After my name was recently introduced to this list with respect to the
180/2.8 - 1.4x-A controversy, I thought that I could add some
observations to this problem.
PROBLEM:
It is unclear, whether -and if so, which- changes occurred during the
production period of the 180/2.8 lens. It was introduced mid/late 1978
(probably S/N 1000xx to ca. 102500); another batch (110xxx to 113xxx)
was probably marketed around 1983-1985; confirmation for the
availability of the 2xx,xxx series starts early 1986. All lens
cross-sections I have seen show the identical 5/5 elements/groups design
(which doesn't mean too much, as after 1984/85, Olympus recycled its old
information; e.g., I have not seen any picture of the re-designed
35-105/3.5-4.5 zoom introduced 1986, and also no cross-section of the
newer version). One question arises whether the 180/2.8 was ever
intended -from the engineers point of view- to be used with the 1.4x-A
converter, and whether any changes have been performed for this task.
Mechanically, the converter fits all versions of the 180/2.8. The
labeling on the converter produced at least up to early 1986 (S/N
1033xx) does not mention any 180mm lens.
LITERATURE REVIEW (in chronological order):
The entire mess started with the 1984 Olympus Lens Handbook (probably
reflecting the state of the 2nd half of 1983). The 180/2.8 samples shown
in the figures are of the 1xx,xxx series. For the 180/2.8, they write:
"In combination with the 1.4x-A you can use it as a 250mm F4 lens." For
the 1.4x-A:"... can be used together with ...(the) 180 F2.8." This book
does not contain the 180/2 lens (which was released in early 1985), but
it was clear that this lens was supposed to be in this book, as for the
350/2.8 they write: "It falls in the same family as the 180mm F2.8 and
the 250mm F2, all developed with exclusive new Olympus design
technology..." This ridiculous statement certainly indicates that in the
11th hour of book production, the editors had to run a "Find: 180mm F2
--> Replace with: 180mm F2.8".
The "Olympus OM System Overview" (36pp., C20E-0484D, i.e. April 1984)
does not include the 180/2 lens, but states for the 1.4x-A:
"Specifically designed for use with the 180mm, 250mm, 300mm, 350mm and
400mm lens." As this booklet contains only one sort of lens for each of
these focal lengths, the reader should think that this would relate to
the 180/2.8 lens. Interestingly, no apertures are given.
A data sheet for the 1.4x-A marked 0584 mentions only the 250/2,
300/4.5, 350/2.8 and 400/6.3 lenses for use with this product (see HvV
e-SIF).
The (German) "OM-4: Star of the OM-System" (64pp., OE/784/30T, i.e.,
July 1984) which does not include the 180/2 lens, writes (p. 57): "The
converter 1.4x-A is adjusted for the long focal length lenses 300 and
400mm, and for the new supertele's 250/2 and 350/2.8."
Chasseur d'Image (CdI) #73 (June 1985) reported a test on the 180/2.8
S/N 111978. The lens was probably supplied for testing from the French
Olympus distributor at the end of 1985/early 1986, and as it is usual
practice that a manufacturer wants to present the most current samples,
this indicates that 2 years after the introduction of the 1.4x-A, no S/N
2xx,xxx samples were around. CdI reported about this lens: "one of the
better lenses in this category which doesn't use the miraculous glass"
(with which they refer to the ED glass which use had been highlighted
for the also tested Nikon 180/2.8ED lens). As a side note: the
resolution test results for the Zuiko 180/2.8 compared with the Nikon
180/2.8ED, and the Tamron 180/2.5 (tested in CdI #84, July 1986):
(use monospaced font for reading this table)
---------------------------------------------------
f/ Zuiko Nikkor Tamron
center edge enter edge center edge
---------------------------------------------------
2.x 2 2 4 2 3 3
4 3 3 4 3 3 3
5.6 3 3 5 4 3 3
8 4 3 5 4 4 4
---------------------------------------------------
The brochure "OM-4: The Measure of the Professional" (55pp., C04E-0785D,
i.e. July 1985) includes in the lens table (p. 38) the 180/2, but it is
not included in the accompanying figure which shows the black 250/2 and
350/2.8 with a note: "The 250mm F2 and 350mm F2.8 are available in white
body color only". Here the 1.4x-A is mentioned only for use with the
180/2, 250/2, 350/2.8, 300/4.5 and 400/6.3.
The Olympus Lens Handbook from Oct. 1985 includes the 180/2 lens, but
for the 1.4x-A neither the 180/2 nor 180/2.8 lenses are recommended
(acc. Hans van Veluwen, 12 Aug 2001; I don't have this book).
The (German) "Olympus OM System Overview" (36pp. silver-colored
brochure, OE-60-12/85, i.e. Dec. 1985; basically an update of the 04/84
US brochure) includes the 180/2 lens, and gives for the 1.4x-A (p.
25):"Usable only for 180/2, 250/2, 300/4.5, 350/2.8 and 400/6.3."
However, at the bottom of the lens table (p. 27) which includes both the
180/2 and 180/2.8 they write: "Usable with the 180/2.8, 250/2, etc...",
not mentioning the 180/2. This certainly indicates cut-and-past
techniques of older material w/o proof reading.
