Conclusion

The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 60mm f2.8 ED Macro is an excellent performer in the optical department. Centre sharpness is outstanding from f/2.8 through f/8, with the f11 and f16 settings also being eminently usable. The borders are also very sharp, with optimum performance achieved at f/5.6 and f/8. Vignetting is essentially a non-issue, and lateral chromatic aberrations are very well controlled too. At the lens's close-focus point of 19cm, the effective f-number drops to f/5.6 – but the lens achieves a true 1:1 reproduction ratio allowing you to fill the frame with a subject as small as 17.3x13.0mm. Geometric distortions are kept to a minimum.

The lens offers a good feature set, with a well-implemented focus limiter, a wide and smooth focus ring, a combined distance and magnification scale, and a dust- and drip-proof construction. Owners of Panasonic MFT cameras should take note that there is no lens-based image stabilisation on offer.

The M.Zuiko Digital 60mm f/2.8 ED focuses impressively quickly for a macro lens, enabling you to use it as a general-purpose telephoto prime – and even to capture fast action if you have a new-generation Micro Four Thirds camera. Manual focusing is “by wire,” which can take a bit of getting used to, but otherwise the wide and ribbed focus ring does its job nicely. The lens does not extend and the filter thread does not rotate on focus.

Overall, the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED is an excellent macro optic that also doubles as a regular telephoto lens. If you feel limited by the close-up capabilities of your existing MFT optics, you should definitely take a long and hard look at this lens – you are highly unlikely to be disappointed.

Ratings (out of 5)
Design	4.5
Features	5
Ease-of-use	4.5
Image quality	5
Value for money	3.5