Hello,
I am a relatively new Olympus user. My first introduction to
olympus was through that excellent PS the XA. I sold it a few years ago, and
have regretted it ever since.
Early last year I bought an OM1(md), with winder 1, 50(1.8) and a 28(3.5)
Zuiko lenses.
I normally use 6x6(an old rolleiflex) and 5x4 formats, and I bought the
OM so I had a quality reportage style camera but after a while I started
using it more often than the others. I like to be able to enlarge to a
minimum of 12x16, so I look for good quality glass. The XA was fine, and
the OM1 was at least as good.
At the beginning of this year I sold the OM1 kit and bought an single
OM2sp with a 50(1.8) lens. One of the reasons for this was that the mirror
in the OM1 would occasionally (at least once a roll) lock in the up position
and I would have to waste a shot to release it. This would usually happen
at the worst possible time; ie the middle of a parade, or just when the baby
smiled JUST right ;)
The winder 1 was just a waste (single frame advance). I could work the camera
faster my self. The 28mm was ok, but IMHO landscapes are wasted on 35mm.
I am regretting my purchase. The OM2sp has been well used, it needed a
shutter service soon after I bought it (the shutter ring locked up),
and it has dropped two LCD's in the finder display.
My problems stem from two areas;
1. The 50mm lens in the OM2sp seems softer than the one in the OM1, were
there any differences in production at different times?, perhaps I just
have a bad lens. The FAQ has a rating of lenses that rates the zuiko 50(1.8)
as having higher numbers than most other lenses, including a Zeiss Planar
50(1.4). My previous 35mm gear was Contax, and I am familiar with the Planar.
I know mileage varies, but I found the Zeiss to be superb, certainaly much
better that the Zuiko(at least the two that I have used), and MUCH better
than the Nikor(50(1.8) AF on a 801) that I have also used.
2. The OM2sp eats batteries. I often use it as a meter for my 4x5 ,and it has
twice now just died leaving me with "sunny 16". I have had it checked out,
and have read the FAQ about it. I suspect it is just a characteristic of
this model.
3. The OM2sp feels cheesy. I always feel as though I'm about to break some-
thing. The OM1 felt rock solid, I loved its elegent simplicity and clean
lines.
Despite these misgivings I intend to stick with it. Perhaps I just need to
give it more time.
BTW, I need a short telephoto, and I have seen a Zuiko 200(4) in the window
of a local shop. Is it sharp? The FAQ rates it lower than the 35-105(3.5-4.5)
I find this suprising, is it really softer than a zoom?
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I attach the lens rating section from the FAQ in case they are not available
to everybody
L1) How do Olympus Zuiko lenses compare to the competition?
When introduced in the 1970s, the Zuiko lenses were
state-of-the-art. Today, they are still on a level with competing
Leica, Nikon, and Zeiss designs of that era. Third-party
competition (e.g., Vivitar, Sigma) is much stronger than it once was,
and some third-party lenses now equal Zuiko lenses in optical
performance.
The last Zuiko prime from Olympus was introduced in 1989, while
1995 will see the introduction of a new lens (a zoom) for the first
time in 5 years.
Zuiko lenses for the OM series often have somewhat fewer elements than
newer third-party lenses. This makes them smaller and lighter and
reduces the risk of internal reflections. The letter in front of
Zuiko stands for the number of elements (E=5, F=6, G=7).
[Note: The letter/element designation on Zuiko lenses was
dropped sometime in the late 70's, so not all Zuiko lenses have
it --Ed.]
Here are some published test results from Zuiko lenses and
competitors. All are from Modern Photography magazine (abbreviated
MP). Resolution is in lines per mm. Quality ratings, which depend on
type of lens, are: Exc = Excellent; VG = Very Good; G = Good; Acc =
Acceptable.
Lens Resolution Resolution Distortion Source
wide open at f/5.6 (pincushion
center corner center corner or barrel)
Zuiko lenses:
Zuiko 24/2.8 50 VG 45 Exc 80 Exc 50 Exc ? MP 6/75
Zuiko 28/3.5 56 Exc 44 Exc 50 VG 50 Exc ? MP 4/73
Zuiko 35/2.8 56 Exc 44 Exc 50 VG 50 Exc ? MP 4/73
Zuiko 35-70/3.5-4.5
at 35mm 56 Exc 50 Exc 63 Exc 56 Exc 0.45% barrel MP 6/86
at 50mm 56 Exc 50 Exc 56 Exc 50 Exc ? MP 6/86
at 70mm 57 Exc 51 Exc 57 Exc 51 Exc 0.950incsh MP 6/86
Zuiko 35-105/3.5-4.5
at 35mm 63 Exc 50 Exc 70 Exc 56 Exc 0.7% barrel MP 2/86
at 70mm 64 Exc 51 Exc 72 Exc 57 Exc ? MP 2/86
at 105mm 63 Exc 56 Exc 70 Exc 56 Exc 1.370incsh MP 2/86
Zuiko 50/1.4 55 VG 49 Exc 69 VG 62 Exc 0.9% barrel MP 11/85
same 55 VG 49 Exc 69 VG 62 Exc 0.9% barrel MP 6/87
Zuiko 50/1.8 57 VG 40 Exc 90 Exc 40 VG ? MP 4/73
same 55 VG 49 Exc 69 VG 62 Exc 0.930incsh MP 7/85
same 50 G 45 Exc 70 Exc 56 Exc <1% MP 4/86
Zuiko 100/2 55 Exc 49 Exc 69 Exc 62 Exc 0.450incsh MP 6/86
Zuiko 100/2.8 55 Exc 49 Exc 55 Exc 44 Exc ? MP 4/73
Zuiko 135/2.8 50 Exc 32 VG 50 VG 35 G ? MP 6/75
Zuiko 180/2 55 Exc 49 Exc 69 Exc 62 Exc <10incsh MP 10/86
Zuiko 200/4 42 VG 37 Exc 37 G 37 Exc ? MP 4/73
Representative competing lenses:
Soligor 28/2.8 54 VG 30 Acc 76 Exc 30 Acc ? MP 4/73
Nikon 28/2.8 54 VG 43 Exc 54 G 48 Exc ? MP 6/75
Zeiss 28/2.8 56 Exc 50 Exc 63 Exc 56 Exc 0.5% barrel MP 1/86
Canon 50/1.4 50 G 45 Exc 70 Exc 63 Exc 0.46% barrel MP 7/86
Nikon E 50/1.8 52 VG 33 VG 66 VG 46 G <1% MP 1/83
Leica 50/1.4 54 VG 38 Exc 76 Exc 48 G 0.47% barrel MP 9/87
Zeiss 50/1.4 45 G 40 Exc 72 Exc 64 Exc 0.92% barrel MP 1/88
Zeiss 50/1.7 50 G 45 Exc 70 Exc 63 Exc 0.9% barrel MP 1/86
Vivitar 75-200/4.5:
at 75mm 46 VG 41 Exc 58 Exc 46 Exc 1.95% barrel MP 6/89
at 200mm 39 VG 28 VG 44 Exc 31 VG 1.670incsh MP 6/89
Sigma 90/2.8 macro:
at 1:49 69 Exc 62 Exc 87 Exc 78 Exc 0.680incsh MP 6/89
at 1:2 57 Exc 29 VG 72 Exc 40 VG same? MP 6/89
Thanks to Michael Covington <mcovingt@xxxxxxxxxx>
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boc
--
Brian O'Connor, Unix Systems Consultant
La Trobe University,Bendigo,Australia; b.oconnor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://ironbark.bendigo.latrobe.edu.au
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