loneranger
Well-known
Just wondering if anyone knows if there is any major difference between the two versions of the fast olympus 50's. Which lens has higher contrast wide open?
thanks for your help
thanks for your help
historicist
Well-known
Can't speak for the 50 but the 55 1.2 is soft and low contrast wide open. I'd hope the 50'd be better given the price...
plummerl
Well-known
There is some good info here: http://zone-10.com/cmsm/index.php?option=com_content&task=category§ionid=10&id=45&Itemid=97
jmkelly
rangefinder user
I have used several examples of both lenses, and IMO the 50/1.2 has better contrast, sharpness and color rendering, at the price of slightly harsher OOF. It is also much smaller - nearly the size of the 50/1.4 - and lighter. No contest - I kept the better example of 50/1.2 and sold the rest.
aeolist
Member
slightly harsher OOF? i've seen some sample pics from the 55/1.2 and found it already too harsh. Is it just me or the sample?
Better stay with the 50/1.4 and spend the price difference in film
Better stay with the 50/1.4 and spend the price difference in film
kl122002
Kevin H.Y. Lui
Both of them performs similar, IMO. 50/1.2 is just a ittle bit soft and smooth.
Pascal
Member
The 50mm f1.2 is sharper and offers some improvement in resolution over the 55mm f1.2.
However, the 55mm f1.2 seems to have the better bookeh.
There are good and bad samples/copies of both lens. But one way to tell if you have a good copy is if the lens is sharp wide open at f1.2.
At wide open, the 50mm f1.2 beats the 55mm f1.2 hands down. The 50mm f1.2 has a very small barely noticable lead at f2.0 as well, but by f2.8, the 55mm f1.2 is slightly better.
If you plan to use either one on your 5D or 1Ds, they sharpen up very well and the images do pop with either lens.
I have both and recall my 50mm f1.2 was not great at wide open. I sent it to Olympus in NY for a CLS and when it returned, it soon became my favorite f1.2 lens.
I also have the Nikon 50mm f1.2, Sigma 50mm f1.4, and the Minolta Rokkor 58mm f1.2. The Rokkor tops the list at wide open, followed by a tie between the OM 50mm f1.2 and the Nikon 50mm f1.2 at wide open. The Sigma gets the points for AF and creamy bookeh.
However, the 55mm f1.2 seems to have the better bookeh.
There are good and bad samples/copies of both lens. But one way to tell if you have a good copy is if the lens is sharp wide open at f1.2.
At wide open, the 50mm f1.2 beats the 55mm f1.2 hands down. The 50mm f1.2 has a very small barely noticable lead at f2.0 as well, but by f2.8, the 55mm f1.2 is slightly better.
If you plan to use either one on your 5D or 1Ds, they sharpen up very well and the images do pop with either lens.
I have both and recall my 50mm f1.2 was not great at wide open. I sent it to Olympus in NY for a CLS and when it returned, it soon became my favorite f1.2 lens.
I also have the Nikon 50mm f1.2, Sigma 50mm f1.4, and the Minolta Rokkor 58mm f1.2. The Rokkor tops the list at wide open, followed by a tie between the OM 50mm f1.2 and the Nikon 50mm f1.2 at wide open. The Sigma gets the points for AF and creamy bookeh.
Chris101
summicronia
I'm an analytical chemist, and do a fair amount of radiochemistry. The radioactive 55 has a special fascination for me that a 'nuclear stable' lens just couldn't compete with.