Best Oly OM 50?

[Paul T.]

My girlfriend uses an OM-1; has done for the last 15 years. Her main lens is the 50/1.8, and she gets terrific result with it that have appeared in several trendy magazines. While I swtich my photo stuff around completely every few years, she seems to feel no pressure to buy anything sharper or 'higher quality' and her photos are consistently better than mine.

I believe another, even better photographer, Jane Bown, has used an OM-1 with the 50/1.8 for the last 36 years or so:

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/page/0,11821,1009693,00.html

Edit And do check out the gallery, with of course the Samuel Becket photo, here:http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2000/apr/20/1

 

[Keith]

My girlfriend uses an OM-1; has done for the last 15 years. Her main lens is the 50/1.8, and she gets terrific result with it that have appeared in several trendy magazines. While I swtich my photo stuff around completely every few years, she seems to feel no pressure to buy anything sharper or 'higher quality' and her photos are consistently better than mine.

I believe another, even better photographer, Jane Bown, has used an OM-1 with the 50/1.8 for the last 36 years or so:

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/page/0,11821,1009693,00.html

Edit And do check out the gallery, with of course the Samuel Becket photo, here:http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2000/apr/20/1

I remember checking out Jane Brown's work a while ago ... I was most impressed and also amazed at her use of her OM and 50mm lens for such a lengthy period. It makes a mockery of this place with our chopping and changing. It brings you back to earth to see this type of work and realise how simple photography can be.

Your wife also has my admiration!

I've been shooting my OM-2 with 50mm and 85mm almost exclusively lately aside from my gallery thing with the M8. For day to day shooting I find it hard to convince myself at times that I really need any other gear. I'm on about my eighth consecutive roll of Neopan 400 with the OM and am really starting to feel connected to it!

 

[ChrisN]

I can relate to that, Keith. For about 4 weeks recently I used only the OM2, with 28, 50 and 85/2 lenses. I've bought a winder for it too; it makes it much easier to hold on to.

WRT Jane Bown: Looking at the shots in the galleries linked above, I'd be surprised if she does not also use the 85/2 lens.

I like Eamonn McCabe's portrait of Jane Bown in B&W Photography, June 2006. I can't quite make out the lens attached to the camera she is holding.

The second shot is mine, my first attempt at portraiture, shot with the OM 85/2.

 

[Keith]

I can relate to that, Keith. For about 4 weeks recently I used only the OM2, with 28, 50 and 85/2 lenses. I've bought a winder for it too; it makes it much easier to hold on to.

WRT Jane Bown: Looking at the shots in the galleries linked above, I'd be surprised if she does not also use the 85/2 lens.

I like Eamonn McCabe's portrait of Jane Bown in B&W Photography, June 2006. I can't quite make out the lens attached to the camera she is holding.

The second shot is mine, my first attempt at portraiture, shot with the OM 85/2.

Chris ... that second portrait, as my English mate and employer Adrian would say ... is "cracking!"

I've only just started using the 85mm I bought from the classifieds a while ago and can't believe what a superb lens it is and what a brilliantly usable focal length 85mm is! In my Domke bag, which goes with me to work each day, is my OM-2 with 35mm f2 ... 50mm f1.8 and 85mm f2. The 50mm 1.8 is about to be replaced with the 1.2 I just bought off eBay!

There's nothing you can't do with this kit!

 

[ChrisN]

Keith, thanks for the comment on my portrait of my friend Mick. I was pretty pleased with it and will frame it for his wife.

35, 50, and 85 (or 90): the holy triumvirate! It doesn't matter what body you prefer, that set of focal lengths will do the job.

 

[Chris101]

I have the 50 1.4 and 50 3.5 macro. They are both good performers, I have no complaints.

 

[gnarayan]

Om 50/1.4 Sc

Om 50/1.4 Sc

Is there any particular model amongst the 50/1.8 that is sharper? How about the other 50's? I'll be using it on an OM2n and exclusively for B&W.

Of the 50s I like the older SC 50/1.4's for B&W. The 50/1.8's (both the 4 group and the later 5 group ones) and the newer 50/1.4's are more contrasty wide open - I've never got a hold of the 1.2s. A few pics with OM2n and an old 50/1.4 SC -
Cheers,
-Gautham

 

[wray]

My 50mm f/1.4 (serial number <500,000) works real well for me. Of course I rarely if ever shoot wide open.

Both images shot with OM-2 SP.

 

[ChrisN]

Gautham - very nice shots. How do these stand up as enlargements?

Wray - yours too. After dabbling with a Canon 50/1.2 (RF) and Pentax 50/1.2 I came to the conclusion that these super-fast lenses are not at their best wide open. With SLR part of the attraction is to gather more light into the viewfinder, for easier focusing and composing. I think that's what I like most about the OM2n and the Pentax LX.

 

[ChrisN]

Slightly off-topic again, but I found an article from October 2007, quoting Jane Bown, which I wanted to share.

