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What's so special about this lens?
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PostPosted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 4:23 pm    Post subject: What's so special about this lens? Reply with quote
Hi!

The lens in question is the Olympus OM 40mm f2.0. I have been seeing this lens pop up from time to time on eBay, always for very high prices. From the basic specifications, it isn't all that different from the 50/1.8 or 50/1.4, which are both fine lenses that fetch rather moderate prices. Why is the 40mm so expensive? I haven't seen an initial bid price of less than $200, ever. Here is yet another ebay example of this phenomenon: Click here to see on Ebay: with a $450 starting bid!! It's listed as mint- (condition: 9.5-10 of 10), but still.... Why?

Cheers!


PostPosted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 4:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Some people have more money than brain... especially true for fast lens lovers... I think only explanation ~50mm lenses usually excellent from any vendors and no really reason to pay more than 100 USD to any of them. But people pay multiply more, even me if I love it like Contax RF lenses Laughing


PostPosted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 4:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I suppose due to ED glass which giving very sharp and contrasty results.
AFAIK there are only two Olympus lenses using ED glass, 40mm f2 and 100mm f2, correct me if I am wrong.
Regards


PostPosted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 5:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Not too many of them were made, so it's all about collectors' value.


PostPosted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 6:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
convert1 wrote:
I suppose due to ED glass which giving very sharp and contrasty results.
AFAIK there are only two Olympus lenses using ED glass, 40mm f2 and 100mm f2, correct me if I am wrong.
Regards
have you got any evidence of this? I am not aware that 40mm has ED glass..?


PostPosted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 8:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
olympus 40mm/2 is a pancake lens, small and compact, 25mm long, has minimum focusing distance of 30cm, has corrected aberrations, so maybe that's the reason for it's high price (along with overall tendency for prices to be overinflated)

ED glass have following Zuiko OM lenses:
100mm/2
180mm/2
250mm/2
350mm/2
35-80mm/2.8


PostPosted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 10:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The higher cost is mostly due to size and peoples desire for smaller/compact cameras, The Nikkor pancake is also pricy. I don't find the 50/1.8 all that much thicker than the 40, so I'd save the money and get it.


PostPosted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 11:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Since its 40mm, its probably a retrofocus and is more comparable to a fast 35mm than a fast 50mm. Add to the fact that its not that common and its going to be a $200+ lens, not a $50 lens.


PostPosted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 12:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
It's not retrofocus lens. Just conventional double-gauss type lens. Real focal length about 43mm, like diagonal of the 35mm film frame, so lens not wideangle.

See here: http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/olympusom1n2/shared/zuiko/htmls/40mm.htm


PostPosted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 11:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
WolverineX wrote:
olympus 40mm/2 is a pancake lens, small and compact, 25mm long, has minimum focusing distance of 30cm, has corrected aberrations, so maybe that's the reason for it's high price (along with overall tendency for prices to be overinflated)



Yes and yes. I've been trying, without success, to accumulate the Hexanon 40mm 1.8s . . also pancake, also quite small, also 40mm, also modestly fast, and also escalating quickly in price. I didn't know about the Oly 40/2, but I do see a common thread.

I wish I had a time machine and could go back ten, or even just five, years and do some MF lens buying. I'd make a fortune, and the lenses would be newer and in better condition, too!! Smile


PostPosted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 12:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
guardian wrote:


I wish I had a time machine and could go back ten, or even just five, years and do some MF lens buying. I'd make a fortune, and the lenses would be newer and in better condition, too!! Smile

I bought most of my lenses in the 1990's when they were more plentiful and cheaper too! Many before the ebay era. There was a magazine called shutterbug that ran ads for lenses so thats where I got them back then.


PostPosted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 3:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Attila wrote:
Some people have more money than brain...


Absolutely right, more so because the 40/2 was meant to be an ECONOMIC alternative to the 50s of the house.

I guess some people didn't get the memo Very Happy


PostPosted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 3:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
It's a rare, fast pancake = three reasons for a high price.


PostPosted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 4:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
hifisapi wrote:
guardian wrote:


I wish I had a time machine and could go back ten, or even just five, years and do some MF lens buying. I'd make a fortune, and the lenses would be newer and in better condition, too!! Smile

I bought most of my lenses in the 1990's when they were more plentiful and cheaper too! Many before the ebay era. There was a magazine called shutterbug that ran ads for lenses so thats where I got them back then.


You are either a prescient genius . . . . . . . or else you are merely very fortunate. Either way, you're a winner in life's lottery. Smile


PostPosted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 4:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Maybe the ED glass makes it better (?) but how would it compare to the modern Voigtlander 40/2?


PostPosted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 4:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
guardian wrote:
WolverineX wrote:
olympus 40mm/2 is a pancake lens, small and compact, 25mm long, has minimum focusing distance of 30cm, has corrected aberrations, so maybe that's the reason for it's high price (along with overall tendency for prices to be overinflated)



Yes and yes. I've been trying, without success, to accumulate the Hexanon 40mm 1.8s . . also pancake, also quite small, also 40mm, also modestly fast, and also escalating quickly in price. I didn't know about the Oly 40/2, but I do see a common thread.

