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There is something about the S2/50 combo, it just feels perfect. 1:1 finder, smooth focusing, while I love some nikkors there is just something about that combo.
B2 (;->
Battle of the 35mm//2.8 Lenses: Leica, Minox, Olympus, Nikon
- Thread starter giganova
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There is something about the S2/50 combo, it just feels perfect. 1:1 finder, smooth focusing, while I love some nikkors there is just something about that combo.
B2 (;->
ForestCap
Well-known
Taken with my Mju II. Yunnan, China. Dec. 2016.
There is no water in this photo.
giganova
Well-known
The aperture was f/5.6 at 1/100sec on the Leica and Minox. Given the same light (the last rays of Sun at 7PM) and film speed (FP4), I guess the Nikon and Olympus had a similar aperture.
giganova
Well-known
True, that's why I wanted the Minox 35, which has zero delay. But the reliability of the Minox is an issue.
f16sunshine
Moderator
Hi Huss
If your camera is f3.5 it's not an mju2 but rather an earlier/older Stylus.
The mju2 is a worthy upgrade. Faster to respond and sharper lens by a good margin.
It's become one of my favorites.
mju2
Recent one
Trouble rhymes with ____ by Adnan, on FlickrOld one
Mr. Moustache by Adnan, on FlickrFor whatever it's worth I still prefer the Hexar AF 😀
Less so by Adnan, on Flickr
snot
Member
The mju II is a killer little camera. I always regret selling mine.
PRJ
Another Day in Paradise
The MjuII is faster than the original. Noticeably so, but only side by side. The lens is slightly sharper as well, but the original 3.5 is pretty darn good itself.
Also, the Minox lens on my EL is impressively sharp. Sharp enough that if it had autofocus, it would be my choice over the Olympus, but that has more to do with tonality. To sum up the Minox 35 though- great lens, crap camera! I think DAG works on them if you want one that is 100%.
Overall, I would put my money on the MjuII unless you want to get into the premium ones. It is a very impressive little camera. To think that they sold for $100 when they were brand new is mindboggling now. If we only realized back then....
One thing to note about point and shoot cameras is they tend to be better at closer distances. Something I have noticed over the years. Taking landscapes with them always seems to be lacking. Photograph your friends and they look great. I imagine the lens designers did this on purpose, but that is only conjecture.
Also, the Minox lens on my EL is impressively sharp. Sharp enough that if it had autofocus, it would be my choice over the Olympus, but that has more to do with tonality. To sum up the Minox 35 though- great lens, crap camera! I think DAG works on them if you want one that is 100%.
Overall, I would put my money on the MjuII unless you want to get into the premium ones. It is a very impressive little camera. To think that they sold for $100 when they were brand new is mindboggling now. If we only realized back then....
One thing to note about point and shoot cameras is they tend to be better at closer distances. Something I have noticed over the years. Taking landscapes with them always seems to be lacking. Photograph your friends and they look great. I imagine the lens designers did this on purpose, but that is only conjecture.
ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
DAG repaired a Minox 35ML for me. I have since acquired a second in case one malfunctions.
This model is one of my favorite pocket cameras, one that's no problem to carry at all times.
Chris
This model is one of my favorite pocket cameras, one that's no problem to carry at all times.
Chris
raid
Dad Photographer
My Minox GT has not failed me since I bought it (used) about 20 years ago. It has a sharp lens and its exposure system is good enough for slide film. Is the Olympus mju the same as the EPIC? The EPIC lens had an aspherical element in the lens.
skucera
Well-known
I'm astounded that I actually own two of these cameras, the Olympus Stylus Epic and the Minox 35 (though a now broken EL and a new to me GT, not an ML), and I own the Summaron 35mm with goggles for my M3. I've never done a comparison of the lenses, although I've shot many pictures with all three.
My last roll though the Epic was last May at my daughter's graduation from Navy basic training... unfortunately I had 800 speed film from a night photography session in the camera, and it turned out predictably grainy. It wasn't the best test of sharpness.
My only roll through the newer Minox 35GT hasn't been developed yet. I've got to take that in this weekend.
