Anybody using Olympus PEN lenses on their NEX-7?

Ken Ford

Ken Ford

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Surprisingly little turns up in a forum search, so apologies if this has been beaten to death already.

I'm really enjoying my new NEX-7, especially with Oly OM Zuikos. This has gotten me to thinking... how are PEN lenses on the NEX?

I seem to recall PEN lenses actually outresolved most contemporary SLR lenses which, if true, would bode well for their performance on the NEX-7.

A 25/2.8, 38/1.8 and 60/1.5 would in theory make a nice little kit!
 
The imaging circle of m4/3 lenses is smaller than those for aps-c sensors, so if technically possible, there'll be some vignetting.
 
I only have experience with the Pen 40mm f1.4.

It was nice, but these Pen lenses are prone to failure in the focus ring part, which makes the ring sometimes "skip" a bit.
Mine fell in two parts in my hand on the first day, even though I paid top money for a "like new" sample. Had to pay more money to get it fixed…

Supposedly the 38mm f1.8 is very nice. A nice chap is selling one (with properly working rings) on another forum; if you're interested, send me a PM.

Not sure if the 60mm f1.5 is great, but it goes for crazy money today. :/
 
There are quite a few threads about them, but they're scattered around various forums -- definitely some on fredmiranda.com and dpreview.com. I've only owned the 100/3.5, but it's excellent (on par with the best ~100mm primes). The 40/1.4 has an especially good reputation, and the 38/1.8 is one of the more affordable ways in. With their short registration distance, they're also very compact.
 
I have the 38/1.8 on a Kiwifoto adapter. A very good combo that I normally use wide open. Very compact, with image quality up to rf optics standards. I'll try to find some photos.
 
Pen-F lenses make a perfect fit on a NEX, though I use it on NEX5N, not NEX7
there is no vignetting ( PEN-F halframe is 18mmx24mm, NEX APS-C is 23.4mm×15.6mm ),
as compared to most rangefinder lenses Pen-F lenses have shorter minimum focus distance, e.g. 35cm for the 38mm and 40mm, 20 cm for the 20mm
register distance are 18mm for Sony E and 28,95mm for PEN-F so the adapter is only about 1cm deep.
see the f1.8/38 on my NEX5N:

6336986902_306b2ce4fb_z.jpg


see my photos taken with the f1.8/35mm: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kuuan/sets/72157627988053181/show/
with the f1.4/40mm: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kuuan/sets/72157629315399105/show/
with the f3.5/20mm: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kuuan/sets/72157628125919493/show/
and just two with the f3.5/100mm: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kuuan/sets/72157628364071135/show/
since today only I also have the f2.8/25mm, hope to have some samples soon.

( and btw. if someone is looking for a f1.8/38 I have two copies for sale right now, one for 115.- the other for 130 Euro excl. caps, sending from Japan by EMS incl. insurance and tracking 18 Euro, interested please P.M. )

best greetings,
Andreas
 
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Why use an old Pen F lens when there are better M mount CV lenses? I have several plus a Leica Summicron and 2 Elmarits. The Leica lenses are superior because of the greater contrast giving snappier images, but when it comes to sharpness, medium contrast, little or no focus shift and price, the Cosina Voightlander lenses are hard to beat. See SeanReid's comments on these great lenses.
 
Hi,

I have to admit, first I bought the Nex for my CV lenses.
Now I had to buy a small bag for the Pen lenses to use with the Nex...
The 25/2.8, the 40/1.4 along with the 100/3.5 works well in a tiny package.
_DSC0185.JPG


and a crop of that:

_DSC0185.JPG


cheers,

nemjo
 
I don't have any Voigtlaender nor Leica to compare and like some of my Pen-F lenses very much, e.g. the 1.4/40 for close range head shots
 

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I took one of my favorite portraits with (what I consider to be) the best single pound-for-pound/value lens available anywhere. The sharpness this the 38mm f/1.8 produces is jaw dropping, even at f/2. Considering the almost comically small size, it makes me a little angry that the Sony 50mm is such a beast.

