OM, I've become a Zuikoholic!

[exiled4979]

a friendly warning!

a friendly warning!

OK, people, I've read this whole thread, and next person who posts an awesome shot taken with either OM-x camera, or with any of the lenses - gets by Paypal bill ! 🙂

man, even oskar barnack would be convinced to leave all the leicas in the world behind and go for OM 🙂

 

[exiled4979]

OK another boring photo, this time taken with the 100/2.8. Here's a link to the full size photo (jpg from original raw). It's so sharp!

that's just sick, really, really nice shot, quality is simply superb!

 

[Keith]

I seriously contemplated a 5D body for use with my Zuikos. I started comparing some of my 5D files with my D700/D3 files and realized that for me the Nikon is the better digital solution. I need my Nikons for digital work. The Oly's were purely personal efforts. But the logic of just adding a pair of F3 bodies in lieu of the entire OM system I have is a no brainer. Look for a pair of bodies, FM3A and FM2n, in the Classifieds once my OM sale has run its course.

If I wasn't still doing work necessitating digital, I would maybe have considered keeping the Oly's. Actually I have been using my Leicas for nearly all of my film shooting of late. The Oly's have been getting pushed further and further back on my work bench / desk. So I pulled the trigger, time to bid them farewell in hope they will get more use than I am giving them. The OM system is superb, but I like my Leicas better and the Nikons generate income. 😉

I've contemplated the same scenario several times myself ... and the background influence like you, is the D700 and it's incredible IQ.

Bloody DSLR's do corrupt ... it's true! 😛

 

[Ljós]

Update, the 100/2.0 is now gone.

Have you seen JSU's prices? It is the mother of all blowouts. No connection with JSU, I am just sayin'... A black OM-1N with winder and the sought after version of the 50mm 1.4 and... for only...You should remove your prices from the Classifieds after the fact 🙂 Grown women and men will weep when they realize they missed out on this one.

 

[FrankS]

I have a couple of EX++ (chrome) OM bodies for sale in the classifieds too. OM1 for $60, OM2 for $70, plus shipping each, or both for $120 shipped in NA.

I'm not getting out of OM though, I'm keeping 3 OM1's, and OM2, and an OM4.

(Ah, I see that it has expired. 😱)

 

[Gigibond]

Thank you Danonroute66. No second thoughts. Just wanted to know what experiences anyone had with the lens, good, bad or indifferent. I didn't pay a lot for the lens so I'm not too worried about it. Thanks for the feedback.

Sharp and corrected lenso. Great both in bw and colors.
One of the best wideangle from zuiko. And bokeh is not bad at all wide open!

 

[wgerrard]

Bought a 100/2.8 from KEH. Turned out to be an old silver nose in pretty good shape. Took it and the OM-2N out for a walk to see if they'd get along.

These are Fomapan 200 snaps in Prescysol EF:

 

[chrism]

Olympus ...have stated that legacy OM system lenses are NOT adequate for current digital capture technologies.

A late reply, but thanks for the laugh! I think we all understand the thinking behind that rather humorous statement from Olympus.

Chris

 

[philosomatographer]

I don't think I've posted this one yet on this (massive, massive) thread of Zuikoholism:

(Hand-held around 1/30s - OM-1, 90mm Macro at f/2.0, Kodak TMZ P3200, 5x7in darkroom print, partially toned in Thiocarbamide)

 

[sreed2006]

...snip...

the OM-3Ti combined with the 100/2 is about my favourite 35mm combo i think, awesome 🙂

If you have determined a favorite, you are a better decision-maker than I am.

I've read on this forum, and elsewhere, that too many choices can lead to distraction. But what a pleasant distraction - none of the choices are bad! Having several lenses and OM bodies, I do fret about which to take out. Yet, none of the lenses have let me down. Even the Zuiko that cost me the least, the 24/2.8, which I purchased for $55 several years ago, is a winner.

I took the 24/2.8 out yesterday on an OM-4T with a 1-10 focusing screen (the focusing screen that is plain matte with a grid) and had a thoroughly enjoyable time with the combination.

 

[gavinlg]

I ordered a Zuiko 28mm/3.5 for the OM-1. Not yet received. Does anyone use the lens? Would you recommend it as a good, inexpensive wide angle lens? Thx.

One of the sharpest from 28mm lenses from corner to corner and a lovely moderate to moderately high contrast. Tiny. Loved mine to bits.

 

[Lilserenity]

One of the sharpest from 28mm lenses from corner to corner and a lovely moderate to moderately high contrast. Tiny. Loved mine to bits.

Absolutely agree, my f/3.5 is a gem, I would recommend the hood for it though.

I have never found the f/3.5 a hinderance, with films like Portra 400NC or Elite Chrome 200, I just switch films when the light dips -- and the quality is still excellent.

Distotion is almost non existent too, an important aspect for a wide angle lens for me. Lots of examples on my Flickr pages.

I only bought it because I got it with the hood for £35 in super condition. I wouldn't swap it at all now.

Vicky

 

[Igor.Burshteyn]

A few pictures to keep this thread going

 

[Keith]

Nice shots Igor. 🙂

In the OM-2 kit that I bought recently there was a 135mm f2.8 ... I'm not a regular user of anything over 85mm but I though I'd give this lens a try. Aside from a slghtly heavy focusing action it's a pleasure to use ... and it's impressively sharp wide open.

 

[radiocemetery]

She's a beaut' , Keith. (the lens and the chicken).

 

[dacookieman]

The Zuiko 55mm f1.2 is a special lens..at f1.2 it has a certain charm to it..the other-worldly smoothness coupled with that comfortable sharp to blur transitions makes it one of a kind. Stop it down and things start to get dicey, tact sharp.

One thing I've noticed is that its more susceptible to flare whenever I point the lens towards a light source. The issue goes away after using the hood. Given my copy is one of the earlier single coated copies, I am not surprised. But I kinda like how I can focus close to 0.45m, a bonus i tend to enjoy when using Zuiko lenses.🙂

Images shot at f1.2 on the 5D:

 

[newspaperguy]

The Zuiko 3.5 Macro is another unsung beauty.

Makes you want to leave it on the camera as an all-purpose lens.

 

[Igor.Burshteyn]

Keith, thanks and nice chick there 🙂 or shall I say rooster?
dacookieman, I never had any of f1.2 zuikos, but in your pics 55mm f1.2 renders like 50mm f2 macro (which I own and love), so I understand why you call this lens special.
I must say I like my OMs (I have 3 bodies and handful of lenses) more for how they feel than anything else - they just don't interfere with picture making process. I am still to find digital camera that feels same way.

 

[Keith]

The Zuiko 3.5 Macro is another unsung beauty.

Makes you want to leave it on the camera as an all-purpose lens.

There was one of those in the OM-2 kit as well ... incredibly sharp.

 

[Keith]

While we're (well I am at least) on the subject of lenses of the Zuiko ilk I think I may have developed a liking for my early 35mm f2. I've always tended towards the 50mm focal length as my go to but after going for a walk with my OM-2 and 35mm f2 yesterday I've realised how versatile 35mm is.

This old 35mm is a bit sloppy in the aperture ring and being the early version it's fairly low on contrast but it's a very nice lens non the less.