Looking for Olympus OM lenses

[vysk]

Looking for Olympus OM lenses. I just got a OM4TI body but no lenses.

Also looking for recommendations, on any of the higher-performance OM lenses.

....Vick

 

[baachitraka]

For portraits: 85mm f/2.0

For Landscapes: I am happy with 28mm f/3.5. If you have enough cash go for 28mm f/2.0 or 24mm f/2.0

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

I have an OM2n and really love my two primes, 50/1.4 and 100/2.8. The 100/2.8 is unbelievably compact and a terrific performer. I also have the fairly uncommon and certainly quite unique 28-48 f/4 zoom. Really neat and compact as well and perfect if you're primarily a wide to normal shooter. More info on that one here: http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/olympusom1n2/shared/zuiko/htmls/2848mm.htm

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

Oh, and see the bottom of that page I linked above for many links and discussion on a whole slew of Zuiko OM lenses.

 

[baachitraka]

That said, any zuiko primes will do a great job if you target print sizes upto 8x10 inches.

 

[BMbikerider]

The only thing that you have to watch out for are lazy diaphragms. Unlike Nikon where the diaphagm is forced close by internal mechanism, the ones on the Olympus Zuiko close down by means of spring, and not a very strong one at that.. The leaves of the diaphagm and the mechanism get dusty and clogged up with dried lubricant and become sluggish. They are not a difficult or expensive job for a techie to correct, but if you can get a one that works smoothly, OK so much the better. The optics are superb!

 

[nsurit]

Depending on what you photograph your Zuiko kit might include these 24mm f2.8, 35mm f2.8, 50mm f1.4 (serial number over 1,100,000) 85mm f2. If you want longer the 300mm f4.5 might be a good choice. At one time or another I've owned almost all the glass Zuiko made. No disappointments. I also use some of the fixed focal length Tmron SP glass. To get started, get a 24mm f2.8, 50mm f1.4 and the 85mm f2. You will be happy with your kit.

 

[Mark Fisher]

I've had OM-1's since high school....think I bought it from a friend in 1978 or so. I think there are two ways to go. I personally like the compact nature of the OM cameras so I stick to lenses with a 49mm filter size. The other way is to stick to the fast lenses which are still pretty compact. The two cross over at the 50mm f1.4.....a really nice lens. I wouldn't worry about which ones are "best".

 

[Newt_on_Swings]

My set of go anywhere lenses are my 28mm f2, 50mm 1.4, and the 85mm f2. All three are super compact and handle really well from aperture adjustment to focusing.

I have a pair of zooms that I use sometimes, the 19-35 f3.5-4.5 vivitar s1, and a tokina atx 35-70? 2.8. both are very sharp but are huge and look silly on the compact cameras, the s1 uses 77mm filters and the atx uses 62 or 67mm filters.

I have also used good 3rd party primes, the 24 or was it 28 mm f2.8 sigma mini-wides are nice and inexpensive as are the faster vivitar 24 and 28mm f2 lenses (supposedly the smaller filter size types are sharper 55 vs 52 mm).

 

[MattKing]

I have a few - and I am keeping them .

My favourite kit?

A 24mm f/2.8, a 35mm f/2.0 and an 85mm f/2.0.

 

[darinwc]

A nice kit that would not be too expensive but produce great results fit into a compact package would be the 24mm f2.8, 50mm f1.4, and 100mm f2.8.

 

[pen s]

A lot of good advice.
(But "landscape" does not always mean "wide angle". I've shot landscapes with what ever lens focal length that gives me the angle of view that I want to show)
That said, my grouping of 6 focal lengths; 24-35-50-85-135-200, has been my standard for a long time and the three most common are grouped much like you would find on a rangefinder setup 35-50-85.

Because I value compact size and lighter weight the 24 is a f2.8, 35 f2.8, 50 f1.8, 135 f3.5, and the 200 is the tiny f5.

