Do later versions of Olympus OM 200mm/5.0 exist?

[connloyalist]

Olympus OM lenses come in four different versions. The split between version 2 (I call these "blacknose") and version 3 ("MC") is sometime around 1979 if I am not mistaken. The four different versions are usually not difficult to distinguish if you know what to look for (tip: versions 3 and 4 are better than versions 1 or 2 due to better coating).

Does anyone know if the Olympus OM 200mm f/5 (not the f/4) was ever made in version 3 or 4? These f/5's are less common than the f/4 version so I haven't seen a lot of examples to draw from, but all the ones I have seen are version 1 ("silvernose") or 2 ("blacknose"). Does anyone know if Olympus stopped making these in the late 1970's before they switched to multi coating in version 3?

Regards, C.

[Phalbert]

It looks like the answer is yes according to this:

https://om-mania.com/om_zuiko/zuiko-auto-t-200mm-f5/

My understanding is that the "black nose" should be the MC one.

Another site says that only 2000 were made. (for 28000 silver-nose)

Here is a nice one:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/404944363784?itmmeta=01HX7NZ7N2JM487JP2V7C92FAS&hash=item5e4890a108:g:ruIAAOSw~kxmK7Nu&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8Je85SN0MG4ZKNFcWXldnvwch0TuFrfAok%2FA8e%2BSxUOuyA5SRyu1x%2F2mFaXqrN9isd3sTHqBlB6SVgrRVDwnJRkgt0CtJTGV1ounc0XJ7irEQoq4Dq4aBaS5LI40312oNgThso1Q41M1aYCUX5OdBYV4MbktZr0aG5PXHpxBKtPWM1nlGAlWdJk%2FZ4JAhhFwAyaUvVYmLxj7Y4uMPGDxxgStP8bHsO9Qn94D5MacgyTlqXr8gi8sQUcuJ8Ky15T%2BWUMNCpPxONQ8S71rZq08%2FI24iMA%2BHSmxIsjsnLbsbTOKFqzYS5euR8sLrwi9LEBTQg%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9D6_PXpYw

[connloyalist]

Thank you, I didn't know the website om-mania, interesting (with help from google translate). So it looks like they did produce an MC version for a short period of time.

By the way, the eBay link is for a 100-200mm zoom.

Regards, C.

[DxD]

The single-coated "F-ZUIKO" 200mm f5 lens was manufactured in both chrome and black-nose versions. The transition happened between serial numbers 111000 and 112000. As far as I know, the two F.ZUIKO single-coated versions were optically identical.

The 200mm f5 multicoated version came with two different bezal inscriptions, "OLYMPUS OM-SYSTEM ZUIKO MC AUTO-T 1:5 f=200mm 13xxxx" and "OLYMPUS OM-SYSTEM ZUIKO AUTO-T 200mm 1:5 13xxxx Japan". Again as far as I know, only the inscription varied and they were optically identical. Up until several years ago, there used to be a parts diagram for the 200mm f5 lens on the web which described the multicoated version as having the "NMC" (new multi-coated) glass, but I couldn't find that searching today.

The following article is the best I have seen on the Olympus 200mm f5 lens design and history, as well as information on the multicoated version: http://www.marcocavina.com/articoli_fotografici/Zuiko_OM_200mm_5/00_pag.htm

David

[connloyalist]

Wow, that website contains a wealth of information. Thank you for sharing that link.

Regards, C.

[Phalbert]

By the way, the eBay link is for a 100-200mm zoom.

Oops. Yes... 🙄