Olympus 60mm Macro soft at infinity focus?

csnite · May 8, 2014

I have a question for owners of the 60 macro. As a macro lens, I have no complaints, but when shooting it as a normal landscape lens, I have found it to be soft at infinity. I just did a test between the Olympus 40-150 and 60mm. Both lenses were on a tripod, no IS, both lenses set at f5.6. Both crops are from the center of the frame. Corners were better on the 60. Have any of you seen this, or do I have a bad lens? I haven't tried with manual focusing, but it showed focus lock on both lenses. The first image is the 40-150, the second is the 60mm. Also, I did the same comparison with the 45mm 1.8 and it was noticeable sharper than both the 40-150 and 60mm.

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tosvus · May 8, 2014

Exposure is a bit off in your second pic that probably enhances the effect. From what I understand the O60 is a good but not outstanding walk around lens. I would expect a Sigma60 to beat it but I'm surprised if a zoom does..

Edit: Only looking at my phone here but still looks very soft to me.

Wisertime · May 8, 2014

are you sure the focus is on the sign? the 2nd one looks like it might be on the green rail. My 60 is outstanding and sharp with nice contrast..so is my 40-150 and indeed is a great walk around lens.

csnite · May 8, 2014

This was shot across the street, with the focus box on the sign. Even so, with the 60 set at infinity, shouldn't the sharpness be equal anywhere from about 10'-infinity? The yellow support in the foreground is really about 60' from me and the sign is maybe 100'. This is a small crop from the center of the frame.

mistermark · May 8, 2014

I think further testing is required. Either there's some problem with settings for this shot or you have a faulty copy; in my experience the 60mm Zuiko is among the sharpest lenses available for m43, irrespective of focusing distance.

Sammyboy · May 8, 2014

.... Looks like you missed focus .....

tjdean01 · May 8, 2014

I can see that the 40-150, in your photo, is sharper in the foreground as well as the back vs the 60's subpar shot. So, I would guess you haven't missed focus. Just a note, whenever I do tests, I like to manually focus so I don't miss.

Some lenses, like the Sigma 60, look better wide open. I wonder what this would have looked like if you shot at f2.8?

Finally, it might just be over exposed? Try again I say!

csnite · May 9, 2014

Evidently, I don't know how to use a camera... I tried again today and the results were much different with the 60mm. It was very sharp with MF and since I didn't overexpose it, it was very nice color and detail. It still is very close to the 40-150, but it does have a margin, especially away from the center of the frame. It just reminds me how amazing that plastic 40-150 is in the right environment. Thanks for the input.

csnite · May 9, 2014

tjdean01 said: ↑

I wonder what this would have looked like if you shot at f2.8?
Click to expand...

I did try it at 2.8 and it was noticeably sharper at 5.6. It wasn't bad at 2.8, but definitely improves across the frame at 5.6.

Wisertime · May 9, 2014

csnite said: ↑

It just reminds me how amazing that plastic 40-150 is in the right environment. Thanks for the input.
Click to expand...

So true. I don't use it enough. I took shots this weekend with my 40-150 just messing around and they look as good as the 75mm would have (in bright sunlight).

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Olympus 60mm Macro soft at infinity focus?

csnite Mu-43 Regular

tosvus Mu-43 Top Veteran

Wisertime Mu-43 Hall of Famer

csnite Mu-43 Regular

mistermark Mu-43 Regular

Sammyboy m43 Pro

tjdean01 Mu-43 Top Veteran

csnite Mu-43 Regular

csnite Mu-43 Regular

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