John,
Zuiko excels in TRUE macro lenses. A 50/1.8 even reversed is not a true macro
lens. And if that is how your friend wishes to use it a Zuiko will not be
much different from a Canon, Nikon, Pentax or the likes.
Secondly, simply reversing the lens is not likely to do much good. Non macro
lenses are optimized for use where the distance between the lens and film
is much smaller than that between the lens and subject. More specifically,
the distance between the subject (object) and the front surface(actually node)
of the lens should be greater than the distance between the film (image) and
the rear surface (node) of the lens. For extreme close ups where the above
relation is reversed, you will benefit from reversing the lens only if the
distance between the lens and film is greater than that between the lens and
subject.In other words you will have to add considerable extension such as a
bellows, between the lens and camera body.
To answer you question, for doing macro work with a Plain Jane 50/1.8 your
friend can use any brand. They are all high quality and nearly equal in
performance. Also, for good results the lens will have to be reversed on bellows
or equivalent. Theoretically, the longer the extension better the performance,
but the working distance will greatly diminish.
-Tim
> Hi Everyone,
>
> Well, it's advice time again. A good friend of mine has just acquired
> himself a new Digital Camera. Sorry to say it's not an Olympus (despite my
> pushing him towards the E-20 !). It's a N*k*n Coolp*x 5700. On it he has
> some sort of arrangement (looks like it just slides over the lens ?) to hold
> any filters he wishes to attach.
>
> Now comes the tricky part. He has learned that Zuiko lenses are
> particularly good for Macro stuff, and has expressed an interest in
> obtaining a 50/1.8 and fitting it backwards onto the filter ring of this
> camera. Apparently this should work (any comments ?).
>
> So my real question is, is this possible, will it work to any degree of
> quality at all, and is there such a thing as a reversing ring like this (ie
> it has the "positive" filter thread on each end of it !) ? OK, so that's 3
> questions in one - sorry !
>
> Anyway, any help is as always appreciated. It's his Birthday coming up very
> soon, and I thought that I may be able to do something along these lines ...
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jon
>
>
>
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