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M.Zuiko Digital ED 90mm f/3.5 Macro Lens Review

Discover everything you need to know in our M.Zuiko 90mm f/3.5 Macro Lens Review, which includes a specs comparison with existing Olympus macro lenses for Micro Four Thirds cameras. We also have 100% crop image samples and a video review of the M.Zuiko Digital ED 90mm f/3.5 Macro IS PRO Lens, the latest lens to be released under the guidance of OM System.

Our review includes highlight features in order for you to decide which is the perfect close-up lens for your needs, regardless of whether adding the new macro lens to your existing collection, or upgrading from a previous model.

Highlight M.Zuiko Digital ED 90mm f/3.5 Macro IS PRO Lens features

With a brand new design in-keeping with the latest OM System lenses, the >M.Zuiko 90mm f/3.5 Macro Lens offers a host of class-leading and innovative features for macro photography and videography. These include:

• 180mm equivalent focal length (35mm full-frame format)
• 6/7-stops optical image stabilisation (native lens/combined Sync IS)
• Up to 2x magnification rising to 4x with Olympus M.Zuiko Digital MC-20 Teleconverter
• Minimum focus distance 0.224m (S-MACRO)
• 453g weight
• 62mm filter thread
• IP53 weather resistance
• 18 elements / 13 groups with 8 special lens elements

M.Zuiko 90mm f/3.5 Macro Lens pros and cons

M.Zuiko 90mm f/3.5 Macro Lens pro and cons at a glance:

Pros:

• Class-leading image quality
• First M.Zuiko macro lens with image stabilisation
• Double life-sized magnification at 2x
• Compatible with teleconverters for up to 4x image magnification
• Best in class weather resistant structure
• Pro ergonomics with focus limiter and focus clutch

Cons:

• Heavier than existing macro lenses
• Expensive in comparison with existing models

Sample macro image © Chris McGinnis. Camera settings: 1/100sec. f/6.3. ISO 200

When was the 90mm f/3.5 Macro IS PRO Lens released?

The M.Zuiko Digital ED 90mm f/3.5 Macro IS PRO Lens was launched February 8, 2023, within three months of the previously released M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F/2.8 PRO II Lens. This highlights the rapid development of new equipment for the MFT format, under OM System.

100 percent crop of sample image above © Chris McGinnis. Camera settings: 1/100sec. f/6.3. ISO 200

How much does the M.Zuiko 90mm f/3.5 Macro Lens cost?

At launch, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 90mm f/3.5 Macro IS PRO Lens costs £1299, which places it firmly at the advanced enthusiast and professional level of the micro four thirds lens range. This is due to an extensive list of professional features, with class-leading capabilities for macro photography.

Sample nature macro © Chris McGinnis. Camera settings: 1/100sec. f/8. ISO 200

Maximum 2x image magnification

The headline feature which the 90mm f/3.5 Macro lens provides is up to 2.0x native maximum magnification. This allows you to shoot close-up images at any magnification including 0.5x, through 1.0x (1:1 life-size), through to 2x magnification with just the lens.

100% crop of sample photo above

Teleconverter compatibility

Uniquely, in order to capture impossibly small details which are invisible to the naked eye, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 90mm f/3.5 Macro IS PRO Lens is compatible with existing Olympus teleconverters. This allows you to add the MC-14 or MC-20 Teleconverter and increase magnification up to an unparalleled 4.0x.

The focal length of the lens extends according to the teleconverter, with a super telephoto 360mm equivalent full-frame with the 2.0x and 252mm equivalent focal length, when the 1.4x TC is mounted. This provides true super telephoto capabilities, although it’s worth bearing in mind, as with all TCs, the maximum aperture reduces, in this case to f/5 and f/7.1 accordingly.

Sample image butterfly macro. Camera settings: 1/1000sec. f/3.5. ISO 200

M.Zuiko 90mm f/3.5 Macro image quality

We’ve included image samples throughout this review, demonstrating the professional image quality, which the 90mm macro lens is capable of achieving. The advanced optical design with 18 elements arranged in 13 groups includes eight special lens elements, which are responsible for rendering high resolution and high image quality.

IP 53 weather sealing diagram of the M.Zuiko 90mm f/3.5 Macro Lens

Extensive weather sealing

As has become customary with PRO OM System Lenses, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 90mm f/3.5 Macro is extensively sealed against dust, moisture and freezing. This is measured with a class-leading IP 53 rating, when mounted on a sealed camera body, such as the OM System OM-1.

This allows you to shoot in conditions, which are often associated with macro subjects, such as during rainfall to capture exploding water droplets and close-ups of ice crystals and so on.

Unbeatable low light performance

OM System has compensated for the maximum f/3.5 aperture with a 5-axis lens based optical stabilisation mechanism. This achieves 6-stops natively, which rises to 7-stops when mounted on a camera body with combined body/lens Sync IS, which includes the flagship OM-1 and enthusiast-level OM-5.

© Jamie Rosencrans. Camera settings: 1/100sec. f/8. ISO 250

Micro Four Thirds macro lens specs comparison

This specs comparison table comparing all three MFT macro lenses highlights just how advanced this latest PRO model is. It offers double life-size magnification, lens-based and combined body stabilisation, extensive weather sealing and teleconverter compatibility to name a few.

What types of photography can you do with the 90mm macro lens?

Naturally the M.Zuiko Digital ED 90mm f/3.5 Macro IS PRO excels at macro / close-up photography and videography. However with an equivalent 180mm telephoto focal length, you can also capture nature, travel and portraits, which are all excellent subjects for this type of prime.

Lens ergonomics and useability

With its PRO designation, the 90mm macro lens is designed to cater for professional workflows. It achieves this not only with extensive weather resistance, but through a series of controls that include a focus limiter switch, manual focus clutch mechanism and IS switch. These help speed up focus acquisition, which is especially useful for macro subjects, where even the slightest breath of wind can create huge focus variations.

M.Zuiko 90mm lens accessories

A comprehensive list of lens accessories are amongst the many benefits for advanced macro photographers who choose the M.Zuiko 90mm as their macro lens. These include the ability to add teleconverters as mentioned earlier, as well as the Olympus STF-8 Macro Flash. This can enhance images with much needed light, for what can commonly be quite dark subject matter.

You can also add cost-effective 62mm lens filters, with a circular polariser in particular being extremely useful for reducing glare and highlights on damp or wet subjects. For cost-effective polarisation try the Hoya 62mm UX II PL-CIR Circular Polariser Filter, whilst the Hoya 62mm HD II Circular Polarising Filter adds benefits such as superior water and oil repellent characteristics.

Who is the M.Zuiko 90mm f/3.5 Macro Lens for?

With an RRP of £1299.00 the M.Zuiko 90mm f/3.5 Macro Lens is not for everyone. As a casual macro photographer you could be more drawn to either of the existing Olympus models, but for advanced enthusiasts and professional creators who need unparalleled image quality and unbelievably high magnification, the M.Zuiko 90mm f/3.5 Macro Lens creates its very own benchmark.

OM System 90mm f/3.5 Macro IS PRO Lens Video Review

Reserve your M.Zuiko Digital ED 90mm f/3.5 Macro IS PRO and start capturing incredibly detailed, high magnification macro images and explore our complete line-up of Micro Four Thirds lenses here.

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By Nick Dautlich on 08/02/2023