"Old" 4/3 Lenses and OM-D

Johann Espiritu

Johann Espiritu

Lawyer / Ninja
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Finally getting my OM-D today, after waiting for it to become available both in Amazon.com and Hong Kong. It turns out it's already been available right here all along in the Philippines! (And a little cheaper too!)

This is my first real dip into M4/3 (although I got a GF1 for my wife a bit back and just got my daughter an EPL3), as this is the first time I'm having "my own". I've played around with both using a M4/3-Leica M adapter with my existing M-mount lenses.

Now, my question:

The 4/3 Zuiko 14-35/2.0 looks like something I would use, but can't seem to find a conclusive answer anywhere as to whether this is "fully" compatible with the M4/3 system, i.e. quick and reliable autofocus when using it with an adapter. Since this is an expensive lens, I am quite hesitant to just pull the trigger just for an experiment! Does anyone here have any experience with this combo? How about any other 4/3 lenses on M4/2 bodies?

Thanks in advance!

Johann
 
4/3 lenses need an adapter to be used on M4/3 bodies. Olympus makes one. I believe they will autofocus.
 
kbg32 said:
4/3 lenses need an adapter to be used on M4/3 bodies. Olympus makes one.
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That much I got, but it seems that some claim that not all lenses focus properly even with an original Olympus adapter. Have you tried using one? How does it AF? Thanks!
 
i read in a couple of different places that 4/3 lenses do not properly&/or quickly focus via the adapter. it is not found as yet to be a 'seamless' experience.
 
I think they all focus accurately, its just that most are very slow. Firmware upgrades are available for a very small number of Oly 4/3 lenses to make them focus decently fast with the adapter.

The short answer: It's not worth adapting 4/3 lenses to m43 unless you already have said 4/3 lenses.

If you want a fast standard zoom, wait for the Panasonic X 12-35/2.8. It will be a stop slower, but it will also be smaller, wider, and probably much cheaper.
 
Sam N said:
I think they all focus accurately, its just that most are very slow. Firmware upgrades are available for a very small number of Oly 4/3 lenses to make them focus decently fast with the adapter.
Click to expand...

The problem is inherent in the way the different camera types focus. M43 uses contrast-detection focusing, while 43 lenses, like those of all DSLRs, were designed for use with a phase-detection camera focusing system. The 43 lenses have trouble focusing on all micro 43 cameras, though there is some experience with this now and if you google the particular 43 lens(es) you want to use, you will probably find threads on the dpreview site about how well (relatively) that particular lens works on m43. None of them work well, though some are better than others if memory serves me right.

My understanding is that there is nothing improved about focusing old 43 lenses on the new E-M5 as compared to the Pen cameras. Olympus kept hinting that they would release such a camera but it doesn't appear that this is it. Along with Panasonic, Olympus appears to be headed toward developing a line up of high quality fast zooms that will make you forget all about 43s lenses--for a price.
 
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