Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 30mm f/3.5 (Black)

Overview

The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 30mm f/3.5 Macro lens in black is a compact and lightweight prime lens designed for Micro Four Thirds cameras. It offers excellent macro capabilities, making it an ideal choice for close-up photography, while also serving well for everyday shooting. Here’s a detailed overview of its features and capabilities:

Optical Design

• Focal Length: The 30mm focal length is equivalent to 60mm in 35mm terms, providing a natural perspective for close-up shots and versatility for general photography.
• Aperture: Features a maximum aperture of f/3.5, which is sufficient for most lighting conditions and allows for a reasonable depth of field control.

Macro Capabilities

• Magnification: Offers a 1.25x maximum magnification (2.5x in 35mm equivalent), making it one of the highest magnification lenses available for Micro Four Thirds cameras. This allows for capturing intricate details of small subjects.
• Minimum Focusing Distance: With a minimum focusing distance of just 9.5 cm, this lens allows you to get extremely close to your subjects, perfect for macro photography.

Autofocus

• High-Speed Autofocus: Equipped with a fast and precise autofocus system, ensuring quick and accurate focusing, which is particularly useful when capturing moving subjects or working handheld.

Optical Construction

• Advanced Optical Elements: The lens construction includes specialized elements, such as ED (Extra-low Dispersion) lenses, to reduce chromatic aberrations and ensure high image quality with sharpness and clarity.
• ZERO Coating: Olympus’s ZERO (Zuiko Extra-low Reflection Optical) coating minimizes ghosting and flare, enhancing contrast and color accuracy, even in challenging lighting conditions.

Build and Handling

• Compact and Lightweight: The lens is designed to be small and lightweight, making it easy to carry around and ideal for travel and everyday photography.
• Durable Construction: The lens is built with high-quality materials, ensuring durability and long-term reliability.

Compatibility

• Micro Four Thirds Mount: Designed specifically for Micro Four Thirds cameras, the lens provides a 60mm equivalent focal length, which is suitable for both macro and general photography.

Performance

• Image Quality: Delivers sharp, detailed images with effective control over chromatic aberrations and minimal distortion. The high magnification and close focusing capabilities ensure excellent performance for macro photography.
• Depth of Field: The f/3.5 aperture allows for a reasonable depth of field, which can be beneficial for isolating subjects and creating pleasing background blur in macro shots.

Applications

• Macro Photography: The high magnification and close focusing distance make it ideal for capturing detailed shots of small subjects like insects, flowers, and textures.
• Everyday Photography: The 60mm equivalent focal length is versatile enough for everyday shooting, including portraits, street photography, and more.
• Travel Photography: Its compact size and lightweight design make it a convenient choice for travel, allowing you to capture a variety of subjects without carrying heavy equipment.

Summary

The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 30mm f/3.5 Macro lens in black is a versatile and high-quality prime lens designed for Micro Four Thirds cameras. Its exceptional macro capabilities, including 1.25x magnification and a close focusing distance of 9.5 cm, make it perfect for capturing intricate details of small subjects. The compact and lightweight design, combined with fast autofocus and advanced optical construction, ensures excellent image quality and ease of use. Whether for macro photography or general shooting, this lens is a valuable addition to any photographer’s kit, offering both functionality and portability.