OM, I've become a Zuikoholic!

[gliderbee]

I got an OM1 for a bargain price the other day, it had a 50 1.4 on it. So I threw a roll of neopan 1600 through it and I have to say it is so silky smooth and a delight to use. I love this camera, I want to buy a couple more lenses for it: short tele and a 35mm. How good is the 70-150 zoom? its looks small and light.

If you're looking for short tele and 35mm, have a look at the Zuiko 35-105mm lens; I used one for years until it got stolen in Italy (along with my OM2), but I bought two others (and two OM2n).

I prefer the "normal" lenses, but for a walk-around lens, it's great. I think it's a great "hidden" lens, and not expensive to get.

Stefan.

 

[Drago]

Well, thanks to this thread i got black om-1 with zuiko 50 1.8 and oh boy, what a camera. The shutter noise and vibration is so low and that viewfinder ..... It's love from first sight 🙂 Now i'm thinking about finding a zuiko 35 2.8 - what do you think about that lens ?

 

[Trius]

Well, thanks to this thread i got black om-1 with zuiko 50 1.8 and oh boy, what a camera. The shutter noise and vibration is so low and that viewfinder ..... It's love from first sight 🙂 Now i'm thinking about finding a zuiko 35 2.8 - what do you think about that lens ?

I love the 35/2.8. It takes the same hood as the 50/1.8, 50/1.4 & 40/2.

 

[JeffL]

Well, thanks to this thread i got black om-1 with zuiko 50 1.8 and oh boy, what a camera. The shutter noise and vibration is so low and that viewfinder ..... It's love from first sight 🙂 Now i'm thinking about finding a zuiko 35 2.8 - what do you think about that lens ?

I have the OM2 (just serviced by John Hermanson) and the 35 2.8. That lens stays on the camera most of the time. I really like the combination - great camera great lens IMO

 

[pggunn]

As for the 35, I've been wanting a 35/2 for a while now. I've been using the 50/1.4 mostly, but would like to start using a bit wider normal lens, especially since I've gotten so fond of the 20/1.7 on the EP-3.

BTW, I have enjoyed the EP-3, but started missing my OM-1. I shot six rolls of film last month and fell in love all over again!

 

[philosomatographer]

Better corrected than the 21/2? That's quite a statement.

That certainly has been my experience. The 21mm f/2.0 is a tour de force, but it's also an extreme - something no other SLR manufacturer ever managed to do, never mind with a tiny 55mm filter size! I think it pushed several boundaries of retrofocal optical design.

I suspect a fast 24mm is just easier to make. While my 21mm f/2.0 is very very good, the 24mm f/2.0 I had is just jaw-dropping. 12x16in prints that are so good across the frame, you really would swear it came from a medium format negative. Haven't produced one of those with the 21mm just yet...

 

[Trius]

Thanks for the update. I have the 24/2.8 and don't get on well with it. Maybe I have a bad example, maybe I'm just bad at using it, or maybe it's just not as good as the 24/2.0.

I do love my 21/2 and agree that it is a tour-de-force.

 

[philosomatographer]

Need... more... gear... porn...

Need... more... gear... porn...

Nice images, Kemal!

I suspect we require some more OM gear porn to spice up this thread, no? Anyway, what are cellphone cameras for... This is my typical (and favourite) OM setup:

The 250/2 has pretty unique character, especially if there are objects in between ridiculously blurred Christmas lights and the lens. I recently posted this one over in the Bokeh discussion thread:

Who ate the bokeh?

(Olympus OM-1n, Zuiko 250mm at f/2.0, Ilford Delta 400, ugly direct scan)

Of course, if you don't have point lights with out-of-focus objects partially obscuring them, this lens is magical in terms of smooth subject isolation. About as good as it gets for most uses 🙂
​

 

[gliderbee]

I just acquired a Zuiko 300mm/4.5 (in a package with some other Zuiko stuff, like a 21/2 😎) and I'm not sure I'll keep it ... Any comments on this lens ? Is it any good ?

Thanks,
Stefan.

 

[philosomatographer]

I just acquired a Zuiko 300mm/4.5 ...

Any comments on this lens ? Is it any good ?

Stefan,

The 300/4.5 is as good a 300 as you'll ever use. It's basically optically flawless at all apertures in my opinion - the only limiting factor will be your ability to focus accurately and to avoid camera shake. Even on high-resolution four-thirds bodies, it makes a truly excellent 600mm-equivalent, being more than up to the task at wide open aperture.

I also particularly like the build quality (aperture selection ring, etc) but I wish it was an internal-focusing lens.