I'm not very particular about equipment: I use Olympus OM1s and have about a dozen, all purchased secondhand more than 40 years ago, and while I have many lenses, I really only use either an 85mm or 50mm one now. In the same way, I'm not all that particular about film or paper. My early work was taken with a Rolleiflex - there is absolutely nothing like the Rollei for texture and detail. I work quickly using available light, have never had an assistant and usually expose no more than two rolls of film - any more than that is usually a sign that things aren't going well. Rather than use a light meter, I have a setting I like - 1/60sec at f/2.8 - and usually make the picture work around this. I normally gauge the light level by the way it falls on the back of my hand. I stopped printing my own work in the 1980s when the Observer got rid of its darkroom - I loved printing.​

So she does use an 85/2!

Full article at http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/guides/photography/story/0,,2197373,00.html

 

[feenej]

Here is a pic I took with my old 50 f1.8, meterless (meter is broken). I have the newer 50mm f1.8 too, but have not done any side-by-side comparison. I took a cityscape with the newer version that is quite sharp.

I'd love to cover my OM-1 with "Spring Green" leather, after I get it CLA'ed, but I know I'll use it a lot more if I cover it with Grip-Tac. I'd also love to have the 85 f2, but I'll have to make due with the 100mm f2.8 I just bought (I'm po' too). The 100mm f2.8 is amazingly compact. A 100mm fast lens that fits in your pocket!

OM-1 has serious faults like many cameras, but the OM-1 is the prettiest slr, also very compact, that's why I bougth into the system, though I actually like the ergonomics of a slightly bigger camera like the Minolta XG.

 

[jmkelly]

I have never shot the 50/1.8 My OM-1 came with the 50/1.4. I tried two examples of the 55/1.2 and another high-sn 50/1.4 before settling on the 50/1.2. Forever. I shoot wide-open a lot. With a Beattie focusing screen about the only thing I can't do is shoot consistently at speeds slower than 1/30th - I'll blame it on mirror slap and not failing eyesight for the time being.

 

[Keith]

I have never shot the 50/1.8 My OM-1 came with the 50/1.4. I tried two examples of the 55/1.2 and another high-sn 50/1.4 before settling on the 50/1.2. Forever. I shoot wide-open a lot. With a Beattie focusing screen about the only thing I can't do is shoot consistently at speeds slower than 1/30th - I'll blame it on mirror slap and not failing eyesight for the time being.

I'm pleased to hear your opinion of the 1.2 ... I just bought one off eBay and it arrived yesterday. I currently have the OM loaded with Pan F and will be giving it a run over the next couple of days. I have high expectations of this lens!

 

[monster]

i've use 55 mm f/1.2 about 6 months the result is fair, not good at wide open but at f/5.6 it's very good lens

but recently i just recived 50 mm f/1.4 from my friend's collection, the result is better. overall image quality is far than japanese lens competitors.

try 50 f/1.4 and you will love its.

 

[gnarayan]

How do these stand up as enlargements?

The Tibet ones will stand up pretty well - I've enlarged a few of those to 8x12 and they look fine. I'm fairly certain I can do larger if I just give the negative to one of the labs here but I'm a heathen (well this is Evil SLRs) and find this sort of thing easier from digital so I scan and print them myself from the scan.

The ones I posted from the 50 were unfortunately right after I got the scanner and not the best scans I've done but if I do want to enlarge them I'd scan the negatives again or let one of the labs handle it.

This is one of the Tibet ones I enlarged - 85/2 not the 50/1.4 - if you click view image and then change the _b.jpg to _o.jpg you can get the original size version and judge if you like.

 

[gnarayan]

FWIW, the standard Bessa case fits an OM just fine, adds a bit of bulk for handling and helps a ton if it is cold outside. Might help you.

 

[ChrisN]

More good input - thanks all!

Feenej - that shot must have been taken a while ago - no body piercings! Nice. Smooth bokeh. The 100/2.8 has a good rep.

John & Keith - don't get me started on the 50/1.2!

Gautham - excellent work!

Monster - yes, 50/1.4 it will be.

Cheers!

 

[ChrisN]

Well, I bought a 50/1.4. I ended up with an early, silver-nose version, number 155383. Is this a single-coat version?

Oh, and it came with some extras.

 

[nobbylon]

I like the 85 too, here's a comparison I did just to finish a film off yesterday, 85mm f2 and last but one version of the 50 1.4 mc.

 

[gnarayan]

Well, I bought a 50/1.4. I ended up with an early, silver-nose version, number 155383. Is this a single-coat version?

Oh, and it came with some extras.

Almost certainly single-coated - my SC one is 733805 - I found an thread on photo.net about the 50/1.4 serial numbers and IIRC they added an extra 1 in front of the serial numbers when they changed the coatings but I can't find it anymore.

The multi-coated one I have is 1090629 and says MC on the front. I like the extras That is one nice looking OM2 and I'm impressed that the owner even had the eyepiece and lens hood! Funnily enough I got my 50/1.4 (SC) with an OM2 (well 2n and chrome not black) as well - for a grand total of $70 from Hunt's in Cambridge and it is still the best equipment buy I've ever had.

I'd got it for the lens which I wanted for the E510 and didn't use the body for quite a bit after I got it. Didn't need the body but couldn't resist getting it after holding it and looking through the VF. They don't make them like that anymore.