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Peter Swan’s Olympus kit for insects and the wider outdoors
Swan identifies the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II as his favorite camera and the Olympus 60mm F2.8 Macro as his favorite lens. The DPReview profile shows the macro lens in captions for several insect photographs. His other listed lenses cover a range of uses beyond close-ups:
- Olympus 100-400mm F5-6.3
- Olympus 25mm F1.2
- Panasonic 12-32mm F3.5-5.6
- Panasonic 35-100mm F4-5.6
He says the camera and five lenses fit in his Tarion rolltop backpack, with room left for food and waterproof clothing. He can also fit a Panasonic GX9 with a 7-14mm F4 attached. These are details of Swan’s own packing choices, not a claim that this is the right kit for every photographer.
Accessories he carries
For macro work, Swan names a Nissin i40 flash paired with a Cygnustech diffuser, a Marumi DHG Achromat 200 close-up lens, and a couple of polarizing filters. The profile lists these items but does not establish compatibility details or recommend them as a universal setup.
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- New 20.4 megapixel live MOS sensor
- New TruePic VIII dual quad core image processor, auto focus points phase detection: 121 (121 cross type), contrast detection: 121
- 60 frames per second S AF, 18 frames per second C AF (silent electronic shutter)
- 15 frames per second S AF, 10 frames per second C AF (mechanical shutter)
- 121 point dual fast AF with cross type on chip phase detection focusing
Why diffused flash changed his macro photographs
Swan says his early macro attempts relied on natural light and a non-stabilized macro lens. He found it difficult to stop down for greater depth of field while keeping image detail at a manageable ISO. Stabilization helped somewhat, but he says diffused flash made the bigger difference: it let him use lower ISO and greater depth of field.
He first made a simple diffuser from a transparent folder and white paper, then bought the Cygnustech diffuser after seeing other photographers’ results. That is Swan’s account of his own progression, rather than a controlled comparison of lighting systems.
Rank #2
- Multi-selector (Joystick) for quick selection of the AF area while looking through viewfinder
- Dust proof/Slash proof/Freeze proof magnesium alloy weather sealed construction
- 50MP handheld high resolution shot
- 60 FPS (S-AF), 18 fps (C-AF tracking) continuous shooting with the silent electronic shutter
- 121 point all cross type on chip phase detection plus contrast detection AF
Captions in the profile show the settings used for particular photographs, not general prescriptions. A Roesel’s bush cricket image is captioned at F11, 1/250 sec, and ISO 200; a Brassica Bugs photograph is captioned at F13, 1/250 sec, and ISO 250.
Focus stacking: useful when the subject stays still
Swan is still working to become more proficient at focus stacking. He says some stacks need 50 or more shots and that stacking works best when the subject stays still for a few seconds. In one example, he photographed a cellar spider at home and assembled a 15-image stack using Zerene.
Rank #3
- Built in 5 Axis image stabilization for sharper images
- 2.3 million dot OLED electronic viewfinder with 0.62X magnification
- Silent mode (disables all shutter sounds)
- 8.5 frames per second burst shooting
- Fast touch auto focus from camera or phone
Those figures describe his experience and example, not a fixed number of frames for every subject. Insect movement can make a multi-image sequence difficult, so Swan’s still-subject qualification matters as much as the software name.
Where and when to look for insects
Swan says insects can be found in parks, nature reserves, and gardens, including in winter. He values reserves for their biodiversity but stresses that small creatures also turn up in ordinary places. His own outings have included Arnside Knott for Brown Hairstreaks, Hickling Broad for old world swallowtails, and Fineshades Wood for Purple Emperors.
Rank #4
- 16.3MP CMOS Four Thirds sensor with 5-axis sensor shift image stabilization
- 10 frames per second continuous shooting
- Contrast detect and phase detect AF
- ISO 100-25,600
- 1080 30 fps HD video (H.264/Motion JPEG)
Start early, then slow down
His advice is to look early, before insects have fully warmed up. Later in the day, some species may be skittish, so he recommends moving patiently around them rather than rushing in.
Make the background work
For composition, Swan emphasizes simplicity: “One of the most important things is to have a clean background.” He also notes that diagonals, such as stems, can help shape a composition. A distracting backdrop can compete with a small subject, so paying attention to what sits behind the insect is part of finding the picture, not an afterthought.
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- Ideal viewfinder eyecup eyepiece for Olympus OM-D E-M1 & E-M1 Mark II Mark III Camera
- Replaces Olympus EP-13 EP-12 eyecup
- Blocks light and helps you concentrate on taking photo
- Protects viewfinder from impact and scratches effectively
- Soft silicone material for eye comfort, protects your glasses from scratches
Pack for the outing, not just the photograph
Alongside camera equipment, Swan lists food, water, waterproof clothing, and a tick remover among his field essentials. The tick-remover detail is his personal preparation advice, not medical guidance.
DPReview’s profile is a photographer’s community feature, not a camera test or comparative buying guide. It documents how Swan uses his Olympus kit and develops his technique; it does not establish that any particular body, lens, flash, or diffuser is best for other macro photographers.
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