My Summaron 35 isn't bad, though I think I've only shot 400 color film with it, and some of that was badly expired (like expired in the mid-90's). I should put in my new Tmax in the Leica to see what the Summaron can really do.
Scott
My last roll though the Epic was last May at my daughter's graduation from Navy basic training... unfortunately I had 800 speed film from a night photography session in the camera, and it turned out predictably grainy. It wasn't the best test of sharpness.
My only roll through the newer Minox 35GT hasn't been developed yet. I've got to take that in this weekend.
My Summaron 35 isn't bad, though I think I've only shot 400 color film with it, and some of that was badly expired (like expired in the mid-90's). I should put in my new Tmax in the Leica to see what the Summaron can really do.
Scott
sanmich
Veteran
Theoretical sharpness of the lens is not the whole story.
Yes, the mju lens is really good.
but the point of focus is so uncontrollable that it makes it a moot point.
I have had a few Mju2, and I just gave the last one after it systematically misfocussed several times a roll, on really easy shots.
Yes, the mju lens is really good.
but the point of focus is so uncontrollable that it makes it a moot point.
I have had a few Mju2, and I just gave the last one after it systematically misfocussed several times a roll, on really easy shots.
p.giannakis
Pan Giannakis
Out of the 4 cameras tested here, i have only experience with the Olympus. Sample variation is important with these cameras, they were traveling in pockets, people more likely were sitting on them too, not all of them had an easily life.
I lost count how many Yashica T4's i had until i found one that was performing well. Statistically, i am not bothering with that camera.
Had two Olympus mju-II, first one was ok, nothing special. Sold it for crazy money.
Got another one a few months ago and took it with me as a backup camera on one of my trips. I was impressed with it's performance. A few pics below.
I lost count how many Yashica T4's i had until i found one that was performing well. Statistically, i am not bothering with that camera.
Had two Olympus mju-II, first one was ok, nothing special. Sold it for crazy money.
Got another one a few months ago and took it with me as a backup camera on one of my trips. I was impressed with it's performance. A few pics below.
David Hughes
David Hughes
I guess the point has to be made that they are all second-hand cameras and so the previous owners and not the makers have a lot to do with the quality nowadays.
My experience is that the Minox lens can be brilliant and the same goes for all the others but I've had some duds.
I once compared the Leica lens with the Olympus XA's carrying both around and using the XA's exposure settings. On 5 x 7's I thought they were both good, with nothing to chose between them.
As for the µ-I and µ-II argument, I'd say the same about the XA and XA2.
My guess is that most lenses from all the well known makers are all good and have caught up with the Summaron and the Summaron is pretty good too...
I even have a 40mm lens from a Cosmic Symbol in a well made LTM mount that perform far better than you'd expect on the M9.
Regards, David
My experience is that the Minox lens can be brilliant and the same goes for all the others but I've had some duds.
I once compared the Leica lens with the Olympus XA's carrying both around and using the XA's exposure settings. On 5 x 7's I thought they were both good, with nothing to chose between them.
As for the µ-I and µ-II argument, I'd say the same about the XA and XA2.
My guess is that most lenses from all the well known makers are all good and have caught up with the Summaron and the Summaron is pretty good too...
I even have a 40mm lens from a Cosmic Symbol in a well made LTM mount that perform far better than you'd expect on the M9.
Regards, David
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
Interesting thread, Giganova! Thanks for starting it.
Juan Valdenebro
Truth is beauty
Wow, that Nikon One Touch was my first camera when I was a kid in the 80's! I hadn't seen it for decades! Thank you!
That's the only camera or lens I ever owned that I don't keep: after years of happy teen use, it was robbed when I went to Medellín, Colombia, for the first time... Two guys put a huge knife to my throat. I asked them if I could take out the roll because it had photographs of my girlfriend, and they didn't allow me to... 🙁
Nice test... All lenses are better than we really need... But manual and fast controls are the real key!
That's the only camera or lens I ever owned that I don't keep: after years of happy teen use, it was robbed when I went to Medellín, Colombia, for the first time... Two guys put a huge knife to my throat. I asked them if I could take out the roll because it had photographs of my girlfriend, and they didn't allow me to... 🙁
Nice test... All lenses are better than we really need... But manual and fast controls are the real key!
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