OM, I've become a Zuikoholic!

[Montag006]

I second hans and Paulbe, a fantastic collection and the display and photography are remarkable!

I would like to see a lens list too, and if you have favorites let us know.

Thanks for posting in any case....

 

[sreed2006]

Thank you hans voralberg, Paulbe, and Montag006.

The picture was taken today with an 11 year old Nikon 995 Coolpix. Lighting was a bare 75 watt bulb overhead. Then I applied lens corrections, perspective correction, and straightening in Photoshop. That old Coolpix has been good to me.

Top left to bottom right, all Zuiko unless noted otherwise:

Empty case, 21/2 24/2 28/2 | 24/3.5-Shift 35/2 40/2 | 50/1.4 55/1.2 100/2 135/3.5

21/3.5 24/2.8 28/2.8 28/3.5 | Quantaray:28/2.8 28/3.5 35/2.8 | 50/1.8 (3 ea.) 100/2.8

35-70/3.6 35-80/2.8 Tokina:70-210/4-5.6 Vivitar:55/2.8 | 75-150/4 (2 ea.) 200/4 500/8

50/2 50/3.5 90/2 135/4.5 | Tokina:90/2.5 Soligor:For-Minolta Osawa:80-205/4 Vivitar:90-230/4.5-5.6.

And a 50/1.8 on the camera at the bottom-center.

It is not possible to pick a favorite. I've tried several times and cannot do it. The 21/2 for wide angle is great, but then so is the 21/3.5. For portraits, the 90/2 cannot be beat, unless the 100/2 gets used too. That's why I've kept them all.

 

[B.Toews]

Excellent collection Sid!

I recently bought a 50/1.4 from KEH, and when the lens arrived I discovered it was a silver-nosed lens, with a serial number just under 200k. What do you think of the earlier 50/1.4 verses the 1.1mil lenses? It was a BGN lens, and besides three very small cosmetic marks on the focusing ring, the lens looks mint. I'd rather not return it, but if the later lenses produce noticeably better IQ, I would consider waiting until I can find a later lens...

Here is a quick shot of my current OM gear, an OM-1n, 28/2.8, 35/2.8, 50/1.4 and 50/1.8!

 

[DCB]

Very nice collection sreed2006.

I have collected a nice selection so far but nothing like yours....kudos

Peace

 

[sreed2006]

Thanks DCB and B.Toews.

The one lens I started with, and which led me down this path eventually, is a G.Zuiko 50/1.4 with serial number 677xxx. All my pictures from before I was married, through to my kids in high school, were taken with that lens, and the pictures mean a lot to me. The lens may not be as good as a later version (1,100,000+), for color and contrast, but it did the job I needed it to do, reliably. It's the shortest one on the top-right shelf of the picture above.

 

[Johnmcd]

Decided to experiment with an alternative sports set up to my Canon 7D and 300 F4 L. This time my OMD EM5 and zuiko 300/4.5.

The 300/4.5 is a weighty beast and it feels like you could hammer nails in with it. Much shorter than the canon also. I don't know if it is normal but it was also very stiff to focus. So I hooked it up to a mono-pod and enjoyed the '600mm' view. Focusing was quite easy once I got the hang of it and with careful adjustment (stiffness didn't help) it would appear sharp in the EVF.

With the 7D and 300/4 I would normally sit right on the boundary fence but this time the 600 view made me lazy and I was actually sitting in the grandstand (waiting for my turn to bat).

What did amaze me was the detail it managed to pick out. But with plenty of chromatic aberration. The white shirt and pants against the darker background certainly didn't help but the Canon 300 L never showed any.

Firstly here's a pic taken with the M4 of another team member having a go. He actually took some decent shots of me batting which was great.

Not a great shot but this is the full frame of the 100% crop that follows.

100% crop 800 iso

Sorry about the large image but it shows the capabilities of the older zuiko glass and the OMD. The jpeg compression is a 8 in PS so probably lost a little there too.

All in all it was great fun and a pleasant surprise.

Cheers - John

 

[Merlijn53]

Excellent collection Sid!

I recently bought a 50/1.4 from KEH, and when the lens arrived I discovered it was a silver-nosed lens, with a serial number just under 200k. What do you think of the earlier 50/1.4 verses the 1.1mil lenses? It was a BGN lens, and besides three very small cosmetic marks on the focusing ring, the lens looks mint. I'd rather not return it, but if the later lenses produce noticeably better IQ, I would consider waiting until I can find a later lens...

Here is a quick shot of my current OM gear, an OM-1n, 28/2.8, 35/2.8, 50/1.4 and 50/1.8!

I read a lot here about lenses above a certain number being better than earlier ones especially about the 1.4 50mm. I'm an OM user since the early 70's and as far as I know Olympus never changed the design of any of the OM lenses during the period these lenses were produced, other than the coating and the inscription on the lens. Or am I wrong?
Also the test reports like they used to be published in magazines during this period don't show any differences between earlier and later lenses, so where does this idea come from?

 

[wblynch]

They did change the optical design on a few of the lenses.

But on most OM lenses they changed construction design and materials over time, (several times on some), along with lens coatings.

