OM-2: What's the perfect lens for this nifty camera

MattKing · Sep 16, 2010

Where did you find an OM-2s that wasn't black (they didn't make the OM-2s/OM-2SP in chrome).

Or did you actually mean 3 copies of the OM-2? .

Congratulations on your "kit" - have fun!

judah · Sep 17, 2010

MattKing said:
Welcome to APUG, from an OM kindred soul

Thanks.

wblynch · Sep 17, 2010

Back in the 70s I felt odd man out with my OM1. Everybody then was using Canon, Nikon, Minolta and Pentax.

Thank God the internet came along and reinforced my love for Olympus, when I find I haven't been alone.

ian the framer · Sep 17, 2010

I love the 35mm 2.8 very small and light

I also use the 50mm 1.8 a lot (I also have the 1.4 but for my prefered subjectof landscape I rarely need the extra speed of this somewhat larger lens) and the 28mm f3.5

All have 49mm filter thread which is a great advantage

Dont forget OM fans there is the "The Olympus OM cult" group here too

Ian

judah · Sep 17, 2010

BTW, anyone ever used the 40? Always loved to try one out but never had a chance. Prices are out of this world. To me the 40mm is the perfect companion to a small SLR like the OM.

ulysses · Sep 17, 2010

MattKing said:
Where did you find an OM-2s that wasn't black (they didn't make the OM-2s/OM-2SP in chrome).

Or did you actually mean 3 copies of the OM-2? .

Congratulations on your "kit" - have fun!

Actually 3 copies of the OM-2, one black. No OM-2s (at least not yet...) The black OM-2 looks so cute with the Winder 2 and T32 flash! I just want to take it out and shoot it.

Ulysses

lxdude · Sep 17, 2010

ulysses said:
The black OM-2 looks so cute with the Winder 2 and T32 flash! I just want to take it out and shoot it.

Ulysses

Don't shoot it! If its cuteness annoys you that much just smack it occasionally.

nsurit · Sep 18, 2010

The herd

ulysses said:
Since I started this thread, I've been shopping. My Olympus kit now consists of:

3 OM-2s (1 black)
1 OM-2n
1 OM-10
28/2.8 Tokina
50/1.8
50/1.4
50/3.5
35-105/4
35-135/3.5-4.5 Tamron
75-150/4
80-200/4 Tokina
500/8 Tokina Mirror
T32 flash
Winder 2

If you were to do a little weeding, you might sell the OM 10. The 35-105mm is a nice walking around lens. Before you spend too much time trying to find a 21mm Zuiko at a decent price, you might look for a 24mm f2.8 Zuiko and then either the 85mm f2 or 100mm f2.8 Zuiko. In my opinion, the more you use prime lenses the more you will grow to like them. The OM 2S is one of my favorite OM models however their circuits do go bad occasionally (more than the other models) and when that happens, there is no fix.

How are you using your OMs?

Bill Barber

vbarniev · Sep 18, 2010

Welcome to APUG. Get rid of the OM-10. Have fun with your kit!!

Allan Swindles · Sep 18, 2010

ulysses, OM-10 is a no-no, as for me, is any non OM Zuiko lens. Safeguard your investment and buy an OM-4Ti body.
P.S. The Zuiko 100mm 2.8 is my personal favourite.

Q.G. · Sep 18, 2010

No! Hang on to your OM10, and have fun with them all.

Grainy · Sep 18, 2010

My old Pentax Spotmatic broke down a couple of weeks ago, so now I'm buying a new camera. This time I want an Olympus OM with good light meter.

So wich one should I choose? I've read that OM-1 and OM-2 has the best viewfienders. I really like spotmetering for concert work, so a good built in spotmeter would be nice.

wblynch · Sep 19, 2010

OM10 are fine cameras that take great pictures. They're inexpensive and it's silly to discard them or disrespect them. They're better than the plastic garbage that pass for 'cameras' today.

judah · Sep 19, 2010

Grainy said:
My old Pentax Spotmatic broke down a couple of weeks ago, so now I'm buying a new camera. This time I want an Olympus OM with good light meter.

