Recommended m-4/3 Legacy glass?

[Benjamin Marks]

Raid's recent purchase of an Oly EP-2 got me thinking: what would you recommend as great legacy glass for the camera. I have a selfish motive too. I have the camera and a slew of adapters. My favorite legacy glass:

1) Konica AR 57/1.2, 50/1.7, 40/2
2) Olympus Pen 60/1.5 (thanks John)
3) Pentax SM 50/1.4, 24/3.5
4) Nikon 55/2.8 Macro
5) Lecia M 135/3.5
6) Zeiss M 35/2.8
7) Voightlander 35/1.4 SC

you see where I'm going with this. . . first is there a must-have Minolta, Olympus or Cannon FD lens out there that defines its class? Second: what would you recommend from your own personal favorites?

Ben Marks

 

[david.elliott]

pentax / takumar m42 screw mount lenses are my personal favorites 🙂

 

[rdeleskie]

I've been using my Summicron 50/2 DR and Summicron 40/2 with both my EPL2 and GH2. They look great, particularly in black and white. I'm testing them with the GH2's movie mode, and so far am very impressed.

btw - how is the Nokton 35/1.4 on m4/3? I've read mixed things about it on M-bodies, but on m4/3 its a fast short-portrait - exactly what I'm looking for.

 

[raid]

Always remember to multiply the focal length by 2 to make such a search for better lenses more useful. Wide angle legacy lenses are the most difficult (maybe even impractical) to obtain. Who has the money for a 16mm Hologon (32mm), but many can afford a 16mm digital lens.

Unless you work mainly in very brightly lit environments, I say, use wide angle lenses on film cameras, and use normal-tele with legacy lenses.

My 28mm 2.8 Rokkor-M will make a nice "normal lens" on the EP-2. It is a 56mm 2.8 that is very sharp and also small and light. The Olympus 17mm 2.8 digital lens will make a good 34mm lens for the EP-2.

If really needed, my Canon 7.5mm lens makes a good 15mm lens. Maybe, getting a fast cine lens is better here. Cropping could be a factor. Still, getting a 12mm with 1.2 max aperture or so would be cool.

Question: How would I focus a CV 25/4 that is not RF coupled on the EP-2? Will the EVF work?

 

[Benjamin Marks]

I don't get too hung up about angle of view. I mainly care about dof and near-far relationships. But then again, I'm not much a super-wide guy. Probably 10% of my favorites are taken with 24mm and wider on FF. Someone in Raid's EP-2 thread mentioned a favorite Canon 50/1.2 FD lens. Any others?

Ben

 

[wlewisiii]

The Canon FD 35/2 "Chrome Nose" (chrome filter ring) is the best 35 I've owned, from any company. If I still owned it, it would be sufficent reason to buy a u4/3 camera in itself.

 

[raid]

Zeiss 50/1.4 is a super nice lens. So are the CZJ 5cm 1.5 and 2.0.
Canon FD lenses get a new life. I like the Canon 50mm/1.2L.
Beware of non-retro focus lenses with protruding rear elements. They could damage the sensor.

 

[raid]

The Canon FD 35/2 "Chrome Nose" (chrome filter ring) is the best 35 I've owned, from any company. If I still owned it, it would be sufficent reason to buy a u4/3 camera in itself.

It would be a 70mm portrait lens.

 

[f16sunshine]

If you like the Zeiss style 3D microcontrast. Dont miss out on the Pancolar f1.8/80mm. Becomes a mid tele on m4/3 but looks brilliant. Not easy to find in the states. Also the super tak 1.8/85 and Zuiko f2/85. Nothing like that Zeiss though. The Old Jena f2/58 Biotar in m42 is a lovely optic for m4/3 as well. Too swirly in oof for my taste in it's native 24x36 frame. Taking only the sweet spot makes it sing for environmental portraits and still lifes. As you can see I like the normals and short teles when not using an RF. Cheers!

 

[MRohlfing]

Question: How would I focus a CV 25/4 that is not RF coupled on the EP-2? Will the EVF work?

With the Lumix G1 it works very well with the EVF, for very critical work I can use the viewfinder magnification. But unlike a rangefinder, focusing should be done with the aperture wide open. Feel free to use the scale on the lens or the click stops of the Snapshot-Skopar instead!

 

[raid]

If you like the Zeiss style 3D microcontrast. Dont miss out on the Pancolar f1.8/80mm. Becomes a mid tele on m4/3 but looks brilliant. Not easy to find in the states. Also the super tak 1.8/85 and Zuiko f2/85. Nothing like that Zeiss though. The Old Jena f2/58 Biotar in m42 is a lovely optic for m4/3 as well. Too swirly in oof for my taste in it's native 24x36 frame. Taking only the sweet spot makes it sing for environmental portraits and still lifes. As you can see I like the normals and short teles when not using an RF. Cheers!