That's why we find so many 'versions'.

I have noticed different lens mounts and a shift from metal aperture controls to plastic on several models.

I have seen where they changed the front group on the 50/1.8 and 50/1.4 to a metal encapsulated set, molded together with the filter ring.

 

[B.Toews]

Well for what it's worth, I've decided that I'm keeping my early 50/1.4. Considering how affordable they are, I will probably buy a later lens to compare it with at some point, but I'm happy with the copy I have for now.

 

[sreed2006]

Well for what it's worth, I've decided that I'm keeping my early 50/1.4. Considering how affordable they are, I will probably buy a later lens to compare it with at some point, but I'm happy with the copy I have for now.

Cool. If and when you make the comparison, I hope you post the results.

 

[defconfunk]

The 300/4.5 is a weighty beast and it feels like you could hammer nails in with it. Much shorter than the canon also. I don't know if it is normal but it was also very stiff to focus. So I hooked it up to a mono-pod and enjoyed the '600mm' view. Focusing was quite easy once I got the hang of it and with careful adjustment (stiffness didn't help) it would appear sharp in the EVF.
...
What did amaze me was the detail it managed to pick out. But with plenty of chromatic aberration. The white shirt and pants against the darker background certainly didn't help but the Canon 300 L never showed any.
...
Cheers - John

Those images look pretty good for a "12x zoom". The CA is pretty noticible. Try throwing a teleconverter on there some time, that'll really throw the colours around. I've got a 2x vivatar teleconverter. I've only used it once (on a Vivitar 70-210 Series 1). I didn't have a monopod so I had to support it by lying down. On the plus side I could fill the frame with a duck at 30 yards. On the down side, there was a lot of purple fringe in the water.

 

[Tijmendal]

Just picked up a OM-2sp with brand new Winder 2 with 50mm f/1.8 (MC), 135mm f/3.5 (my fourth one I think?), Vivitar 28mm f/2.5, a Sun 38-90mm zoom, some Vivitar 2x Macro rings. Got a great deal on the package too. I had three OM-1's and was really happy about them and figured I should try the OM-2. So far I like it. Especially the winder is a nice accesory. Makes the camera great to hold!

 

[Noll]

I just received the 200mm f4 in the mail for under $30 shipped and it looks like new. It has a great build and feel, but BIG compared to the 135 f3.5. Seems pretty sharp on m4/3 digital as well (with a 2x TC on m4/3 it becomes an 800mm f8!) though some fringing wide open and one click down. Still, all in all not too shabby! Will post some photos when I get there...

 

[B.Toews]

Cool. If and when you make the comparison, I hope you post the results.

Sure thing, but it probably won't be for a few months. Once I get an OM-EF adapter, I'll do a quick test with the 50/1.4 and 50/1.8 as well.

 

[farlymac]

I was putting in a bid today for an OM-1 MD with a 2.8/28 on the (not eBay) site, and they said my ID was invalid. I typed it in four times more, and when the system finally took it, the auction was over. :bang:

PF

 

[redisburning]

it's been two months since I had to send KEH's 50/1.2 back.

and since then, I haven't found another to purchase within 100 dollars of what they asked before they knew it was broken. it's pretty disgusting, actually. usually you pay LESS from private sellers since they don't offer the 6 month warranty. but no, I literally can't find another one to buy within shouting distance.

oh well, I am patient. and I will have that lens, eventually.

 

[Ade-oh]

A question for you all. I'm planning to sell one of my OM-4ti's as, I feel, one is enough. It's in reasonable condition with a bit of wear to the paint but it is fitted with the 2-13 focus screen. So what ballpark price range should I be asking? Thanks.

 

[jmilkins]

@redisburning - I bought a faulty KEH 50mm f1.2 in BGN cond a few months ago too. Serial number 109150

The problem was a focusing and aperture ring mechanical issue. The focus ring sticks tight at f1.2 and won’t turn beyond .7m distance. If the aperture waschanged to f2 then the focus ring can be turned to infinty, but then above .7m it will not stop back down to f1.2.

I hope they didn't just restock it for the next hopeful!

First disappointing experience with BGN KEH gear, but points back because they refunded the full price including return postage to Australia on my request.

 

[redisburning]

same one.

it's listed as UG now, which is what it is. When I looked at it, my best guess for what happened is it had been taken apart and not lined up correctly when put back together, causing the aperture pin to be pinched when you focused too closely. I didn't take it apart myself because Im not an expert at such things, but I did write a very detailed letter explaining what was happening and I suppose with that they looked at it.

Like you I had everything refunded. KEH is the best.

 

[dtcls100]

A question for you all. I'm planning to sell one of my OM-4ti's as, I feel, one is enough. It's in reasonable condition with a bit of wear to the paint but it is fitted with the 2-13 focus screen. So what ballpark price range should I be asking? Thanks.

If the 2-13 focusing screen is in good (unscratched) condition, I would sell it and the camera separately. The screen could easily sell for $100 (or more) by itself. The OM-4Ti's price separately depends on whether it is a black one or a champagne version (black sells for more). A look at KEH's and eBay price histories (of completed sales) should give you a pretty oood idea what these are selling for.