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Re: [OM] New to list - and light travel kit

Subject: Re: [OM] New to list - and light travel kit
From: dreammoose <dreammoose@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 09 Jul 2002 14:08:09 -0700
The 85/2 exists in both SC and MC versions. If you are getting a 135/3.5 (49mm filter), the 85/2 fills in the long gap from 50mm with a first class lens and adds some speed at 1 & 2/3 stops faster than the 135/3.5. The 100/2.8 (also both SC & MC) is the super light kit, one lens, solution for moderate tele or can go with the 200/5.

24mm is a nice fl, but a huge gap from 50mm. A 3 lens kit with primes only and one of them a 24mm doesn't make all that much sense to me. The 35-70/3.6 (55mm) is a better lens than the early 50/1.4 &1.8s. The 35-703.5-4.5 (49mm) is as good a lens overall, adds superior close focus and is incredibly small and light (lighter than a 50/1.4). A 35-70 really opens things up for a 3 lens kit with 24 and 135mms. The 35-105 ups the size/weight ante both on its own and because the natural next longer fl is bigger and heavier than a 135/3.5. The 35-105 and the 200/4 both take 55mm filters.

Keeping the 28/2.8 or replacing with a 24/2.8 and adding a 100/2.8 or 80/2 gives a kit weighing about 600g, all 49mm.
A 24/2.8, 35-70/3.5-4.5 and 135/3.5 weighs 660g, all 49mm.
A 24/2.8 and 35-105 weighs 650g and takes 2 filter sizes, add 100g (and some money!) for a 24/2, 55mm. Add 510g for a 200/4, giving 3 lenses, 1260g, all 55mm.

A 2x telextender adds 215g or that plus true macro capability for 250g with a Vivitar 2x Macro Teleconverter (or equivalent). A teleconverter makes the most sense for kit 1, where the longest lens has some speed, giving 160/4 or 200/5.6. It also creates the super light option of 24 or 28mm, 50mm and teleconverter for 100/3.6.

Whatever you do that includes a 50mm, make sure you have a later model. If the one you have is an F.ZUIKO, you should test it carefully before relying on it or replace it. I don't know about later versions of this SC lens (I think there were 3 variants), but the earliest ones are pretty crummy lenses by modern standards. The later 'MC' and 'made in Japan' versions are excellent optically, but the MCs in particular and some miJs get oil on the aperture blades quite commonly. If you do choose replacement, any 50/1.4 after the G.ZUIKOs is MC and a good lens. Testing and legend suggest the descending order of preferrence is: serial # over 1,085,000, 'ZUIKO' without 'MC' and 'ZUIKO MC'. C.H. says he has a late G.ZUIKO 1.4 that is a fine performer, but had an early one that was poor opened up. Unless you feel like a lot of testing, go with one of the MC versions

Moose

John Peterson wrote:

I will certainly check out the 85mm 2,0, but I thought
that was only SC and had some problems with flare(?),
It seems a bit short too. I will try to limit myself
to three lenses, the 28mm is nice, but I really want
the 24mm. I will stick with 49mm diameter lenses (the
200mm 5 seems to be 49mm too).
The 100mm 2,8 seems reasonably priced, the 85/2 is a
little more expensive, but not much. Still not sure
which I should buy, have to sleep on it. (No, I will
not buy both ;-)

I also think I will buy only primes, although the
35-105 looks nice.



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