Hi Andy,
I love the Pentax 85mm/1.8. The Zeiss 85mm/1.4 for the Rollei SLR cameras gives a wonderful rendering of images. Maybe it is similar to your Pancolar 80mm/1.8.

 

[raid]

With the Lumix G1 it works very well with the EVF, for very critical work I can use the viewfinder magnification. But unlike a rangefinder, focusing should be done with the aperture wide open. Feel free to use the scale on the lens or the click stops of the Snapshot-Skopar instead!

You are right; the EVF also works on the EP-2 with such lenses.

 

[Mackinaw]

I've put my Canon 500mm F5.6 FL-F lens on my E-P1. This is the Fluorite lens that Canon made back in the 1960's. With the 2X crop-factor I've got a 1000mm F5.6 lens. Absolutely incredible results.

Jim B.

 

[raid]

I will try to upload tonight my first few snapshots with the EP-2. My favorite lens is the Zeiss 85mm/1.4. The overall quality of the images appear to be awesome.

Jim: I have the Canon 500mm/4.5L FD,which is known for excellent optics. I am dying to explore this match for some bird photography.

 

[agoglanian]

I have the FDn 35mm f/2 (amongst other FD glass) and that is just a total joy to use on my GF1.

I've heard a lot of good things about the older versions (w/ thorium glass) but honestly this new FD version is just awesome.

 

[raid]

I have the new FD 35/2. It is a very good lens.

 

[illuminati_02]

To add to the Konica glass: 28/3.5 (7 element), 85, 135/3.2

Contax G... 21, 28, 35, 45, 90..

 

[raid]

I have seen warnings that not all Contax G lenses can be used on a 4/3 camera due to the rear element.

 

[illuminati_02]

I have heard the same things, and thus have not tried the 21 and 28 on my gf1. But, I have also heard that it depends on the adapter. I have the metabones adapter and have heard that you can use the 21 and 28 without issue. Regardless, I do not want to try it personally, especially since the kit 20mm is as good as it is...

I have played a little with the other 3 and they are quite nice.

 

[Yashi]

I have tried many lenses on the Ep-1 and G1

What I recommend is the 20mm Panasonic as Standart lens, but the 17mm Olympus will do the job as well (here ad a external viewfinder from Voigtländer and you have a pretty nice camera).... For the legacy glass add a cheap 28mm 2.8 Canon FD when you like sharpness (Have tested many lenses in that range and the Canon was simply the best). I would skip the 35mm range as I do not really need the 70mm focal lengh. The 40mm Konica makes a nice 80mm. in the 45-58mm the best pictures I have seen on 4/3 where shot with the Contax G 45mm Planar (have the lens but no adapter :-( . But in this range is a lot of good cheap glass available. I like the Canon FD 50 1.4 SSC, Yashinon DX 1.7, Konica AR 50 1.7 and some Minolta and Pentax lenses in that range are pretty awesome and make some good portrait lenses and short teles. I also use a Helios 44-2 from time to time for sharp pics above f4. I skipped also the 85mm range but use a 105 2.5 Nikon sometimes. The M42 Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 3.5 135 is my favorite tele on the EP-1. I recommend really to test the lenses and compare them to others in the same focal range. Only this way you are able to find out what works good and what makes the lens special to you. In my opinion there is no need to put a lot of money on the table for very good picture quality. With the 4/3 system you are able to use almost any lens. I sometimes buy a lens below $5 and I am very impressed about the quality it delivers. It is also about size on handling, especially if you will use the lens on the Olympus 4/3 body.

Buy cheap -> test -> sell or keep...

For instance I was unimpressed by the 28 3.5 Zuiko, the 50mm Zeiss Pancolar, all the 50mm M42 Tessar, MIR-1B 2.8/37, even if those lenses have a good reputation.

If you like it wide open and spent some cash...an old German sharpness ranking of f/1.2 lenses wide open starting from best:
• Pentax SMC 50mm f/1.2
• Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.2
• Canon FD 55mm f/1.2
• Minolta MD Rokkor 50mm f/1.2
• Canon FD 55mm AL f/1.2
• Yashica ML 55mm f/1.2
• Olympus Zuiko 55mm f/1.2
• Nikon Noct-Nikkor 58mm f/1.2
• Leitz Noctilux 50mm f/1.0
• Konica Hexar 57mm f/1.2


Sample of the Canon FD 28 2.8 below...