Gary takes a close look at the close up world of Olympus. The 35mm f/3.5 is a low-priced macro lens designed specifically for Four-Thirds digital SLRs. It's not often that a marque macro lens can be had for under ￡200, but that's what we have here.

Compact; lightweight design; Good optical performance; Good build quality; Good flare and ghosting performance; Great value

Indirect electronic manual focus system is an acquired taste; Barrel distortion

When I first heard about a 35mm focal length macro lens my mouth began to water. The $229 price tag was an immediate inducement, as were the compactness and lightweight of this glass. What threw me, though, was the focal length.

Olympus' 35mm macro gives an equivalent angle of view similar to a 70mm lens used on a full-frame camera and it offers 1:1 life sized magnification too.

Compact; lightweight design; Good optical performance; Good build quality; Good flare and ghosting performance; Great value

Indirect electronic manual focus system is an acquired taste; Barrel distortion

Small and cheap plastic macro lens with surprising great optics.

- very sharp lens; quite pleasing bokeh; great cooperation with both 1.4x and 2.0x converters

- none for given price

Invariably it's the sensor size and the Four Thirds format that dominates any discussions about Olympus's E-series cameras, but what many may not realise is the depth and strength of the lens line-up behind it.

This is the more cost effective Olympus macro lens available for the four thirds system. It is astonishingly sharp with outstanding color reproduction. I can't emphasize enough how wonderful the color is from this lens.

Clarity; color reproduction; Light Weight; Sharpness

Slow focus at times; Hunts for focus

This makes a huge difference for close-ups. This is a standard four thirds lens (not micro four thirds), which I use with a micro four thirds-to-four thirds converter, on an EM-1 body, and all controls work perfectly (i.e., auto focus and other controls). The quality of the photos is excellent, too.

This i will sure recommend to my olympus DLSR users ..I got this Macro Lens for my Birthday along with the 70-300mm Lens and i fine myself useing the Macro more then ever and i forgot sometime i have the 70-300mm which i got also with teh macro,thats to sure you am happy i got the macro....

I am a weaver and need sharp closeups of fabric, fiber and yarn. Just got this new lens, but the first photo not only shows the rug pile, but every speck of dirt on it. Went right for the vacuum cleaner.Looking forward to lots of clear photos.[...

Consistent Output; Easily Interchangeable; Fast / accurate auto-focus; Lightweight

Used primarily for taking macro photos for metal and jewelry, this lens easily does what it advertises. At half the price of the other options and easily changed out, we couldn't ask for more.