Of course, only you will know if you need a 300mm lens in your life. It's extremely useful when you don't want to drag a big, fast telephoto along (look at the size of my 4kg 250/2 above...). I'd keep it, personally.

 

[gliderbee]

Of course, only you will know if you need a 300mm lens in your life. It's extremely useful when you don't want to drag a big, fast telephoto along (look at the size of my 4kg 250/2 above...). I'd keep it, personally.

Thanks ! It's your picture of the 250/2 (is that a Zuiko ?) that reminded me of that 300/4.5, but it's not 4kg 😱 (until your message and that picture, I thought the 300m was a big fast telephoto 😱).

Still, i'm not much of a telephoto user ... I'll have to think some more, because it is indeed a beautiful lens ..

 

[135formatuser]

I have a question!

i'm about to get an OM-2👎 and i want an 28 35 50 135 lens kit..
BUT i want to know how the 135 F3,5 is on the OM-2 does it stick out much like a tele lens?
I ask this because my FD 135 Lens is pretty huge on the AE-1...

Does anyone have an example for me?

 

[Jockos]

I have a question!

i'm about to get an OM-2👎 and i want an 28 35 50 135 lens kit..
BUT i want to know how the 135 F3,5 is on the OM-2 does it stick out much like a tele lens?
I ask this because my FD 135 Lens is pretty huge on the AE-1...

Does anyone have an example for me?

It's very petite, not much larger than the 50/1.4.

Very light weight and smooth handling. A great lens for bright days!

This is with hood retracted and no filter.

 

[philosomatographer]

I have a question!

i'm about to get an OM-2👎 and i want an 28 35 50 135 lens kit..
BUT i want to know how the 135 F3,5 is on the OM-2 does it stick out much like a tele lens?
I ask this because my FD 135 Lens is pretty huge on the AE-1...

Does anyone have an example for me?

Oh you're going to enjoy the 135/3.5 - it's the perfect small tele. Its performance has not once disappointed me, even in large prints. Every street shooter should have this tiny lens tucked into a pocket - I almost never leave home without it!

Dreaming about tomorrow

(Zuiko 135/3.5 at f/5.6, Olympus OM-1n, Ilford Pan F at ISO32, 8x10in darkroom print)

Movin' on up

(Zuiko 135/3.5 at f/3.5, Olympus OM-2n, Ilford FP4+, 5x7in darkroom print)
​

 

[CTAPbIU_XPEH_RUSSIA]

I like Zuiko 35/2,8 and my OM-1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/68343288@N06/6636878253/

 

[Leeston]

CTAPbIU_XPEH_RUSSIA

Thank you for sharing your photographs, I enjoyed viewing them.

 

[al1966]

Well I have a 75-150 on the way, I got it for £20 which I hope is a good price. I don't normally buy zooms for my film cameras and I have bought 3 in a wk, bought a 25-50 for my Konica as well. You guys are putting temptation in my path with the talk of class 24 and 21mm lenses, I can't afford it 🙁.

 

[wblynch]

I'm going on a Caribbean cruise this week and I'm thinking of taking only the 35-70/3.5-4.5 and the 75-150/4

Perhaps I'll take the 50/1.4 and 85/2 but leave them on the ship during the day rather than lug them around the islands.

Any opinions?

 

[al1966]

I'm going on a Caribbean cruise this week and I'm thinking of taking only the 35-70/3.5-4.5 and the 75-150/4

Perhaps I'll take the 50/1.4 and 85/2 but leave them on the ship during the day rather than lug them around the islands.

Any opinions?

1.4 very useful if you want to keep film speeds down, even if you lock it in your cabin during the day and use it for the evenings. Then again if you go in to say a cathedral or mosque during the day you may find a bit of speed handy.

 

[pggunn]

I'm going on a Caribbean cruise this week and I'm thinking of taking only the 35-70/3.5-4.5 and the 75-150/4

Perhaps I'll take the 50/1.4 and 85/2 but leave them on the ship during the day rather than lug them around the islands.

Any opinions?

That sounds like a good plan for versatility. Presumably most of your time on shore will be day trips, so you shouldn't need the fast primes in the bright Caribbean sunshine. With the two zooms you'll be able cover just about any photo opportunities that come your way with that range of focal lengths, and you won't have to carry a lot of gear. Get a lens case and put it in a day pack with some film, maps, film, snacks, film, water, and some film!

Then use the primes to capture the night life on board ship. I'm thinking candid portraits with those two lenses. I love my 50/1.4 and have been wanting an 85/2 for quite some time.

Whatever you do, I'm sure you're going to have fun and get some great photos! Good luck to you and post some of them when you get back.