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Olympus 24 2.8
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 31, 2015 3:47 am    Post subject: Olympus 24 2.8 Reply with quote
Since I'm loving Olympus lenses I'm now interested in a 24mm.
How does the 24 f/2.8 perform?

Main use: Street Photography (mainly walking sessions) @ f/8 or f/11, possibly some architecture. Video too.
Camera: A6000 (FF in the future, still waiting for a good A7sxxx).


PostPosted: Thu Dec 31, 2015 11:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Quite good. Especially @ f/8 or f/11, it may be the sharpest affordable legacy 24mm. Even in m43 its hi-resolution power can be observed. More than that it is also very tiny. You can consider grabbing a MC version as earlier coatings of Zuikos are a bit flare friendly and some say that there is considerable variation among copies, thus try to find one that you can return.


PostPosted: Thu Dec 31, 2015 11:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
It's excellent. My copy is a good one, so I was fortunate. Some can be de-centered.
Its sharp range is f/5.6-f/8. It starts to suffer defraction at f/16.


PostPosted: Sat Jan 02, 2016 6:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thank you guys for your replies.

I also did some research, and everywhere the result is pretty much confirming your experience.
Actually some comparison with the Nikon 24 2.8 seems to put the two lenses quite at the same level.

Now, for what concerns the MC version and the flare issue, I'm having a hard time finding a MC in a price range of $100-$130, perhaps the MC is just more expensive. I'm wondering how bad is the flaring issue on the SC version since I can find the SC in that price range (perhaps even a little less).


PostPosted: Sat Jan 02, 2016 11:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Digging mine out, I didn't recall if I had a SC or MC version. There is no MC label on the face of mine, and it has a silver-nose. I will assume it's a SC model.
I can only say from my experience with this one and a hood, I don't have issues with flaring.


PostPosted: Sat Jan 02, 2016 12:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
It is one of the best 24mm I have used.


PostPosted: Sat Jan 02, 2016 6:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
cgustav wrote:
I'm having a hard time finding a MC in a price range of $100-$130, perhaps the MC is just more expensive. I'm wondering how bad is the flaring issue on the SC version since I can find the SC in that price range (perhaps even a little less).


My records (I keep track of these things) show that I sold one of my two copies for $190 a while back, but prices may have drifted lower since then. FWIW, I have not noticed much difference between the two versions, but then again I was not looking for flares.


PostPosted: Sun Jan 03, 2016 10:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
first, like a number of other Zuikos, it must be about the smallest SLR lens in it's focal length.
It is a great performer, no complaints specially with the MC version, and, for what it's worth, it's corner performance is impressive, e.g. on Sony A7

the pic:


100% crop of lower, left corner


PostPosted: Mon Jan 04, 2016 10:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
IMO, it is a very good lens. It's got the best corners of the film era 24/2.8s I've used on the Sony A7r (Canon FD, Sigma Super-Wide II, Tokina RMC, Zeiss C/Y fit 25). I have read that the earliest and latest models are both to be avoided.


PostPosted: Mon Jan 04, 2016 11:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Kuuan,
thanks for posting that sample!

barryreid,
thanks for the hint.
How can I find out if the model I'm looking at is early or late?


PostPosted: Tue Jan 05, 2016 9:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Zuiko OM 24mm f2.8 MC version

IMG_1406 by H X, on Flickr

IMG_1405 by H X, on Flickr

IMG_1403 by H X, on Flickr

IMG_1395 by H X, on Flickr

IMG_1377 by H X, on Flickr

IMG_1369 by H X, on Flickr


PostPosted: Tue Jan 05, 2016 5:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
cgustav wrote:
Kuuan,
thanks for posting that sample!

barryreid,
thanks for the hint.
How can I find out if the model I'm looking at is early or late?


For the early models it's well known and is to do with the coating. Rule of thumb is that if it has a silver nose it's probably single coated. Unfortunately, I can't find a reference for the issue with late models any more, however I think it was to do with a baffle change which caused vignetting, or something.


PostPosted: Tue Jan 05, 2016 6:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I have an Olympus 24mm as well and I like it very much.
AFAIK, if you want the best then the version to avoid is the H-Zuiko Auto-W 24mm f2.8 - the single coated version.
The other 2 versions are multi coated.
But the H-Zuiko Auto-W 24mm is no lemon - just a bit more prone to flare.


PostPosted: Tue Jan 05, 2016 9:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Right, that's the general pattern on all of their OM lenses from what I've read. "OM-SYSTEM ?.ZUIKO AUTO-?" is single-coated, "OM-SYSTEM ZUIKO MC AUTO-?" is multicoated (obviously), and plain "OM-SYSTEM ZUIKO AUTO-?" is allegedly a newer and even better "NMC" coating. But in any case the rule of thumb is that it's single-coated if and only if there's a letter before the "ZUIKO".


PostPosted: Thu Jan 07, 2016 7:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
thanks for the nice samples hoanpham!

barryreid, dan, glaebhoerl

thanks for the info, it makes more sense now.
So it seems I had the chance to buy a newer copy for a very good price, now is gone, I guess I hesitated too much.
The average price now is $150-$200, which I guess is not bad, but I'm not in a rush and I'll wait in case a better deal shows up.

Thank you all for your help.
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