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Good value OM lenses
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 7:04 pm    Post subject: Good value OM lenses Reply with quote
I recently got my hands on an Olympus OM-1 and wanted to hear if you could recommend good value OM lenses? I'm thinking below 60€-ish. It came with a Zuiko 50/1.8 and Sigma 28/2.8 so something like 24mm,35mm, portrait and tele prime or zoom. Are there any must-haves Zuiko lenses?


PostPosted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 7:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
All Zuiko lenses are must have no matter how inexpensive or expensive they have stable stunning quality.


PostPosted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 7:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
olympus 50mm/3.5 macro
olympus 135mm/3.5


PostPosted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 7:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
28/3.5... very good and not too pricey


PostPosted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 7:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I love my 85/2 Zuiko, though these may be over your budget limit. The 35-70 3.5-4.5 is very compact and to be honest, I have a hard time telling the results from a prime (lens speed apart). The Zuikoholics rave about some other fixed aperture 35-70s... the 75-150/4 is a real classic. I really have to +1 Attila here, LOL


PostPosted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 8:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
So many possibilities Very Happy How is the 100/2.8, what price range can I expect?


PostPosted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 8:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
lauge wrote:
So many possibilities Very Happy How is the 100/2.8, what price range can I expect?


looking at current offerings on ebay,100/2.8 goes for at least 150$

here you can see some samples from it, used with Oly E-520
http://forum.mflenses.com/testing-my-lenses-part-32-olympus-100mm-2-8-t38373,highlight,%2Btesting+%2Blenses.html


PostPosted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 8:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Some say vintage Olympus lenses were not built based on public target they were always pro-level built the difference would be mainly on the apertures, that was the price increase factor.

I only own one and I like it, very high quality stuff, doesn't look as old as it is.


PostPosted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 8:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Xpres wrote:
28/3.5... very good and not too pricey


I had a silver nose copy for a while and hated it. Build quality was flawless and it was razor sharp, but it had a lot of CA and colors were terrible. White balance was inconsistent across the frame, with the corners being noticeably more red than the center. The Vivitar 28/2.8 with which I replaced it has much better optical performance, and cost half as much, though the build isn't as solid.


PostPosted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 9:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Nesster wrote:
I love my 85/2 Zuiko, though these may be over your budget limit. The 35-70 3.5-4.5 is very compact and to be honest, I have a hard time telling the results from a prime (lens speed apart). The Zuikoholics rave about some other fixed aperture 35-70s... the 75-150/4 is a real classic. I really have to +1 Attila here, LOL


They are rave due expensive and rare , usually this is only the reason about raving ... Wink


PostPosted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 9:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
ChromaticAberration wrote:
Some say vintage Olympus lenses were not built based on public target they were always pro-level built the difference would be mainly on the apertures, that was the price increase factor.


This makes 0 sense, so must be an invention of incurable Olympus fans. Something like 28/3.5 is obviously a budget lens purely on specs, so making it "pro-level" in some way would simply be a wasted effort. Does not mean that it should suck, but when you are doing a budget lens, ultimate performance is not your top priority.


PostPosted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 10:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
fermy wrote:
ChromaticAberration wrote:
Some say vintage Olympus lenses were not built based on public target they were always pro-level built the difference would be mainly on the apertures, that was the price increase factor.


This makes 0 sense, so must be an invention of incurable Olympus fans. Something like 28/3.5 is obviously a budget lens purely on specs, so making it "pro-level" in some way would simply be a wasted effort. Does not mean that it should suck, but when you are doing a budget lens, ultimate performance is not your top priority.


Try it parallel with OM 28mm f2.0


PostPosted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 10:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I am not saying that they did not had budget lenses. What I read was that build quality was the same, apertures were not and optical formulas neither of course.

I own the Macro-Zuiko 50mm f/3.5 and would love to compare it with the f/2.0 big sister, I am sure performance-wise the big sister would crush it but build-quality-wise difference would be a lot less perceptible. Glass is beautifully clear and somehow looks expensive (whatever that means). Focus is ubber smooth. Lens is very "tight" overall. Lighter than older metal ones but very, very sturdy. When focused on infinite the element completely covers the lens barrel inner hole (best name I could think of!) making dust very hard to get in.

Not making build quality/materials a price decisive element is not that stupid. As far as I know Takumar's were like the lesser line of lenses from Asahi Pentax and we all know how well built they were.

EDIT: ok I was wrong about the aforementioned assumption about the Takumar line. The 80's/90/s Tarkumar's are the budget ressurrection the 60's/70/s were the main quality line of Pentax lenses.

Last edited by ChromaticAberration on Tue Jun 19, 2012 10:41 pm; edited 2 times in total


PostPosted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 10:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
ChromaticAberration wrote:
As far as I know Takumar's were like the lesser line of lenses from Asahi Pentax and we all know how well built they were.


Only the PK mount Takumars were sold as budget lenses though Wink I believe the M42 lenses were of a higher quality.

BTW, the Zuiko 85/2 and 28/2 are both excellent.


PostPosted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 10:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
ManualFocus-G wrote:

Only the PK mount Takumars were sold as budget lenses though Wink I believe the M42 lenses were of a higher quality.


