In August of this year I became the lucky owner of an Olympus 75mm lens. I wrote a review of it here and have since used extensively. It is a stunning lens in every way and I love it dearly.
More recently I had a chance to try out the new Olympus 60mm macro and was impressed, sufficiently so that I soon added one to my collection and have been bombarding you with macro shots.
So, given the choice, which should you buy?
This may seem like a stupid question, similar to “should I buy an armchair or a wristwatch?” (I get asked this a lot). After all, surely the 75mm is designed to produce shots like this:
Whereas the 60mm macro is designed to produce shots like this:
Well, yes, but with a flick of a switch on the side of the 60mm lens, it stops being a macro and can take general shots, albeit with a maximum aperture of F2.8 compared to the 75mm’s F1.8. So, how do the two compare for general shooting? Let’s find out.
Image Quality
Olympus 60mm, F3.5:
Olympus 75mm, F3.5:
I walked a bit closer to the subject with the 60mm to try and get the same area of coverage, then cropped both shots a little. The colouration is slightly different, but that could be more down to the ever-changing light on the day rather than the lenses. Let’s have a look at a crop (click to view 100% size).
60mm:
75mm:
Here’s another. Again, the sun was darting in and out of clouds, and I moved my shooting position to obtain a similar field of view.
60mm, F2.8:
75mm, F2.8:
Crops (click to view at 100%):
60mm:
75mm:
A couple more crops, this time at F7.1 (click to view at 100%):
60mm:
75mm:
Finally, a simple field of view comparison between the difference between 60mm and 75mm. Both these shots were taken from the same point:
60mm, F2.8:
75mm, F2.8:
And here is the same shot with the 75mm at F1.8 to show the difference in bokeh:
75mm, F1.8:
Image Quality Conclusion Allowing for varying light and a variable photographer, what can we conclude from the above? My conclusion is that the 75mm is slightly better, but you have to pixel peek to see the difference and there is really little to choose in overall image quality between the two lenses.
Handling and other considerations: The 60mm is smaller and lighter than the 75mm and is dust and splash proof, although the 75mm’s metal construction feels more substantial. The 75mm focuses slightly slower than other M43 lenses, the 60mm, like most other lenses, focuses almost instantaneously on the GX1. The 60mm is 2/3 of the price of the 75mm. How close do you need to go? If you don’t want anything smaller than pretty flowers, the 75mm can do the job:
75mm, F1.8
75mm, F1.8
But if you want a photo of a fly’s eye, then you will need the 60mm macro.
Which to buy? If you are not interested in macro, and are prepared to pay 50% more, go for the 75mm. The extra light gathering of F1.8 can be really useful, as well as offering creamier bokeh and a chance for thinner depth of field if such is you need. And the IQ is beyond reproach.
If you are after a macro, the 60mm will give you great macro shots, and also double as a general lens providing almost as much as the 75mm. And it’s lighter, cheaper, faster and more weather resistant.
Given the above, the 60mm seems like the obvious choice. Wrong. Buy the 75mm.
Then convince yourself and anyone else in your purchasing approval process, that you really need a macro. Buy the 60mm.
Result: Two great lenses in your collection. After all, the world is about to end and there are no pockets in a shroud.
Comments 🔗
2012-12-18| Pete says“Wrong. Buy the 75mm. "
Cracking train of logic there, but I think you’d have to be very good on the convincing front when the Financial Department got a whiff of the attempted sleight-of-walletry.
2012-12-18| Spike saysI bought the 75mm before the 60mm was available. Then I really needed a macro.
2012-12-18| Pete saysI was thinking more of people that might want to try this in the future, rather than those that have got it past the bean counters already based on the temporal chain of events.
2012-12-18| Grant saysShush Pete…
2012-12-22| ethan saysThanks for a useful comparison. I have the 60mm and have been eyeing the 75mm. I will to save up a little for it. Also, there’s one correction I would like to make. The 75mm costs 80% more and not 50%. (50% would put the 75mm at $750, I wish!!)
2012-12-22| Grant saysSee, you know you need both! Uncle Spike must be on a retainer from someone… I believe that any alledgedly lowered percentages in his posts are entirely due to the SWMBO factor and not to a diminuation of faculties or the onset of gin and tonic.