Igor.Burshteyn
Well-known
Today I bumped into some ad on local site - somebody sell oly e300 for $100usd - just body, no lens (wow is it real? hundred bucks for dslr, how time flyes). I thought it could make great entry level digital body for using with manual focus lenses - 4/3 can adopt many mounts. I have quite a few OM lenses. But how to focus this setup? View through the finder of e300 is very poor comparing to OM bodies. So I will need split image screen and (naturally) OM-4/3 adapter. Does anybody here have experience with similar setup? I found on evilBay VirtualVilage screens and OM mount adapters - are they any good? How hard to install that screen into e300? Thanks in advance.
P.S. What happened to the site skin? Reminds me of earlier days of RFF
P.P.S. You guys saw many strange requests here, hope this one is not the strangest one ever.
P.S. What happened to the site skin? Reminds me of earlier days of RFF
P.P.S. You guys saw many strange requests here, hope this one is not the strangest one ever.
Eryximachos
Registered User
Zuiko on Oly 4/3 mount
Zuiko on Oly 4/3 mount
I have used Zuiko lenses with both the Pentax ist DS2 and the Olympus 4/3 format (an e500). I also use Zeiss MM-mount lenses on the Oly 4/3 mount. I find that it is a little harder to manual focus the 4/3 dslr vs the Pentax; greater magnification of the viewfinder might help. There are accessories sold for that I am sure. I say go for it; the vintage lenses are so much more fun than the kit zoom lens.
Zuiko on Oly 4/3 mount
I have used Zuiko lenses with both the Pentax ist DS2 and the Olympus 4/3 format (an e500). I also use Zeiss MM-mount lenses on the Oly 4/3 mount. I find that it is a little harder to manual focus the 4/3 dslr vs the Pentax; greater magnification of the viewfinder might help. There are accessories sold for that I am sure. I say go for it; the vintage lenses are so much more fun than the kit zoom lens.
hans voralberg
Veteran
Get the screen from here http://www.katzeyeoptics.com/. Not sure if you can find a magnifier, never heard of one. If you're in the mood for splashing cash, buy from Olympus, I however would contact CameraQuest
payasam
a.k.a. Mukul Dube
Olympus make a magnifying eye-piece. It costs around US$30, if I'm not mistaken, and I'm thinking of getting one for my E-300.
zuikologist
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foto_fool
Well-known
I played around a while with my favorite fast OM primes on my E-300, using the Olympus adapter. You can't use the fast OM lenses wide-open - with my 35/2 and 50/1.2 the widest aperture that will focus is f4 and with the 85/2 it is f5.6. Eh.
I bought the new 50/2 macro and am saving for the Panasonic 25/1.4 (though I might pop for the cheaper Sigma 30/1.4 first).
I bought the new 50/2 macro and am saving for the Panasonic 25/1.4 (though I might pop for the cheaper Sigma 30/1.4 first).
Igor.Burshteyn
Well-known
KatzEye screen - sure they are good but are they 5x times better (price difference) than noname VirtualVillage screen? Same about OM-4/3 adapter. Has anybody here fitted split screen in Exxx body? E300 screen is fixed type, some info on net indicates screen still can be replaced (fiddly as it gets, not sure I will stand the test).
George S.
How many is enough?
If you focus on your subject at f/5.6 and then turn the aperture dial to f2, isn't the subject still in focus?
foto_fool
Well-known
George - no.
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
I don't think this is a general case. I use almost all my OM lenses with my E-300. No split screen, just practice.
For reference, below is my 35/2 wide open:
... no sharpening.
Although my 55/1.2, I can't use it even with split screen
foto_fool
Well-known
I will give you that I have not practiced much . When I first received the adapter I went to town trying to fill up a card with my various lenses mounted, low light, wide open, ISO 800. Results looked really awful - noting at all like shadowfox's :bang:. I finally read the instructions for the adapter - the aperture limits I quoted came directly from the instructions. When I stopped down the images improved. Guess I need to practice more!
. When I first received the adapter I went to town trying to fill up a card with my various lenses mounted, low light, wide open, ISO 800. Results looked really awful - noting at all like shadowfox's :bang:. I finally read the instructions for the adapter - the aperture limits I quoted came directly from the instructions. When I stopped down the images improved. Guess I need to practice more!
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
John, this is one of those few things that will make you way better with practice.
Of course, now I'm drooling over the E-3, man, I've seen the viewfinder, it's huge! and manual lenses seem to "snap" to focus.
Of course, now I'm drooling over the E-3, man, I've seen the viewfinder, it's huge! and manual lenses seem to "snap" to focus.