ROBIN WONG

The second part of my test with the NiSi 49mnm Close Up lens was using it on my own Olympus 60mm F2.8 Macro. The Olympus 60mm macro lens alone can achieve 100% magnification, and by quick ruler measurement, by attaching the NiSi 49mm Close Up Lens, I can take the magnification further to a whooping 158%, which was incredible! I took this opportunity to shoot smaller critters, or go even closer to the bugs revealing more details on their eyes, and I got to say, the image quality coming out from this combo was nothing short of amazing. All images were shot on OM System OM-1 using wireless off camera flash, and I have also made longer explanation in my latest video here (click). I am just throwing the images I got from this macro lens + close up lens combo around in this blog entry. 

NiSi contacted me and asked if I were interested in testing their Close Up Lens and I immediately said yes. It is not an every day opportunity to collaborate with a company doing insect macro photography, something I am quite passionate about. I did tell them that if I don't like the product, I will continue with the review, but it turned out that I was quite impressed by what the  Close Up Lens can do. Basically, the NiSi Close Up Lens is a simple attachment that you mount onto another lens to reduce the minimum focusing distance, bringing the lens closer to the subject, increasing magnification. This can turn a non-macro lens, like the Olympus 45mm F1.8 into a macro-like lens. Based on my simple calculation (you can check in video) I estimated the maximum magnification of Olympus 45mm F1.8 was boosted from 0.11x to 0.56x with the NiSi Close Up Lens attached. I have talked about my experience using it in my latest video, you can check it out here, but in this blog entry I am sharing all images taken with OM System OM-1 with Olympus 45mm F1.8 + NiSi Close Up Lens 49mm. Teaser - I will share images taken with the Olympus 60mm F2.8 macro + NiSi Close Up Lens in the following blog entry, with insane magnification going super close to the bugs!

One of the amazing things about Micro Four Thirds system is the collection of really awesome compact sized, portable lenses that are excellent in optics design and can deliver great results. Sometimes it still puzzles me how something so tiny-ly built can render astoundingly sharp and beautiful results. Even the lowlist kit lens from Micro Four Thirds is no slouch either, they are impressively sharp. I compiled a list of 5 best budget lenses for Micro Four Thirds system under USD150 (used or new) with autofocus - the lenses are Panasonic 14mm F2.5, Olympus 45mm F1.8, Panasonic 12-32mm F3.5-5.6, Olympus 40-150mm F4-5.6 R and Yongnuo 17mm F1.7. I made a video to further expand on my explanations, you can view it here (click). 

I have been on YouTube space for over 5 years now, making new videos week after week, but I don't see myself as a videographer. Yes, I am a content creator, or YouTuber, that part is very true as I share videos of me talking about photography related topics, but that does not qualify me as a videographer. It is strange that many people immediately associate YouTubers as videographers, which I believe are two completely different animals. I am a photographer, I earn a living doing photo shoots and jobs, and I share about my passion in photography through my videos published on YouTube (and of course here, this blog too, in more traditional article format). I am a photographer that utilizes YouTube as a platform to talk to an audience. However, there is a group of YouTubers who make videos about photography, who may not be photographers, and they seem to care little or less about photography at all, and I want to talk about these YouTube photographers. 

I see so many people chasing after latest and greatest gear and obsessing over technical perfection in their images. I personally believe that if you cannot get good images with your current gear, even if you upgrade to the next best camera, your images won't improve even a bit. You should upgrade your skills first before upgrading your gear. I also believe that using older, cheaper gear can help make you a better photographer. Going back to basics with simpler controls without the automated settings or 1000 different AF options, you have to truly master the basics and control the camera effectively to get your shots, without relying on the camera's "smart" features. Not having 1000MP or 1000fps burst shooting will slow you down and make you work harder around the camera limitations to get your shots. Using older cameras will sharpen your shooting discipline. I talk about this and more in my latest video here (click). I am sharing some of my latest work with the almost 20 years old Nikon D50 and Yongnuo 35mm F2 lens. 

Olympus OM-D E-M5 original was a legendary camera that paved the way to mirrorless revolution. I think that camera is still an awesome camera today and is great for street photography. It has built in EVF, tiltable LCD screen, fast AF, built in 5-Axis image stabilization, is weather-sealed, has magnesium allow build, handles like a mini DSLR with efficient dual command dials control, and produces excellent image quality. In the used market today, since the E-M5 original was released 12 years ago, you should be able to get one in a fairly cheap price, and it can still deliver great results! I talk about this and more in my latest video here (click). I share the same photographs in this blog entry, all taken with E-M5 original and 25mm F1.8 lens. 

I have never actually owned the Olympus M.Zuiko 60mm F2.8 Macro lens before. Previously, I had one for long term loan from Olympus when I was involved with them as an Olympus Visionary (a fancy name for ambassador). Since I left, I have returned the macro lens together with a selection of other amazing lenses, and I never looked to purchase one for myself because macro photography was not what I was doing for a living. Fast forward many years to today, I found the Olympus 60mm F2.8 Macro in the used marketplace at a really good price I cannot resist, so I bought one, and my hands got so itchy I went out to the nearby park to grab some insect macro images. I made a video about this, you can watch it here (click).