Which Zuiko Lens Should I keep

[OM1234]

As part of of my Olympus OM rationalisation I am getting rid of everything that I won't/don't use or may not use. I have only used a 50mm F1.4 in the past so I don't really know how the following perform in comparison.

50mm F1.2
50mm F2 Macro
50mm F1.4
35-80 F2.8 Zoom

Is the 50mm F1.2 worth keeping and how does it compare with the F1.4.

If I keep the 35-80 F2.8 zoom do I really need a 50mm prime. I very rarely shoot in low light situations.

All the above lens are new and unused so I don't really want to try them first and then sell, I want to sell them as new and unused to get the best selling price.

The camera body to be kept and which the lens will be used is an OM3Ti.

 

[Jockos]

If you're not shooting low light, you could go with the 50/2 - it's a superb lens in every aspect.

 

[Merlijn53]

Funny question. You have all those lenses, you know what you like, so only you can compare. Everybody else has his own ideas and everybody will tell you different.
Or is it just a way to say "look at all those lenses I have"?

 

[maitani]

from the listed lenses I'd keep the 50/2 macro and the 35-80 and sell all the rest

 

[Chris101]

I'd keep the macro for sure. And probably the 1.2, just cause it's unique. Do you like zoom lenses? If so keep it too. So the only 'sell' would be the 1.4.

 

[sreed2006]

@OM1234, It is a bit of a difficult situation, isn't it, lenses so valuable they cannot be used?

If you sell them, will the buyer use them? If so, what have you gained besides a few coins?

If you use them, what will you gain? Nice pictures, memories, knowledge, the pleasure of using some really nice gear that you purchased for yourself?

I say: research what can be done with the 50/1.2. Put it on your camera and do that.

Then, the same with the 50/2, the 35-80/2.8, and the 50/1.4. Using each correctly and properly will be of much more value to you than all the funds you could receive from selling them. Consider their value a sunk cost, and go use them.

 

[sazerac]

of all the Zuiko 50s I liked the 50/2 Macro the best. Fantastic bokeh and super sharp. This lens is what SLRs are all about.

 

[johannielscom]

Shoot them and then decide which to sell, is what I'd say.

 

[sreed2006]

If you don't like my previous advice, then I suggest just to keep the 50/2 Macro.

The 50/1.4, while a fine lens, is easily replaced. The 35-80/2.8 is rare and expensive, and if you kept it you probably would always regard it as too valuable to use. Besides that, the 35-80/2.8 is the biggest and heaviest of the lenses you listed, and not all that much fun to tote around. The 50/1.2 I am not personally familiar with, but an f/1.2 lens combined with a bright focusing screen on the OM-3Ti would probably give you snow-blindness if you used it on a bright sunny day.

 

[redisburning]

sell them all and get a second hand 50/2 macro.

my current list of OM ~50s is 50/1.2, 50/1.4 silvernose, 50/2.0 macro, 50/3.5 macro and 55/1.2.

the last I'd part with is the 50/2.0, easily.

fast 50s are a dime a dozen. Pentax, Nikon, Minolta and Canon all made good f1.2 lenses and Pentax/Minolta/Leica had at least one good 1.4. but only Olympus and Zeiss have 50/2.0 macros and Olympus' is much less expensive and smaller and it's legitimately comparable.

as an only 50 you get a fast enough lens that is very sharp, has GREAT OoF rendering and can focus down to 2:1 without accessories.

 

[Ranchu]

Sell the ones you 'haven't used'. Simple.

 

[______]

sell them all and get a second hand 50/2 macro.

If they are NIB, that means you haven't used them in 30-40 years.

If you're not shooting film, sell them all, including the OM-3Ti.

If you are shooting film, but not macro, sell them all and get a used 50mm f1.8 for $10.00, if you don't already have one.

If you are shooting film, and macro, I second the suggestion to sell them all and buy a used 50mm f2 macro.

 

[gustavoAvila]

My opinion is that the best course of action depends on your financial situation. If finances are not an issue, then I wouldn't sell anything. (The kit you have now is not easily assembled!)

However, if you can use the money and/or don't have a strong attachment to the gear, I would keep the 50mm F1.4 and also sell the OM-3Ti.

All of the lenses (except for the 50mm F1.4) and the OM-3Ti command a premium on the used market, especially if they are mint condition.

BTW, the 50mm F1.4 is an excellent lens and compares very favorably with it's F1.2 sibling.

 

[redisburning]

If you are shooting film, but not macro, sell them all and get a used 50mm f1.8 for $10.00, if you don't already have one.

the 50/2 macro is absolutely worth 400 USD over the 50/1.8 even if you never shoot closer than .45m.

also the 50/1.4 and 1.2 are very different lenses. the 50/1.2 has higher global/coarse contrast than even the latest 50/1.4 by a significant margin. it also is the best 50/1.2 for sharpness across the field (it's actually the most recent design other than the Contax and 50L II) and the transition to OoF is way different (aka better).

what precisely does the 1.4 do better? well, it's smaller (barely), lighter (barely) and cheaper (significantly). so if you can't afford the f1.2, fine. but you're already giving up a TON of performance by going faster. you might as well go that extra step since the difference between the f1.2 and the f1.4 is much smaller than the step to the f1.4 from the f2.0 macro.

 

[OM1234]

Which Zuiko Lens Should I keep

What about the 55mm F1.2. I have a few of those to "dispose of" as well. How do they compare with the 50mm F1.2.

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

Or is it just a way to say "look at all those lenses I have"?

Ooh, you naughty boy! I'll bet you're the sort of lad who'd point out that the emperor wasn't wearing clothes. 😀

 

[redisburning]

What about the 55mm F1.2. I have a few of those to "dispose of" as well. How do they compare with the 50mm F1.2.

if you like it it's a character lens, if you don't it's a weak lens technically.

to actually use, it is the sort of lens you need to understand and seek out. I would not want it as my only lens, but as part of a group of lenses that mainly consists of extremely well corrected macros, I am happy to have and use it as the one oddball. make sense?

 

[Hibbs]

from the listed lenses I'd keep the 50/2 macro and the 35-80 and sell all the rest

I agree with maitani...the zoom is reputed to be very good and the macro is legendary.

It's a no brainer.

~ hibbs

 

[Merlijn53]

Ooh, you naughty boy! I'll bet you're the sort of lad who'd point out that the emperor wasn't wearing clothes. 😀

Well, I suppose so🙂
Don't you get a funny feeling when you read questions like this?

 

[padam]

If you don't like my previous advice, then I suggest just to keep the 50/2 Macro.

The 50/1.4, while a fine lens, is easily replaced. The 35-80/2.8 is rare and expensive, and if you kept it you probably would always regard it as too valuable to use. Besides that, the 35-80/2.8 is the biggest and heaviest of the lenses you listed, and not all that much fun to tote around. The 50/1.2 I am not personally familiar with, but an f/1.2 lens combined with a bright focusing screen on the OM-3Ti would probably give you snow-blindness if you used it on a bright sunny day.

The 35-80 is actually not that heavy or big, especially for a 2.8 zoom, but for best handling the Camera Grip 1 is recommended.