Olympus 50, 1.4 or 1.8??

[MiniMoke]

Hi,

I tried the Olympus OM 50 1.4 on my X-E1 and compared it to the 1.8 I also own.

I find the 1.4 (serial number < 1.000.000) excessively soft and 'glowing' at 1.4! Definitely much softer than the 1.8.

From 2.8 on it gets much better, but in my eyes this defeats the purpose of the larger aperture.

Has anyone similar feelings about this lens or might mine be somewhat flawed (it's very clean, almost as new!!).

 

[wblynch]

Not really meant for digital cameras. The 1.4 has painterly qualities that make it great on film cameras. That's why Olympus designed all new lenses for its digitals.

 

[redisburning]

Has anyone similar feelings about this lens or might mine be somewhat flawed (it's very clean, almost as new!!).

neither is that great wide open.

if you want a super corrected zuiko 50 I can recommend both the f2 and f3.5 macro (I own both), or a handful of other system lenses. or, you can limit your use of these two lenses to what they are good at.

fwiw I much prefer the silvernose f1.4 I still own to my previously owned 50/1.4 >1.1 mil and two mij f1.8s. none of which I miss in the slightest.

 

[mike rosenlof]

I have a 50/1.8 bought new in the late 1990's. I think it's very sharp overall, and quite good even wide open. I have a couple of zuiko lenses, this one is a real winner.

I've never used the 1.4.