“There are worlds within worlds,” the old fairy, Magi, mused. Have you ever wanted a better view of these “delicate strands of the web of life?” Have you yearned to reach beyond your eyes’ limitations to seek the secrets all around? This is what macro is all about, and if you haven’t used a true macro lens yet, you don’t know what you’re missing.
Thus, the newest Micro Four Thirds lens by OM Systems brings a lot of potential to the table. The M.Zuiko ED 90mm f/3.5 Macro IS PRO is a rugged, IP53-certified adventurer with an impressive eye for detail—not just true macro 1:1 magnification, but 2:1, meaning that at the closest possible range*, the image of the subject on the sensor will be twice as large as the subject’s real life dimensions. YOW!
Read on for more details or click the pre-order button below if you’re already sold. The 90mm macro is slated for first delivery in March of this year, so you won’t have to wait long.
If 2x magnification isn’t enough for you (you maniac, you), note that this lens is compatible with the MC-14 and MC-20 teleconverters and will provide up to 4x when combined thusly. Teleconverters are preferable to macro extension tubes as they do not reduce the maximum focusing distance of the lens. Considering the fact that the 35mm equivalent field of view of the M.Zuiko ED 90mm with a 2x teleconverter is 360mm, you’ll probably want to be able to use that infinity focus.
Whether you’re focusing waaay out there with the teleconverter or on something veeery tiny, stability is absolutely critical. OM System thought of that, of course, and this lens includes an image stabilization rated for 6 stops of compensation, or up to 7 when Sync IS is used on a compatible body.
As I also noted in the intro, the M.Zuiko ED 90mm f/3.5 Macro IS PRO is IP53 certified, meaning it is almost totally dustproof and can withstand direct sprays of water. A fluorine coating on the front element helps keep your view clear. It’s also freezeproof down to 14°F (-10°C, brrr), so if you pair this baby with the right Micro Four Thirds body—that is, one similarly protected—then every type of weather is macro weather! Capture the tiniest frost crystals, the strangest bugs, and more, and use an unprecedentedly compact system to do so. The M.Zuiko ED 90mm f/3.5 Macro IS PRO is actually the most lightweight in its class to date!
Lightweight should not be taken to mean optically bereft. There are 18 elements in 13 groups inside this lens, including two Super ED, four ED, one Super HR, and one HR. A seven-bladed circular aperture should provide suitably creamy bokeh. Of course, the sample images, below, can speak for themselves as to the image quality one could expect.
Manual controls include a programmable L-Fn button, IS on/off switch, manual focus clutch mechanism (that’s one of my favorites), and a focus limiter switch. The M.Zuiko PRO designation means that the highest care has been taken in the design and production of the lens, so you can expect extreme sharpness with minimal aberration.
As a Micro Four Thirds user myself (among other systems), I know I’m certainly excited about this one. Visit a Mike’s Camera near you or click here to pre-order yours today so you can be among the first in March to start exploring the unseen with this one!
Sample images
*0.224 m or 8.82″
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