The (German) "OM-2 SPOT/PROGRAM" brochure (24pp., OE-10-4/86, i.e.,
April 1986) shows - within my collection - for the first time a 2xx,xxx
180/2.8 lens (S/N 200083). The lens table (p. 20), does not include the
180/2 lens. For the 1.4x-A it gives: useful for the 180/2.8, 250/2,
300/4.5, 350/2.8 and 400/6.3. The schematic system overview (p. 21)
includes the 180/2 lens as item #34.
"OM-4Ti: The Measure of Perfection" (C450E-0886D, i.e., Aug. 1986)
includes in the lens table (p. 18) both the 180/2 and 180/2.8 lenses,
but for the 1.4x-A only the 180/2 is recommended. At this time, the
2xx,xxx 180/2.8 version obviously is on the marked (see above).
An A2 fold-out overview on the Olympus OM lenses (C64-1086D, i.e., Oct.
1986) shows a 2xx,xxx 180/2.8 lens, includes in table the 180/2 lens,
but for the 1.4x-A only the 180/2 (not 180/2.8) is recommended.
The (German) book "Olympus OM-System" by Wilfried Mordmueller (an
Olympus affiliate), which appeared in 1989 for the 25th anniversary of
Olympus Europe (covering the state of 1988) mentions the 1.4x-A only
together with the 180/2, 250/2 and 350/2.8. The book contains a total of
31 lens cross sections but none of the 180/2.8 (the quality of copy
editing for this book can be judged by the fact that it shows the cross
section of the 6/5 lens design for the 50/1.8 which was replaced by a
6/4 design as early as 1980).
In the following, 1992+ literature, the 1.4x-A is always mentioned
to be useful for both 180mm lenses:
The "OM-System Overview" (36pp., C20E-1092D, i.e., Oct. 1992) is
essentially a reprint of the older brochures with remarks like "Some of
the products that are shown here are no longer available" (p.2). Though
this gives the impression that it only refers to the specific figure, it
probably holds for many of the items included in this brochure. Both
within the lens table (p. 27) as well as in the 1.4x-A specific
description (p. 25), the 180/2 and 180/2.8 lenses are included as
compatible.
The "OM-3Ti" promo (C973E-1094D, i.e. Oct. 1994) mentions the use of
both the 180/2 and 180/2.8 lenses for the 1.4x-A.
The (German) "Handbook of the Olympus OM-System"(3rd edition, Nov. 1998)
mentions the 1.4x-A as compatible with the 180/2, 180/2.8, 250/2,
300/4.5, 350/2.8 and 400/6.3.
A 4-page (Japanese) leaflet entitled "Lens Group" (can't find a
romanised print code, but probably from late 1998/early 1999) gives for
the use of the 1.4x-A: 180/2, 180/2.8, 250/2, 350/2.8 and 400/6.3 (the
300/4.5 is not mentioned; this is in agreement with the report of
N. G. Watson to Hans van Veluwen).
The current (Aug. 2001, unchanged since at least Aug. 2000?) Olympus US
web-site at
http://a384.g.akamai.net/7/384/1468/d0d9b3cb1c363b/www.olympusamerica.com/files/omlens.pdf
recommends the 1.4x-A for the 180/2.8, 180/2, 250/2, 300/4.5, 350/2.8
and 400/6.3.
CONCLUSIONS:
(a) during the development stage of the 1.4x-A, the engineers certainly
have not considered its use with the 180/2.8. They probably considered
it to be used with the 180/2 lens.
(b) the jump in the 180/2.8 serial numbers (1132xx to 2000xx within my
S/N collection) probably occurred around 1985/86. Whether any optical
changes, specifically to accommodate the 1.4x-A, are related to this
jump is unknown to me. As it has been the case for other lenses (35/2.8
shift, 8/2.8 fisheye), the most conclusive evidence can be expected from
parts diagrams and parts numbers.
OWN OPPINION:
Up to the late 80th, the (public) Olympus literature is giving mixed
information regarding the use of the 1.4x-A with the 180/2.8. This fact
I take as an indication that there were no serious changes in the
180/2.8 lens design as such an effort should have resulted in a clear
note from the developers to the marketing department. Any 1990+
agreement to use the 1.4x-A with both 180mm lenses appears unrelated to
the 2xx,xxx introduction which already occurred around 1986.
My _speculation_ is that it has taken Olympus up to the mid 80th to
establish a reliable multicoating technolgy, especially with respect to
the longterm durability and homogeneity on large lens surfaces. I think
it was on this list that I read the rumor that the black (early) 350/2.8
had a specific problem in this regard. Thus I tend to assume that the
2xx,xxx nomenclature just refers to such a change in MC.
When I bought my 180/2.8 in 1992 in Nagoya, I had a similar experience
as N. G. Watson reported to Hans van Veluwen, in that I was informed
that the 2xx,xxx, but not earlier lenses, would be appropriate to use
with the converter. However, I wasn't shown any data sheets. Meanwhile,
in my collection, this lens is replaced with the Tamron 180/2.5, mainly
due to the min. focusing distance of 1.2m of the Tamron (and fully
open, I do think that the pictures are sharper, at least have more
contrast; portrait people might prefer a softer look).
Konrad
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