OM zuiko 28 f3.5 first roll pics!

[gavinlg]

Well, for a such a small bit of kit, it sure is capable. Just got back and scanned a roll of fuji superia 400 with my OM2n and zuiko 28 f3.5 just from random daily adventures. It's sharp but not zeiss sharp, however I enjoy the look of the pictures.

The lens didn't cost me much at all - just thought you might all be interested in some samples from it. I did a few "wide open" tests with it too as to show the quality of bokeh and how sharp it is. I found it quite contrasty but in a good way.


Shot at around f4

Wide open and closest focussing distance - wind was blowing it so It's probably a little out of focus

Wide open/closest focusing distance - really busy background

Gen in the park, a little underexposed but not bad distortion from a 28mm lens!
f4

f4 - about 1/30

f8 on tripod, aperture priority

Wide open, closest focus

Cheers,
Gavin

 

[Peter_Jones]

Nice - I particularly like the shot of the underpass, and the gas/chemical(?) storage tank (if that's what it is)

 

[rover]

not bad distortion from a 28mm lens!

That came to my mind too. Are these full frame or cropped? I have the Rokkor 28/3.5, it is a bargain, and sharp, but does have more distortion than this Zuiko shows.

 

[ferider]

Nice ! Compliments to Gen as well ....

The Zuiko 28/3.5 is the first 28mm I ever used and still one of my favorites. Here is one:

Cheers,

Roland.

 

[gavinlg]

That came to my mind too. Are these full frame or cropped? I have the Rokkor 28/3.5, it is a bargain, and sharp, but does have more distortion than this Zuiko shows.

Rover, all are the full 45mm frames - I was pretty impressed seeing as that I was probably less than a foot away from her

 

[gavinlg]

Roland - wow! certainly low distortion on that one... looks like africa? I was born there 🙂

 

[ferider]

Roland - wow! certainly low distortion on that one... looks like africa? I was born there 🙂

Yep/thanks. Migration in Ngorongoro, one of my favorite places in the world.

I find Africa highly addictive, worse than camera gear 🙂

Roland.

 

[Sparrow]

Is #5 a Gasometer?
😀
I always liked that lens, I had that and the f2 but preferred that one

 

[Peter_Jones]

Is #5 a Gasometer?
😀
I always liked that lens, I had that and the f2 but preferred that one

Not heard that word (Gasometer) for a while 🙂

 

[Sparrow]

Not heard that word (Gasometer) for a while 🙂

There are two still standing in Keighley, West Yorks, I pass now and then, when I have time I’m going to take some shots for joe
🙂

 

[gavinlg]

Is #5 a Gasometer?
😀
I always liked that lens, I had that and the f2 but preferred that one

Sparrow, I'm fairly sure it's not a gasometer - more likely a big water tank although I could be wrong. It's right next to a lighthouse on a local cliff above the sea - beautiful toward the last hour of sunlight.

 

[Trius]

Gavin: Some of the unsharpness is, I think, from low shutter speeds and vibration ... plus the wind in that one of the grass, of course The tripod mounted shot shows sharpness better ... yes, I know it is at f8, but I don't think that's the whole tale.

The first one seems weird to me. Notice how many of the foreground grass blades are sharply rendered but the print pattern of the upholstery is not? Strange... I'd like to see the neg under a loupe because it looks like some sort of weird scanning or post processing issue.

I haven't used this lens a lot ... maybe I should give it some exercise.

The colour and contrast are really nice!

 

[gavinlg]

Gavin: Some of the unsharpness is, I think, from low shutter speeds and vibration ... plus the wind in that one of the grass, of course The tripod mounted shot shows sharpness better ... yes, I know it is at f8, but I don't think that's the whole tale.

The first one seems weird to me. Notice how many of the foreground grass blades are sharply rendered but the print pattern of the upholstery is not? Strange... I'd like to see the neg under a loupe because it looks like some sort of weird scanning or post processing issue.

I haven't used this lens a lot ... maybe I should give it some exercise.

The colour and contrast are really nice!

Yeah because its a slower lens, its hard to keep the shutter speed up when it starts getting dark (best time to take photos!) That blade of grass was moving round in the wind as you said, so it was difficult to keep it in focus at minimum focus distance wide open.

In regard to the first one, I think the chair being a litle soft is due to a dust filter I run over them in PP... I usually mask for areas I want to keep the detail in however I may have forgotten to do it on this one.

The lens is fairly sharp, but more impressive to me is it's handling and just the overall colour balance/pleasantness of the images - it renders them very nicely. In the end thats probably more important than any outright quality a lens may have.

The om2n is fantastic low light camera - I have some scans from that roll that are still acceptably sharp at 1/4th of a second which I CAN NOT do with a dslr or my canon ae1. Not just one either, theres quite a few of them. It's a testament to the OMS shutter and damper.

Have a play with yours!

 

[shadowfox]

Gavin, nice colorful shots! the 28mm/3.5 is also very compact.

Another reason that I like the OM Zuiko wide angles is that when I put it on my E-300, it becomes a "standard" lens with close focusing distance... and amazing quality. Here's a sample from my 24mm/2.8 (an H.Zuiko) on the E-300:

 

[Trius]

Yeah because its a slower lens, its hard to keep the shutter speed up when it starts getting dark (best time to take photos!) That blade of grass was moving round in the wind as you said, so it was difficult to keep it in focus at minimum focus distance wide open.

In regard to the first one, I think the chair being a litle soft is due to a dust filter I run over them in PP... I usually mask for areas I want to keep the detail in however I may have forgotten to do it on this one.

The lens is fairly sharp, but more impressive to me is it's handling and just the overall colour balance/pleasantness of the images - it renders them very nicely. In the end thats probably more important than any outright quality a lens may have.

The om2n is fantastic low light camera - I have some scans from that roll that are still acceptably sharp at 1/4th of a second which I CAN NOT do with a dslr or my canon ae1. Not just one either, theres quite a few of them. It's a testament to the OMS shutter and damper.

Have a play with yours!

Gavin: Thanks for the insight into the first one ... I figured something like that was going on.

You are dead on about the overall signature of the lens ... everything seems to be in balance. And yes, it is a compact lens. I have the 28/2.8 as well, and IIRC they are pretty much identical in size and handling. I may well take that one with me tomorrow as I head up to Sauble Beach (Lake Huron, Ontario) for a long weekend with Gene and his family. And, I'll stick it on my nicely brassed OM-2 black body. 😀 That way I can play with both the 28 and the long exposure times of the OM-2.

Gavin, nice colorful shots! the 28mm/3.5 is also very compact.

Another reason that I like the OM Zuiko wide angles is that when I put it on my E-300, it becomes a "standard" lens with close focusing distance... and amazing quality.

The characteristics of these OM lenses when used on a E body is one of the things that keeps me hanging on to the OM system. Certainly there are trade-offs (manual focus, stop down, yadda, yadda), but the thought of using a 21/2 (eat your heart out), 24/2.8, 28, etc. as "standard" primes is so enticing. And then the 50s become really nice short teles. Heck, with the OM/M adapter, I could stick them on an RD-1. Obligatory RF content.

Earl