Close-ups Taken With An Olympus 500mm Mirror Lens
I’ve used macro lenses (lenses meant for close up and copying photography) such as the famed and well thought of Micro-Nikkor Auto 55mm lens for close ups in the past but when I found an Olympus Zuiko 500mm mirror lens on an online auction site I thought I’d explore it as a way to take close ups from a distance instead of having to be inches away from my subjects.
This lens was originally designed for the OM series film cameras.
With a 500mm lens, the very small depth of field makes precise focus imperative, You have to have the point of focus on the mark because surrounding areas go out-f-focus so quickly. And if there is any wind present at all, focus becomes a real challenge, so obviously calm days are a blessing when taking close ups.
The shallow depth of field and long lens offer a benefit in terms of bokeh. The 500mm lens creates a pleasant bokeh in its out-of-focus areas, Some long lenses create strange shapes with highlights in out-of-focus areas but not with this lens. Its bokeh is dreamlike, if that makes any sense.
I use the Olympus lens via a lens adapter on a couple of Sony bodies and use a tripod.
Here are a few of the results so far.
This lens was originally designed for the OM series film cameras.
With a 500mm lens, the very small depth of field makes precise focus imperative, You have to have the point of focus on the mark because surrounding areas go out-f-focus so quickly. And if there is any wind present at all, focus becomes a real challenge, so obviously calm days are a blessing when taking close ups.
The shallow depth of field and long lens offer a benefit in terms of bokeh. The 500mm lens creates a pleasant bokeh in its out-of-focus areas, Some long lenses create strange shapes with highlights in out-of-focus areas but not with this lens. Its bokeh is dreamlike, if that makes any sense.
I use the Olympus lens via a lens adapter on a couple of Sony bodies and use a tripod.
Here are a few of the results so far.
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