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Practical test: The LM macro 40 mm close-up lens with the Olympus OM-D E-M1 system camera

Based on the mirrorless system camera Olympus OM-D E-M1 and the high-quality Olympus digital 12-50 mm/1:3.5-6.3 EZ lens, we wanted to show how simple it is to take fantastic macro photographs without an additional macroscope. All you need is our LM macro 40 mm close-up lens and a good stand, such as our LM-Makrostativ3.

Many hobby photographers are interested in macrophotography, but most of them are scared off by the expensive and sophisticated equipment. We have an entry-level solution for macrophotography that is inexpensive but still produces high-quality images. We chose the system camera Olympus OM-D E-M1 to illustrate how our products can be used, but of course they are compatible with many other cameras and lenses, too.

We performed our tests on the Olympus OM-D E-M1 and selected the Olympus digital 12-50 mm/1:3.5-6.3 EZ objective lens, which has a special feature: it does not extend when zooming or focusing but remains at a constant length. Using a stand in conjunction with manual focus (by turning off autofocus) will help you get a shot that is in sharp focus. Combined with our LM macro 40 mm close-up lens, you can achieve a level of magnification that is roughly equal to an 8x microscope magnification, enabling an image field of 14 mm x 10.5 mm to be covered in full frame. This equipment allows a great deal of flexibility: the LM macro 40 mm close-up lens just needs to be screwed onto the camera lens – all you need for this is a step-down ring (STR5237).

Thanks to the central optical path, the image quality is very good – and in fact surpasses that of many stereo microscopes. With such high magnification levels, a stable stand with a rack and pinion system is advisable in order to prevent blurred, unfocussed images. We used our LM Makrostativ3 stand.

The wide-angle setting of the Olympus digital 12-50 mm/1:3.5-6.3 EZ (12 mm) lens produces the so-called fisheye effect (illumination is reduced from the centre to the periphery of the image). That effect disappears if the zoom is used.

Conclusion:

A simple, inexpensive solution for getting started with macrophotography. The LM macro 40 mm close-up lens is a great add-on to the Olympus zoom lens. The image quality is very good, and using the zoom to adjust magnification allows for a high degree of flexibility in terms of application. For higher magnifications, we recommend our LM macroscopes. Our LM macro 80 mm close-up lens is an excellent choice for mobile use. It is very lightweight and therefore enables free-hand shooting of insects, plants and the like at lower magnifications.

16.01.2015

Ordering code	Product description	Price	Price	Available
DMLDSLR40	LM Macro 40 - close-up lens 40mm (37mm thread) Data Sheet0 Operating Instructions1	Euro 929,--	US $ 984.74
Makrostativ3	LM macro stand 3 with an extremely stable profile pillar with a length of 500mm, precise height adjustment with rack and pinion, quick coupling with quick-release plate, both black anodized and a black and white removable object disk Data Sheet	Euro 1890,--	US $ 2003.4
STR5237	LM Filter Step Down Ring from 52 mm to 37 mm Data Sheet	Euro 99,--	US $ 104.94