by IDRIS AHMED

When it comes to doing macro photography, Micro Four Thirds have always been a special system. The latest addition to the repertoire is OM Digital Solutions’ new macro monster, the 90mm F3.5 Macro IS Pro lens. This exciting new Olympus lens is only 5.4 inches long, weighs just 453gms, and has a 62mm front filter thread.

OM Systems did thorough research before launching this lens. The 90mm becomes equivalent to 180mm, which is a very practical focal length to work with making it ideal for various genres of photography. What makes it stand out is its ability to auto-focus at such extreme magnifications. Along with this, it has great stabilization and IP53-rated weathersealing that makes it conducive to work even in intense weather conditions.

To see its true potential, I talked to some of the leading macro photographers in India. I am happy to feature their works and their thoughts on the lens.

Mohammed

“The OM systems 90mm f3.5 manages to bring back the classic old-school bokeh while providing

Finally, I have a lens that can help me show the world what the naked eye cannot see. Having one of the fastest and best Auto Focus systems out there, wildlife photography has never been this easy.

The new OM SYSTEM’S M.Zuiko Digital ED 90mm f/3.5 Macro IS PRO lens has helped a great deal on the field while herping and in macro photography. The beauty of this lens is that I can get the desired magnification and can still maintain safe distance between the lens and the subject. I would like to mention that it also has optical image stabilization, which is personaly an additional bonus because all my macro photography in the field/forest is handheld.

I have been using the Olympus 60mm macro lens and I always wanted a switch like the 90mm lens. For the 60mm one, you always have to turn to get to 1:1 magnification. I did practice a lot to figure out the distance between the front element of the lens to the subject at 1x/2x to limit focus hunting which is true in any lens. But once you get the hang of it, you will know how good the AF in this lens is.

If I had to give one piece of advice for someone used to the Olympus 60mm lens, practicing with the 90mm macro lens helps in understanding the DOF. I recommend practicing with a static subject inside the house and outside before trying it in the field. I hope this gives some insight to anyone considering changing to the new 90mm macro lens.

Venkat Mangudi

As a user of the 60mm f/2.8 macro lens, the 90mm f/3.5 PRO Macro lens came as a pleasant surprise. The focus limiter, the Sync IS and the weather sealing features were expected of the PRO lineup. For me, the focus limiter being easily accessible (compared to the rotary dial in the 60mm) is a big plus. It was very useful during the field tests we did. The one negative thing as compared to the 60mm macro lens is the laser thin DOF on the 90mm lens. Even at f/13 I wasn’t able to get the subject in focus because of the DOF. I would certainly not ditch the 60mm macro lens for the 90mm lens. Having said that, I have been almost exclusively using the 90mm lens these days for macro due to all the positives of the lens.

For someone like me, who primarily shoots in the Western Ghats during monsoons, weatherproof gear is crucial. The OM - 90mm lens, with its IP53rated weather-sealed construction and on-board optical image stabilization, becomes the ultimate “field macro lens.” The lens’s fast focusing and extra magnification allow me to capture tiny critters in action with precision and ease