anxious to use it on my new Oly E-3.

I don't know that I have ever gotten better results with a lens at this price...or even twice this price. Highly recommended for your four-thirds camera.

The product description indicates close focus to 6 inches. But guess what? If I put my E510 into manual focus, this lens will extend out and allow close focus down to about 1 inch! That's right...one inch. In auto focus, the lens does not extend. And, yes, quite sharp. Lovely lens.

Overall this is a good lens. Affordable, compact and very light weight. IQ is also good and it has great macro capabilities. So, you may ask, why I'm rating it *** only? The reason is because AF when using it as a macro lens is very difficult to achieve and very inaccurate. You need to take many shots of the object moving the camera slightly each time and with luck one shot will be focused right where you wanted. You also need to get very very close to the subject, which is OK when photographing flowers but not as good with insects and other live creatures. The lens becomes attractive more because of its low cost (compared to other Zuiko lenses) and the fact that it can be used for portrait and general purpose photography (keep in mind that a 35mm lens on a 4/3 system is in reality 70mm). Again, recommended only if you are on a budget and want to have a small, compact macro lens without spending a lot of $$$.

This lense was purchased to photograph Native American jewelry for a web page and to utilize in e mail images to be mailed to clients. The picture quality is excellent, with little adjusting needed to accomplish your task. Utilizing your aperature settings also helps in achieving a great shot in various degrees of light. Check out the great shots I have achieved with this lens. http://www.landeaglegallery.com/index_files/Page2580.htm

Great lens!!!!!