Wide open on, I believe, the NEX-7 (possibly 5N, but I've tested on the 7 and it still delivers in *****s)

DSC00927.jpg
 
I use them regularly on the Nex5. Pretty much, I only use M-mount lenses in the niche where they are size-compatible. For long or macro, it's hard to been pen lenses. Last weekend, I took the pen macro and the OM 21/2 out as a set and found it incredibly flexible.
 
the 42/1.2 is excellent, aside from a modern zeiss-like bokeh and super sharp stopped down. 38 as noted reputed to be good also.

the 20 and the 25/2.8 are very sharp in the center, but forget the corners--unless you focus for them. Spherical aberation.
 
i'm quite fond of my 42/1.2 on the NEX-7. it's extremely sharp stopped down across the frame. wide open it is pretty sharp in the center and but with a fair bit of field curvature and glow. it is a relatively low contrast lens. bokeh is funky and swirly wide open but can be used to artistic effect quite nicely. stopped down the bokeh is pretty nice. it has a little bit of CA and a fair bit of distortion, but neither are really noticeable unless you look for them. the only thing that makes it a less than stellar allround lens is troublesome flare in with bright light sources (e.g. city lights at night).

i also had the 38/1.8 for a while but sold it due to lack of use. it is more contrasty with less distortion than the 42/1.2, but i found it to be less 'magical'.

here's my flickr photos with those two lenses (most are with the 42mm): http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=olympus+pen&w=28476552@N04&ss=2&s=int

it fits the camera so well too:
7207877804_7fd4313db0_c.jpg


6987517779_347be36f5a_b.jpg
 
Pen-F halfframe are being tested and used on Sony A7 FF cameras. Looks like the long lenses are fully useable, the 'normals' just about, the wide angles produce definite dark corners:
e.g. a flickr set of photos taken with 1.8/38 on A7: https://www.flickr.com/photos/110548103@N07/sets/72157646594578645
the 1.4/40 on A7: https://www.flickr.com/photos/padiej/sets/72157645855701295
the 1.4/40 shows strong vignetting, it's fine at 24x24mm, always shows it's very good sharpness! The bokeh of the 38mm is 'lively' that can disturb, but here often enhances, is used to make the image.

Jim, why not use CV lenses instead? You are right if you need more reliable performers. Why use vintage lenes at all? Pen-Fs are older and different, some say have limitations, others say charms. They usually cost less than comparable CV lenses and have a much shorter minimum focus distance. I'd say they are lovely and high performance lenses, I am quite sure that at wide apertures the Nokton 1.4/40 isn't anywhere as sharp as the Pen-F 1.4/40.

Sebboh decribed the 1.2/42 so very well and detailed, most I consider also true for other Pen-F lenses, good shaprness, flare problems, funky bokeh, wide angles impress me with little distortion

6985514914_cdb62d3063_b.jpg


from left to right: 3.5/20, 4/25, 2.8/25, 1.8/38, 1.4/40. 3.5/100, 3.5/50-90, behind mounted on Pen-F 1.8/38, on NEX5N 1.4/40
( the 1.5/60 came later, 3.5/20 and 2.8/25 seen had been somewhat faulty, replaced now with good copies )

Obviously I like the Pen-F lenses, now converted them to Leica M to use them, besides on NEX5N, on Ricoh GXR M.
The updated list of the sets, each dedicated to photos taken with a specific lens:

3.5/20: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kuuan/sets/72157647002683101/
3.5/20 faulty copy: ( paint on rim of inner lens element had 'evaporated', lead to some 'blooming' ) https://www.flickr.com/photos/kuuan/sets/72157628125919493/
2.8/25: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kuuan/sets/72157647206708242/
2.8/25 faulty copy ( coating damage on rear glass, problematic against light ) https://www.flickr.com/photos/kuuan/sets/72157629419646160/
4/25mm: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kuuan/sets/72157629897212327/
1.8/38: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kuuan/sets/72157627988053181/
1.4/40: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kuuan/sets/72157629315399105/
1.5/60: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kuuan/sets/72157631525848244/
3.5/100: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kuuan/sets/72157628364071135/

some ( a bit random ) examples:
3.5/20 on Ricoh GXR M:

14892762790_b220e0d168_b.jpg


2.8/25 on NEX5N

15096077042_2318d42cf0_c.jpg



4/25 wide open on Ricoh GXR M:
14146669848_821d7fd5d5_b.jpg


1.8/38 on Ricoh GXR M
12971588364_425f49db37_b.jpg


1.4/40 wide open on NEX5N:

14948246188_fc7f8dd420_b.jpg


1.5/60 wide open on NEX5N:

8503957696_8f998980f9_b.jpg


3.5/100 on NEX5N

7664101546_a765b8b655_z.jpg
 
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