Fabio:
I own both the 200/4 and the 200/5. I assume that you have looked at
Gary Reese's lens test page. I believe he tested both lens, in several
permutations.
Since they are both Zuikos, the build quality is not an issue. It is
handy that the 200/5 takes 49 mm filters, as the bulk of my lenses use
the 49 mm filter size. If you are addicted to f/2, then most of your
lenses could use the 55 mm filter, which would tilt you to the f/4
version.
I prefer to shoot the 200/4, if I know I'll be shooting in a situation
where I need a 200 mm focal length. The 4 balances better on an
OM-2/winder combo, and is easier to hand-hold, IMHO. The viewfinder
image is much brighter, and it is easier to focus.
The 200/5 is so small and light that it gets thrown in a corner of the
gadget bag as the "emergency" 200. It is the "mountain Elmar" of the OM
lens group.
HTH,
Bill Stanke
"Fabio J. Flowerside" wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> I was recently wondering to add a 200mm to my lens set. I know that Olympus
> has two distinct offerings: the Zuiko 200mm f/4 and its f/5 brother (one of
> the so-called "best kept secrets").
>
> Apart from the obvious differences in f/stop and filter thread size, does
> anyone of you have experienced both of them and could tell me how do they
> perform in comparison? (MTF tests apart... I've already seen those posted
> days ago by Frieder Faig). I'd be really tempted to buy the f/4 version,
> given that the extra 2/3 stop will help me in low light conditions, but I've
> often heard on this list that the f/5 is "better" (generally speaking). Is
> this statement due to its better handling only?
>
> The two 200mm f/4 I've recently found are in good but not perfect shape: one
> has big tracks of dust (maybe fungi?) inside, while the other has a small
> coating mark (not a scratch, it just shows up as a track with different
> color reflections) on the rearmost element.
>
> What of these two "damages" do you think will have more impact on image
> rendering?
>
> Thanks in advance for your help!
>
> Fabio
>
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