I wish I had a time machine and could go back ten, or even just five, years and do some MF lens buying. I'd make a fortune, and the lenses would be newer and in better condition, too!! Smile


Hindsight is a wonderful thing. The thing with compact lenses like the Hex 40/1.8 is that they are great, small and fit nicely on to M43/Nex/NX compact bodies.........I have one on my GF1. Word spreads on forums about how good and cheap these are, then people start snapping them up. It's a cult thing, it's cool to use old glass. I now have 5 Hexanons, plus a cheap decent Quarry Optics macro. Just starting looking for a 35mm Konica body, T3n please Santa.


PostPosted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 5:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Attila wrote:
Some people have more money than brain...


Absolutely right, more so because the 40/2 was meant to be an ECONOMIC alternative to the 50s of the house.

I guess some people didn't get the memo Very Happy


PostPosted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 5:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Attila wrote:
Some people have more money than brain...


Absolutely right, more so because the 40/2 was meant to be an ECONOMIC alternative to the 50s of the house.

I guess some people didn't get the memo Very Happy


PostPosted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 6:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Attila wrote:
Some people have more money than brain...

+1!

fotoreporter1975 wrote:
Absolutely right, more so because the 40/2 was meant to be an ECONOMIC alternative to the 50s of the house.

I guess some people didn't get the memo Very Happy


Good point!


PostPosted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 6:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
fotoreporter1975 wrote:
Absolutely right, more so because the 40/2 was meant to be an ECONOMIC alternative to the 50s of the house.

I guess some people didn't get the memo Very Happy
sure, when bought new. VW Beetle was also economic alternative, but how much do they cost now in good condition?

Kram wrote:
Maybe the ED glass makes it better (?) but how would it compare to the modern Voigtlander 40/2?
once again, it does not have ED glass.. Rolling Eyes

Anyway I am bit confused, do I have more money than brain because I own this lens? Laughing


PostPosted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 7:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I don't think so that you have more money than brain if you have this lens.
Everyone has right to buy whatever what he want.
I purchased this lens for 110 EUR, Do I have more money than brain ? ; No , javascript:emoticon('Laughing')


PostPosted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 9:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
convert1 wrote:
I don't think so that you have more money than brain if you have this lens.
Everyone has right to buy whatever what he want.
I purchased this lens for 110 EUR, Do I have more money than brain ? ; No , javascript:emoticon('Laughing')


It sounds to me as if you did great! Setting aside, of course, any possibility of an outsized shipping charge. But just going by the OP you did really well. I'm gonna have to put this Oly 40 on my list of "lenses to watch".

What is it about these 40mm, and also 35mm, MF lenses that creates such buying interest! There's a 35/2 Hexanon on eBay I've been watching that just got double bids over circa US$180, which is where the seller started the bidding!! And that auction still has nearly three hours to run! These are remarkable numbers.

And finally, I agree with you it is buyers like you who set prices, persons with "skin in the game", not kibitzers. Money talks. Not that I'm made happy by that fact, BTW. I'm merely acknowledging reality. Sad


PostPosted: Mon Dec 17, 2012 5:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
The Olympus OM 40mm zuiko is just a rare lens and the only "pancake" lens in OM system. It DOES NOT have ED glass. There are just not many around.

If you like pancakes just go for the for more reasonable priced Voigtlander Ultron 40mm.


PostPosted: Mon Dec 17, 2012 6:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I don't understand the appeal of pancakes. I have the Konica 1.8/40, it's not as good as the 1.8/50, the 1.7/50 is better still. Pentacon 2.4/50 is not as good as the 1.8/50, same with the Minolta 2/45, the 1.7/50 is much better. So apart from being smaller and more expensive, I don't see the appeal.


PostPosted: Mon Dec 17, 2012 11:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
I don't understand the appeal of pancakes.


Optically speaking you're often right - not always, there are good pancakes out there, and I mean without maple sirup on top Laughing

But even a lousy performer like the Pentax M 40/2.8 when mated to, for example, an ME Super (or a 40mm Zuiko mounted on any OM camera) makes a package as small or smaller than a Leica M, so almost pocketable.

I too went to that road - with the aforementioned Pentax - but I came to my senses when I realized that a medium format folding like the Fuji GS645 (I happened to have it at the same time of the Pentax) was not so much bigger, but the differences in quality were stellar! Shocked

convert1 wrote:
I don't think so that you have more money than brain if you have this lens.


If you got this lens for 110 euro more than anything you got…luck! Very Happy

This would be the right price, in my mind, for this lens. Especially considering that the other lenses of the Olympus lineup are really small, so unlike with other manifacturers (let's say Contax…) the need for a pancake is really limited.
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