Personally I enjoy macro photography plus I enjoy taking pictures of nature and in specific flowers. Another popular target for macro photographers are insects and each time I see a macro image of an insect and the detail photographers manage to extract, I am amazed. The question I like to discuss in this article is, what are the options and the cost for those that own Micro Four-Thirds equipment and that likes to get into macro photography?

The above little guy was about 2cm tall and its flowers real tiny, approximately 4 - 7mm in diameter. Yes, it is not so much macro photography and agreed, more close up photography…..but still I enjoyed taking the shot. The difference really is that with macro photography the aim is to have the subject recorded on the sensor at its real size. That means to have the subject at a 1 to 1 (1:1) ratio recorded on the sensor. Normal kit type lenses has physical limitations when getting in close and secondly the subject might move away when the lens gets to close to it. This is the reason why manufacturers developed macro lenses. The special mechanical construction of these lenses enable the photographer to move in close to the subject plus in most cases macro lenses has the ability to project the subject at life size or better onto the sensor. When using accessories like extension tubes, specially build macro lenses or when using lenses ,mounted wrong way round, one can also create good results. Macro lenses with large focal length's like the 180mm macro from Canon enables the photographer to have more distance between the subject and the lens.

My personal goal would therefor be to have a setup that will give me the 1:1 ratio or better, it should enable me to keep a safe distance between the lens and the subject and it should not cost to much.

On the left you see the only macro lens that currently fits directly onto the Micro Four-Thirds, cameras. It is designed by Leica and manufactured by Panasonic and I have no doubt that it will be a great macro lens. At nearly a $1000 in Europe it just is not a lens I will have in my bag soon. I also prefer a better focal length (45 x 2 = 90mm) when paying that much. I therefore decided to look for alternatives. Just to put this also into perspective, the new OM-5 body from Olympus sells for 1150$, without lens.

If you are interested in building up a macro kit for your Micro Four-Thirds camera that costs less than $400, then you need to read the next few paragraphs. Lets take a look at what else one need to do macro photography:

• First one need a macro lens or a basic lens with different types of lens adapters

• A good flash or something similar are important to have

• One need a tripod - its a good idea to look for something that will let the camera go down deep.

• Its good to have a few reflectors handy when doing macro photography

• Its a good idea to have a remote shutter control so you can trigger the camera remotely.

• A focussing rack that can be used to increase the in-focus area on the subject

Apart from the "macro" lens one also need a flash, either the dedicated macro type or a standard camera mount flash. In the case of Olympus I personally enjoy using the free standing flash option from Olympus. These free standing flash units can be controlled via the remote option build into Olympus cameras like the E-PL2, the XS1 or the new E-M5. Olympus has an interesting macro LED (MAL-1) flash "wire". The unit fits onto the normal flash shoe on the camera and it is great for creative type work.

The next option is different type reflectors, I saw one which the guy cut a hole in so the lens can go through the hole and the reflector then basically surround the lens barrel like a traditional macro ring flash. The final option is a LED type flash that cost much less and they seem to work well. I have not tried these yet.

One could also consider a special focusing rack that will enable the photographer to extend the in-focus range by doing focus stacking techniques. Novoflex has such a special unit called the Castel-Mini focusing rack. I bought a multipurpose focussing rack on e-bay for 70$.

Extension adapters are special extension tubes that fits between the camera and the lens. These extension adapters can be fitted to a normal zoom lens or a macro lens. The extension adapter change the image magnification ratio. They are difficult to work with but the results are normally good. My advice is to use a good tripod when using extension adapters.

I have seen special lens fittings that enables the user to fit the standard type lens wrong way round to the camera. One can use older lenses fitted wrong way round onto the camera. The purpose is to further increase the subject to sensor ratio. If you search for more information on this option, you will find a few more popular older lenses that photographers like to use with this option.

Lets have a look at a few different options in action. The macro pictures were taken with the same basic set-up, I only had to move the tripod closer or further away to manage the focus point:

The older 4-thirds 40 - 150mm kit lens fitted with the 25mm extension tube and the M43 adapter:

Figure A

The older Olympus 40 to 150mm kit lenses that was sold with the previous E4xx series Olympus cameras are available on second-hand market plus they selling over here in Europe for less than 100$ a piece. I had one left over from a previous kit plus I had a 25mm extension tube from my 4-thirds days. I then added the m43 DMA adapter that fit the older Olympus lenses to my M43 camera mount. I managed to buy the adapter on the secondhand market for less than half the current selling price. With the zoom lens attached to the extension ring I am able to get a 1:1 ratio and better. Another advantage is one gain a much larger distance between the subject and the lens. I can easily manage as much as half a meter between the lens and the subject with this kit. It takes a little getting use to work with this option but once mastered then its fun working with this option.

Image taken with the older 4-thirds 40 to 150mm lens plus 25 mm extension tube

Same lens config as above but with Raynox M250 macro filter on the front

Older 4-thirds 35mm Macro lens plus M43 adapter:

Once you have the M43 adapter, you can also search for the older 50mm Olympus macro lens or the 35mm Olympus macro lens. The 35mm Macro is selling over here for as little as 140$ on the second-hand market. As a final step one can add a macro filter to the front of this set-up. I have the Raynox M250 which I used with my G7 and it works wonders with this combination.

M43 adapter plus 35mm Olympus Macro lens

Different Olympus M43 lens options plus special Olympus macro adapter

It is also possible to consider the following options when building a macro kit for the Micro Four-Thirds camera. It is possible to use the dedicated Olympus Macro adapter (MCON-PO1) that fits onto the 14 - 42 II Olympus kit lens or the 14 - 150mm Olympus zoom lens. With both these lenses the Olympus macro adapter fits onto the front of these lenses and it helps to get great close up results. It is not as effective as the set-up I described in figure A, but it cost much less. In general a zoom lens like the 40 - 150mm or the 70 to 300mm works well with a front fitting "macro" adapter like the one from Olympus or the Raynox.

More recent options are the new 12 - 50mm kit lens that also offers a macro option plus I saw Olympus is working on a brand new 60mm macro lens. I really hope Olympus will position this lens more competitively and not as expensive as the Leica/Panasonic macro lens.

New Olympus 12 to 50mm Kit lens with Macro option activated

Olympus M43 14 to 150mm zoom lens fitted with MCON-PO1 macro adapter

M43 14 - 42MKII Olympus Kit lens fitted with the MCON-PO1 macro adapter

New E-M5 fitted with 12 - 50mm kit lens plus MAL-1 flash pipes!!

Here you see the Raynoc Macro adapter fitted to the 35mm Macro lens

Panasonic DMC G3 fitted with the 35mm 4/3rds Macro and adapter

Olympus 35mm Macro lens fitted to m43 adapter

I added a few more macro images I took with the lens combination in Figure A.

The above image was taken with the lens kit in figure A.

The above image was taken with the lens kit in figure A. Both these flowers benefited from adding the Raynox macro filter in the 2 images below.