olympus om1n

Keith said:
Can I hi-jack this thread for a moment and get some lens advice? I've had my OM-2 for a month or so now and love it of course ... how could you not ... and I have an OM-1 on the way which should be here in a week or so. Both cameras have 50mm Zuikos and I would like something else of course.

I understand the 28-48 is a very good lens and I'm not averse to good zooms so would maybe consider two more ... the 35-70 and the 75-150. That would give me three lenses to cover most situation right? I spotted a 75-150 on eBay for $59.00 BIN which seems cheap and I was wondering if the other two sizes are in the same ball park price wise? :)

Oh yes ... and are they all good lenses? :)
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I've owned two Zuiko zooms: the 35-105 and the 75-150. They weren't bad but the aren't up to modern standards. The primes, on the other hand are excellent, and I would personally go with them. I have a 28mm 2.8, 2x50mm (a 1.4 and a 1.8) and a 100mm 2.8 which cover all the bases for me.
 
Hi Keith,

I understand the 28-48 is a very good lens and I'm not averse to good zooms so would maybe consider two more ... the 35-70 and the 75-150. That would give me three lenses to cover most situation right? I spotted a 75-150 on eBay for $59.00 BIN which seems cheap and I was wondering if the other two sizes are in the same ball park price wise?
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Don't be put off by people telling you that Zuiko zooms aren't as good as Zuiko primes. It's true, but the primes are quite superb and the zooms being second best to them is no mean achievement.

Of them all, I think the 28-48 is the best Zuiko zoom I have.

35-70? It depends on which one - the 35-70/3.6 is superb (and I'd challenge anyone here who says that only Zuiko primes are any good to tell the difference between results from this lens and from primes). I sold mine only because it was too big and heavy for my needs - I need light, traveling gear. Of the other two, it's f/4 vs f/3.5-4.5. I've had both and don't think there's a lot between them - they're not up to the f/3.6, but they're really pretty decent. The 3.5-4.5 is the one I've kept, purely because it is so much smaller and lighter - it's hardly bigger than a 50.

I also quite like the 75-150 (and $59 sounds like a decent price - if you don't like it you won't lose much by reselling it, and might even profit). I think the 100-200 is a bit better, but again the 75-150 scores on being lighter and more compact, and it really is a pretty decent performer - all of the Zuiko zooms I've used have given decent contrast (which is something that many zooms fall down on).

When I'm traveling with an SLR, my main kit is my OM2n with the 35-70/3.5-4.5 and the 75-150.

My bottom line suggestion is to try them - the way they've been holding their prices these last couple of years, if you don't like them you should easily be able to resell them.
 
sirius said:
I haven't sold it yet because I like firing the shutter and looking through the viewfinder on my 28mm! It's a simple pleasure but you'd be surprised how much I enjoy it! Gawd, I'm a camera geek...
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I don't think that sounds weird at all...in fact, I wish there were a camera that had some sort of clutch/release mechanism that would just allow firing without exposure. I always look forward to the end of a roll, just so I can enjoy clicking around for awhile, enjoying the view and the shutter.

Related to your shake issue, I must say, I'm not used to so much noise, enough to make small children flinch. Maybe a CLA would fix some of that for me?
 
SteveM(PA) said:
Related to your shake issue, I must say, I'm not used to so much noise, enough to make small children flinch. Maybe a CLA would fix some of that for me?
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I notice that too. I think the mirror bumper is made out of that foam that turns into a sticky goo. I bet replacing that would help everything.
 
I have a black OM1n and black OM2n, and one or the other is a regular visitor to my M bag with a 24 and 135. They're getting less use now that I have a C-V 28 and a 135 Elmarit, but they're still great little devices.

The bodies and optics are fantastic, but aren't as rugged (some would say "overbuilt") as my Nikons and Nikkors. I wouldn't try and defend my life with an OM on a strap like I would a motorized F2, but so what?

I need to send them to John H for overhauls before much longer. After that, they should outlast me.

The Oly OM experience is very similar to the Leica M experience - they work well together. And oh, that viewfinder!
 
Thanks for the info and once again apologies for hi-jacking the thread. It seems that there is nothing wrong with the zooms as long as one realises that they will offer slightly less performance ... and I may just get a 35-70 and a 75-150 as a carry kit to go with the 50's that came with the cameras.

I'll definitely add some primes as I can find them at good prices though! :)
 
i went back to om cameras with the thought of using those same zoom lenses but after buying every om lens i could find, it turns out that using rf cameras ruined me for the zooms. i didn't like using them at all even though i had used them lots when i had my first om set many years.
i ended up keeping the 35/100/180 (all 2.8) lenses and getting a second body.
 
they got really pricey. My father has an OM2n (he doesn't use it, it's broken anyway), and it's true it's a wonderful camera. I saw pictures he took with it with dim lightning and it handled just perfectly - with flash as well. But a 50$/€/£ Om2n gets rare!
 
Hi Keith,

I'll definitely add some primes as I can find them at good prices though!
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If you're looking out for primes, I think one of the real stars of the show is the 100/2.8. Sharpness and contrast are beautiful, and I love the focal length. (In fact, I actually have two - an early single coated "silvernose" and a later multi-coated one. I should probably sell one).
 
My Oly kit is an OM1n with 28/3.5 (like it, compact and lovely rendiring) 50/1.4 (top lens though I understand the 1.8 is an absolute gem) and 85/2 (what can I say? though the 100/2.8 is a stellar, less expensive option).

Oh and a back up ;) OM4 and XA and XA4.

Rangefinders made me love primes, and re-appreciate them on those evil SLRs....I'm an unfortunate reformed child of the 90s "my zoom is bigger than yours" syndrome....;)

I'd stay prime and use your feet...
 
BTW: The speeds 1 - 1/60s are different color because they can be used with flash ;) 1/60 is the fastest flash sync'd speed.
 
For 10 grams more, a millimeter longer and a millimeter wider I went for the 28/2.8 rather than the 3.5. Every 1/2 stop counts when you are viewing through the lens
(IMHO).

I got a 85/2 as it was the focal length I grew up using and love it. It's 2 millimeters shooter than the 100 and only 30 grams heavier.

I'm waiting and watching for a 180/2.8. I got a 200/5 and it's a fun lens, small and leight.

B2 (;->
 
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