OM, I've become a Zuikoholic!

[p.giannakis]

I had a MIJ 50mm f1.8 10 years ago and distinctly remember it was quite sharp with little to no spherical aberration (glow) even wide open. My f1.4 has quite a lot at f1.4, and a little bit at f2. I also remember the f1.8 lens having fairly harsh bokeh, especially stopped down, and a bit of barrel distortion.

edit: Something else I noticed about my f1.4 50mm is that it actually has quite high resolution wide open all the way to the edges (within the plane of focus). Noticeably more even spread of resolving power than other same-era 50's I've used.

The problem with the 50/f1.4 is that very often it suffers from oil on the aperture mechanism or the aperture blades. Many of them have been opened by "experts" (me being one of them) to be cleaned - a lens is a instrument with very small tolerences, the slightest error in putting them back together shows when used wide open.

Mine is serviced by Luton Cameras and it is considerably better from anything below f/2.8. Before the service it was just mediocre. Here is a picture at f/4.

 

[p.giannakis]

edit: Something else I noticed about my f1.4 50mm is that it actually has quite high resolution wide open all the way to the edges (within the plane of focus). Noticeably more even spread of resolving power than other same-era 50's I've used.

If you like seeing pictures of newspaper stuck on the wall, here is a small test I did some time ago:
http://pansfilmcameras.blogspot.com/2015/04/zuiko-silvernose-50-f14-vs-zuiko-made.html

 

[gavinlg]

Lovely pictures gavinlg. Great compositions, and I especially like the subtle range of grey tones that go with it.

Thankyou Anthony, it's taken me a long time to make friends with HP5 and get it to do what I want it to do, so your comment is much appreciated.

If you like seeing pictures of newspaper stuck on the wall, here is a small test I did some time ago:
http://pansfilmcameras.blogspot.com/2015/04/zuiko-silvernose-50-f14-vs-zuiko-made.html

I went over your blog with a fine tooth comb when I was re-researching the OM system earlier this year - you have some fantastic work, and no doubt helped push me over the edge.
In your newspaper test I think I'm seeing similar characteristics to mine - heaps of resolution across the frame and a bit of spherical aberration. Those corner crops are impressive.

I actually got the lens from Gordon at OM-Labor in Germany, who serviced it prior to sale (he specialises in rebuilding and refinishing Zuiko OM lenses), and it's got the nicest feel of any OM lens I've used, so suspect it's within spec. The more I use it the better I realise it is.

 

[Doddle]

I had my 85/2 CLA'd by Gordon, he did a cracking job and had it back in my hands within a week.

I'm still trying to decide whether I'll keep it or not - my hitrate isn't that great, but the ones that do hit are stunners. I have a 1-1 microprism only screen in both the OM-1 and OM-2n. Its not a tolerance thing, both those cameras were recently CLA'd too.

I usually love plain microprisms, I run a J screen in my F bodies.. the Oly ones are a bit less coarse though, with the Nikon things are very distorted when out of focus.

So what focus screen do you guys use? I might buy a 1-2 because thats the tele specific microprism one.

 

[Montag006]

Hi Doddle,

Olympus, I have no idea what's in my OM-2n it has the split image in the center,
so far I like it very much.

The main reason I am responding is because, I am a recent convert to J screens
in my F-2 and F-3.
I am very happy I finally tried them

David

 

[Doddle]

Hi Doddle,

Olympus, I have no idea what's in my OM-2n it has the split image in the center,
so far I like it very much.

The main reason I am responding is because, I am a recent convert to J screens
in my F-2 and F-3.
I am very happy I finally tried them

David

Yeah I actually like them better than the often praised H2. For critical focus on eyes, the Nikon J is the best I've found. I have a G2 on the way too, so the search is not over yet! 🙂

But this is an Oly thread - one thing I picked up from this thread is to stop down the lens with the DoF preview button, as a way to prefire the aperture before taking the shot. I can't say if it makes a difference in the final image, but doing this makes my OM1 sounds different.. there may be something to it.

 

[Montag006]

I did have some concern about veering off of Olympus...

Hopefully, I'll remember that "stop-down" technique and try it soon.

Thanks for the idea.

 

[p.giannakis]

Olympus OM4 - Zuiko 50 f/1.4
ilford Delta 400 in HC110

 

[gavinlg]

Ilford Ortho+, 50mm f1.4

 

[p.giannakis]

Ilford Ortho+, 50mm f1.4

Beautiful image, i can almost feel the sea breeze. Well done.

 

[alexmuir]

The problem with the 50/f1.4 is that very often it suffers from oil on the aperture mechanism or the aperture blades. Many of them have been opened by "experts" (me being one of them) to be cleaned - a lens is a instrument with very small tolerences, the slightest error in putting them back together shows when used wide open.

Mine is serviced by Luton Cameras and it is considerably better from anything below f/2.8. Before the service it was just mediocre. Here is a picture at f/4.

I have been enjoying some of the pictures and information posted in this thread. I have a 50mm 1.4 which was given to me with an OM-1. It had the classic symptoms of oil on the aperture, but some research online revealed that this lens suffers from a sluggish spring in the stop-down linkage. It is quite easily accessible and doesn't involve disturbing the lens elements. It's worth checking before fully dismantling the lens. It certainly cured mine, and didn't require any new parts. I don't have the link to the site where I learned about this, but it came up through a search for "Olympus lens with sticky aperture" or something similar. It has allowed me to use a great lens that was otherwise gathering dust.
Alex.

 

[gavinlg]

Beautiful image, i can almost feel the sea breeze. Well done.

Thanks Pan, it was my best attempt at a straight horizon out of 2 frames 😛

 

[gavinlg]

Zuiko 28mm f2.8, Tri-x @ 800

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

Since my OM2n manual metering mode died, I've been umming and aahing about what to do. Two of my lenses, the 50 1.8 and the 28mm f2.8 I've had from new since I was 17 - a mere 38 years ago. I also have a good few others such as the 35mm and the 100mm, and really could see little financial merit in parting with them. So I had a fondle of a serviced with new light seals black paint OM2n with some nice brassing and the odd ding, and thought, what the heck, and bought it from my local camera shop.

 

[AlexBG]

Soperfect? Is he open again?

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

Yes, Soperfect is back, smaller space for the one customer, but fully open.

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

Took it out on Dartmoor today for a walk, with 5 lenses in the bag. That may be overkill, but the lightness of the outfit was a joy. It's an immensely capable, light and compact system - still a masterpiece of design. It's possibly the only 35mm SLR system I'd contemplate taking out 2 bodies (and I was lugging a Leica III around too).

 

[nickthetasmaniac]

Dove Lake Boatshed | Cradle Mountain, Tasmania

OM1n, Zuiko 200/f4 and Tmax400

 

[p.giannakis]

Took it out on Dartmoor today for a walk, with 5 lenses in the bag. That may be overkill, but the lightness of the outfit was a joy. It's an immensely capable, light and compact system - still a masterpiece of design. It's possibly the only 35mm SLR system I'd contemplate taking out 2 bodies (and I was lugging a Leica III around too).

Yes, it is so light system and with very good quality lenses. It has found its way inside the bags of photographers who enjoy mountain walking.

Dove Lake Boatshed | Cradle Mountain, Tasmania

OM1n, Zuiko 200/f4 and Tmax400

Lovely picture!

Olympus OM4 - Zuiko 28 f/2.8
ilford Delta 400 in HC110

 

[nickthetasmaniac]

Cradle Mountain | Tasmania

OM1n, Zuiko 50/f1.4 and Tmax400