That's correct. You only need to hold one in your hands to know. Why did Pentax call new (80's) k-mount budget line lenses "takumar" is just silly... old takumars are high end lenses.


PostPosted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 10:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I also own a 75-150/4 and find the quality near that of a prime lens, plus it has the same 49mm filter thread as the 1.8/50. Zuiko lenses do seem to be of a very high standard, but I have no experience of the many different, quality makes that some of the others here have used. One thing I have seen tough is that the 1.8/50 seems prone to sticky aperture blades (I have two that suffer from this and seen many offered on ebay with this problem).


PostPosted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 11:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
ChromaticAberration wrote:
I own the Macro-Zuiko 50mm f/3.5 and would love to compare it with the f/2.0 big sister, I am sure performance-wise the big sister would crush it but build-quality-wise difference would be a lot less perceptible.


here are mine 50/2 & 50/3.5 macros side by side:

#1

#2

#3


PostPosted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 11:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
ChromaticAberration wrote:
I am not saying that they did not had budget lenses. What I read was that build quality was the same, apertures were not and optical formulas neither of course.


Ahhh, this makes sense. But similar build quality on high-end and budget lenses used to be norm for all major Japanese manufacturers. The drastic change happened at the end of 70-s, when more and more plastic was introduced in the construction. That's when Nikon came up with E-series. The same story happened to Canon FD. Take a look at old FD breech locks: same build quality, same materials on FD 35/f2 and FD 50/1.8. In FDn and late breech locks you already start seeing some plastic used on cheaper lenses. That being said, I actually like FDn plastic: it's lighter, ages better than metal, and seems to be just as durable.


PostPosted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 1:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
WolverineX wrote:
ChromaticAberration wrote:
I own the Macro-Zuiko 50mm f/3.5 and would love to compare it with the f/2.0 big sister, I am sure performance-wise the big sister would crush it but build-quality-wise difference would be a lot less perceptible.


here are mine 50/2 & 50/3.5 macros side by side: (...)


They look exactly the same except for the front ring with the lettering. My version of the f/3.5 even has the same focus grip than your f/2.0. This reminds me of getting an OM adapter to try this baby out, I have to decide if I keep it or make a profit out of it.

Wow this is getting a bit off-topic ain't it?


PostPosted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 3:40 am    Post subject: Om lenses Reply with quote
In my opinion, old Olympus OM lenses - some of the best lenses in the history of lens creation. Small size, excellent optical and mechanical characteristics. Some of my favorite lenses!

Gather any information about these lenses here


PostPosted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 6:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I have the full range of budget Olympus prime lenses from 24mm to 300mm. By "budget" I mean that I have e.g. the 100/2.8 but not the uber-expensive 100/2. All of them are excellent with few disappointments, one of which would be the 35/2.8, which is bettered by my copy of Yashica ML 35/2.8. Your budget will get you a 28/2.8 or a 50/1.8 lens easily (later "Zuiko" versions, without "MC" or letter before the word "Zuiko" are the best).

Re: 85/2; this is a superb lens, with a floating element correcting for close focusing. This lens is what an ultimately perfected Jupiter-9 could be, with true colors and beautiful rendering.


PostPosted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 7:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I only have one Zuiko lens: the 28mm f/3.5 - and I love it! Absolutely gorgeous. Tiny, tiny lens, suuuper smooth focus ring and the colors are just amazing imo. Only cost me 25€ too.
I REALLY, REALLY want the 24mm, but they are just getting more-and-more expensive. Should have pulled the trigger a year ago when they were 100€ish, now they're about 150-200€. Confused Not quite sure yet if it's worth to upgrade for just 4mm though...


PostPosted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 11:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
TijmenDal wrote:
I only have one Zuiko lens: the 28mm f/3.5 - and I love it! Absolutely gorgeous. Tiny, tiny lens, suuuper smooth focus ring and the colors are just amazing imo. Only cost me 25€ too.
I REALLY, REALLY want the 24mm, but they are just getting more-and-more expensive. Should have pulled the trigger a year ago when they were 100€ish, now they're about 150-200€. Confused Not quite sure yet if it's worth to upgrade for just 4mm though...


In wide angle few mm is a lot worth to upgrade it.


PostPosted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 5:15 am    Post subject: OM F-Zuiko 50 F1.8 vs Digital Zuiko 50 F2 Reply with quote
Sorry no pics (bed time)...
i just did a quick comparo of my: 4/3 50 F2, OM 50 1.8, (and Hexanon AR 57 1.2)
the dZuiko is sharper/cleaner wide open than OM 50 1.8 is but at F4 the DZuiko has nothing on the old OM 50 1.8.
I really wish this old 1.8 had half stops.
I'm so surprised by the results that I'm going to do my test (series of flower shots with tripod) again. If result s are same I'll be on the look out for that OM 85/2.
Paul


PostPosted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 7:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thanks all. I think I will start out hunting the 28/3.5 and 75-150/4. After closer inspection it was a Sigma 24/2.8 so the 28mm Zuiko will be perfect. The 100/2.8 interest me a lot so that goes on my list as well for later purchase.
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