Someday.....perhaps....I might add the 300 f4.5. If I try hard enough I can convince myself it is a "need" and not a "want".
There is hardly any day that cannot be improved by at least one good rationalization.

 

[Jeff Kubach]

Look up KEH used cameras.

Jeff

 

[nsurit]

As long as you are building a kit, get a set of extension tubes, which can be used with all your lenses and pick up a 50mm f3.5.

 

[vysk]

Update:
I've located a >1-million s/n 50mm f1.4 and a 100mm f2 from Canadian used camera stores. Amazing what one finds when they look.
And snagged a 50mm f2 Macro on ebay.

So　I think I'm set, for now.

And thank you for all your great advice.

Vick

 

[wblynch]

You need at least one wide angle. My favorite is the 28/2.8

Also I like the 35-70/3.5-4.5, the 75-150/4 and the 35-105. All three make me very happy.

You don't need the high-value lenses exclusively.

 

[thuggins]

These sorts of questions would be much easier to answer if the inquisitor were a bit more specific. Are you asking if there are any "bad" Zuikos? That answer is easy - No. Back when photographers actually cared about image quality, photography magazines ran lens tests. Zuikos invariably tested as among the best - comparable to Zeiss and Leica glass.

If you are asking for size recommendations, that depends on the type of shooting you do. For landscape work, any of the 28's paired with a 35-70 zoom will probably fill your needs. I just got back from a trip to Alaska where I carried the 28f2.8, 35-70f3.5-4.5 and 135f3.5. The main reason for this selection was that they all take the 49mm filters. The A200 t-con (1.5X teleconvertor made for the IS cameras in the 1990's) was also in the kit. This extended the zoom to a 35-105 with essentially no loss in aperture. It also turns the 135 into a 200, but I rarely need a lens in this range so the 135 got pretty much no use.

The 35-70f3.6 is renowned for it's image quality and is great if you are just going to mount one lens, but it is very big (for a Zuiko) and takes a 55mm filter, which disqualifies it from my travel kit. Mr. Maitani built the 40f2 specifically to be part of his travel kit. It is a lovely little lens, but after years of trying it has never replaced 35mm as my preferred and most used focal length. It is a good fit for rangefinder shooters though, as Olympus RF's all used real "normal" lenses is the 40 - 42 mm range. If you really like wide shots the 28-48f4 is a great little lens to carry.

 

[Allan Swindles]

For the very best quality stick to fixed focal length lenses. Zuiko lenses are so light and compact anyway the only advantage in using a zoom is not having to switch lenses, but then you WILL sacrifice image quality. No one lens can perform AT IT'S BEST at ALL focal lengths. BTW, you should ALWAYS USE A TRIPOD and cable release if your paying out for these expensive lenses.

 

[BardParker]

+1 on the Zuiko 100mm f/2.8

[/url] 03060044.jpg by KentWebb, on Flickr[/IMG]

ZZ Top. In concert at the Oil palace in Tyler, Texas on October 28, 2012.

This was my first attempt at pushing Arista Premium 400 (Tri-X) to 1600. Developed in Arista Premium Developer at 1:9 for 12 minutes/ 22 degrees C. Olympus OM-4T, 100mm f/2.8.

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

+1 on the Zuiko 100mm f/2.8

[/url] 03060044.jpg by KentWebb, on Flickr[/IMG]

ZZ Top. In concert at the Oil palace in Tyler, Texas on October 28, 2012.

This was my first attempt at pushing Arista Premium 400 (Tri-X) to 1600. Developed in Arista Premium Developer at 1:9 for 12 minutes/ 22 degrees C. Olympus OM-4T, 100mm f/2.8.

Nice. I love ZZ Top. Seen them a few times but mostly back in the 80's and 90's.

That shot came out pretty well, a bit contrasty but heck a' sharp!

 

[Allan Swindles]

That's why I like the Zuiko 100mm. f2.8!