The article features some M.Zuiko MC-20 Hi Res test images of frogs, captured handheld during a recent visit to the Royal Botanical Gardens. These test photographs were created using an E-M1X with an M.Zuiko PRO 40-150 mm f/2.8 zoom lens.

NOTE: Click on images to enlarge.

As regular readers know I enjoy creating photographic challenges. These can be instructive to learn more about the capabilities of my camera equipment, and to self-assess various personal skill sets. During my most recent visit to the Royal Botanical Gardens frog display I decided to capture all of my photographs using Handheld Hi Res. My plan was to shoot primarily with the M.Zuiko 60 mm f/2.8 macro, and the PRO 40-150 f/2.8. I brought both of my teleconverters with me, but was unsure whether I’d actually use either one/both of them.

Handheld Hi Res increases dynamic range.

According to the test data available on the photonstophotos website, using Handheld hi Res (or tripod assisted hi res) increases dynamic range. So I did some research on the website, then selected ISO-1600 for all of my images used in this article.

I selected this particular ISO value as the test data illustrated that a image captured using Handheld Hi Res at ISO-1600 would have almost the identical amount of dynamic range as a standard image would when captured at ISO-200. Based on photonstophotos data the difference is only 0.06 EV… and its actually in favour of HHHR at ISO-1600.

Since I anticipated having to stop my lens down, and perhaps having to increase my shutter speed, I wanted to establish a maximum ISO value at which I could still retain a good level of dynamic range.

Using teleconverters negatively affects IBIS performance.

Adding a teleconverter to our camera gear set-up has a negative impact on IBIS performance. The MC-14 reduces IBIS performance by 1 stop, and the MC-20 reduces it by 2 stops. Towards the end of my visit I decided to try some Handheld Hi Res images with the MC-20 teleconverter. The resulting MC-20 Handheld Hi Res test images met my expectations… but more practice is definitely needed!

Handheld Hi Res images at ISO-1600 had minimal noise.

In addition to increased image resolution and dynamic range, using Handheld Hi Res also delivers images with a reduced amount of noise. At ISO-1600 my Handheld Hi Res test images of frogs were quite clean with only very minimal noise. Due to the position of many of the frogs in the displays, using the M.Zuiko MC-20 teleconverter with the PRO 40-150 mm f/2.8 zoom allowed me to fill more of my frame with subject frogs than I was able to do with my 60 mm macro lens.

The image above, and the one directly below, are 100% crops of the fourth photograph in this article. They help illustrate the ‘macro type’ images that can be created when using the MC-20 and PRO 40-150 mm f/2.8 zoom to photograph a subject frog almost one metre away. I found the detail in the crops to be quite good. If you look in the highlight in the frog’s eye in the image below, you’ll see that the reflection of an exit door at the RBG is clearly visible.

After viewing this detail, go back to the fourth photograph and compare the size of this reflected highlight in the eye of the frog. As you can see, using Handheld Hi Res when creating macro and close up photographs, helps to expand the system’s functionality.

The image above is one of my favourite photographs from this particular visit to the Royal Botanical Gardens.  I loved the frog’s position on the leaf, as well as the more diffused nature of the light in the scene. The next photograph is a 100% crop of the frog’s eye.

When going out to create some macro photographs we often reach just for our macro lens. We can overlook the value of bringing teleconverters and the M.Zuiko PRO 40-150 mm f/2.8 zoom with us. The added reach can be extremely useful when macro subjects are a bit more distant.

It is absolutely worthwhile to practice using Handheld Hi Res when shooting macro photography. This technology is superb as it delivers increased resolution, more dynamic range, and less noise than does a standard resolution image.

The M.Zuiko PRO 40-150 mm f/2.8 is my favourite lens as it provides outstanding optical performance… even with teleconverters. Its comparatively short minimum focusing distance, compatibility with teleconverters, and fast constant aperture make it a wonderfully flexible piece of kit. It costs more than the M.Zuiko PRO 40-150 mm f/4… but is worth every penny of added investment.

Technical Note

Photographs were captured handheld using camera gear as noted in the EXIF data. Images were produced from RAW using my standard approach in post. All photographs were captured using Handheld Hi Res technology. This is the 1,249 article published on this website since its original inception in 2015.

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