So wich one should I choose? I've read that OM-1 and OM-2 has the best viewfienders. I really like spotmetering for concert work, so a good built in spotmeter would be nice.

I would go for an OM1. Pure mechanical pleasure, good meter, the best handling out there (but I'm an Oly fan so am a little bit biased). No spot metering on both OM1 and 2. You have to go for an OM4 for spot, but that is substantially more money. Have fun.

removedacct3 · Sep 19, 2010

judah said:
... No spot metering on both OM1 and 2. You have to go for an OM4 for spot, but that is substantially more money...

That is not completely correct. The OM-2sp has a spot meter. Perhaps not as advanced (no averaging multiple meterings), but a spot meter nevertheless.

Q.G. · Sep 19, 2010

And the OM-3 has a spot meter too.

Moopheus · Sep 19, 2010

All right, thanks to this thread, I just bought an OM-1N and a 24/F2.8 Zuiko lens to go with. Well, not "just" because of this tread, I'd wanted one for a while (since I was 8, actually, when my camp photo teacher got an OM-1), but this made me actually do it. I got a nice clean one with good seals, a working meter, and hot shoe. This thread did help me figure out which lens to go for. So thanks for making me spend money.

Are there good third-party lenses for the Olympus? By which I mean not the cheaper lenses, but like Zeiss-quality lenses.

Konical · Sep 19, 2010

Good Morning, Moopheus,

I have a 105mm Kiron ƒ2.8 Macro which reaches 1:1 and is absolutely terrific. Probably hard to find, but worth having.

Konical

vbarniev · Sep 19, 2010

Get a Zuiko Macro. They are excellent and a lot of fun

Q.G. · Sep 19, 2010

Zuiko lenses are Zeiss-quality lenses.
Not all of them. But most.
So get Zuiko lenses, and you'll enjoy a quality camera with quality lenses.

judah · Sep 19, 2010

MrclSchprs said:
That is not completely correct. The OM-2sp has a spot meter. Perhaps not as advanced (no averaging multiple meterings), but a spot meter nevertheless.

You're right, don't know why but I never think about the OM2 SP. And while I think about it the OM3 has spot too, right? I would go for an OM1 anyway, it feels like the Leica M2 of the SLR history to me. Small, fast, mechanical, small, fast, reliable, and small and fast. Everytime I grab another camera it feels so akward to have the speed dial on top instead of right on the lens barrel. Pure genious.

nsurit · Sep 19, 2010

Moopheus said:
Are there good third-party lenses for the Olympus? By which I mean not the cheaper lenses, but like Zeiss-quality lenses.

My Zuiko kit is fairly large and you would not be unhappy with the Tamron SP prime lenses. The ones I own include the 17mm f3.5, 90mm f2.5 macro, 180mm f2.5, 300mm f2.8 and 400mm f4. The glass is very good and you shouldn't experience any disappointments. These lenses are adaptall mounts, which means with the proper mount you can use them on other cameras. So, if you see one you want with a Nikon, Minolta, Canon or other mount, don't be put off. Buy it and then get the mount you need for a few dollars more. Bill Barber

wblynch · Sep 19, 2010

Moopheus said:
Are there good third-party lenses for the Olympus? By which I mean not the cheaper lenses, but like Zeiss-quality lenses.

No

Pumal · Sep 20, 2010

Stick to Zuiko

lxdude · Sep 20, 2010

judah said:
You're right, don't know why but I never think about the OM2 SP. And while I think about it the OM3 has spot too, right? I would go for an OM1 anyway, it feels like the Leica M2 of the SLR history to me. Small, fast, mechanical, small, fast, reliable, and small and fast. Everytime I grab another camera it feels so akward to have the speed dial on top instead of right on the lens barrel. Pure genious.

Much as I like my Pentax MX's, I find the shutter control on the OM-1 to be just right. The MX's (on top) is stiffly detented and too short, so is hard to move quickly. I recently handled an OM-1 and once again marveled at how just plain good it is. One of these days...

OM-2: What's the perfect lens for this nifty camera

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