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[OM] oly experiences

Subject: [OM] oly experiences
From: "Brian O'Connor" <boc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1998 16:32:55 +1000
Hello,

      I am a relatively new Olympus user. My first introduction to

olympus was through that excellent PS the XA. I sold it a few years ago, and

have regretted it ever since.

Early last year I bought an OM1(md), with winder 1, 50(1.8) and a 28(3.5)

Zuiko lenses.

I normally use 6x6(an old rolleiflex) and 5x4 formats, and I bought the

OM so I had a quality reportage style camera but after a while I started

using it more often than the others. I like to be able to enlarge to a

minimum of 12x16, so I look for good quality glass. The XA was fine, and

the OM1 was at least as good.

At the beginning of this year I sold the OM1 kit and bought an single

OM2sp with a 50(1.8) lens. One of the reasons for this was that the mirror

in the OM1 would occasionally (at least once a roll) lock in the up position

and I would have to waste a shot to release it. This would usually happen

at the worst possible time; ie the middle of a parade, or just when the baby

smiled JUST right ;)

The winder 1 was just a waste (single frame advance). I could work the camera

faster my self. The 28mm was ok, but IMHO landscapes are wasted on 35mm.

I am regretting my purchase. The OM2sp has been well used, it needed a

shutter service soon after I bought it (the shutter ring locked up),

and it has dropped two LCD's in the finder display.

My problems stem from two areas;

1. The 50mm lens in the OM2sp seems softer than the one in the OM1, were

there any differences in production at different times?, perhaps I just

have a bad lens. The FAQ has a rating of lenses that rates the zuiko 50(1.8)

as having higher numbers than most other lenses, including a Zeiss Planar

50(1.4). My previous 35mm gear was Contax, and I am familiar with the Planar.

I know mileage varies, but I found the Zeiss to be superb, certainaly much

better that the Zuiko(at least the two that I have used), and MUCH better

than the Nikor(50(1.8) AF on a 801) that I have also used.

2. The OM2sp eats batteries. I often use it as a meter for my 4x5 ,and it has

twice now just died leaving me with "sunny 16". I have had it checked out,

and have read the FAQ about it. I suspect it is just a characteristic of

this model.

3. The OM2sp feels cheesy. I always feel as though I'm about to break some-

thing. The OM1 felt rock solid, I loved its elegent simplicity and clean

lines.

Despite these misgivings I intend to stick with it. Perhaps I just need to

give it more time.

BTW, I need a short telephoto, and I have seen a Zuiko 200(4) in the window

of a local shop. Is it sharp? The FAQ rates it lower than the 35-105(3.5-4.5)

I find this suprising, is it really softer than a zoom?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

I attach the lens rating section from the FAQ in case they are not available

to everybody

L1) How do Olympus Zuiko lenses compare to the competition?

        When introduced in the 1970s, the Zuiko lenses were
        state-of-the-art.  Today, they are still on a level with competing
        Leica, Nikon, and Zeiss designs of that era.  Third-party
        competition (e.g., Vivitar, Sigma) is much stronger than it once was,
        and some third-party lenses now equal Zuiko lenses in optical
        performance.

        The last Zuiko prime from Olympus was introduced in 1989, while
        1995 will see the introduction of a new lens (a zoom) for the first
        time in 5 years.

        Zuiko lenses for the OM series often have somewhat fewer elements than
        newer third-party lenses.  This makes them smaller and lighter and
        reduces the risk of internal reflections.  The letter in front of
        Zuiko stands for the number of elements (E=5, F=6, G=7).
        [Note: The letter/element designation on Zuiko lenses was
        dropped sometime in the late 70's, so not all Zuiko lenses have
        it --Ed.]

        Here are some published test results from Zuiko lenses and
        competitors.  All are from Modern Photography magazine (abbreviated
        MP).  Resolution is in lines per mm.  Quality ratings, which depend on
        type of lens, are: Exc = Excellent; VG = Very Good; G = Good; Acc =
        Acceptable.

Lens            Resolution        Resolution        Distortion     Source
                wide open         at f/5.6          (pincushion
                center  corner    center  corner    or barrel)

Zuiko lenses:

Zuiko 24/2.8    50 VG   45 Exc    80 Exc  50 Exc    ?              MP 6/75
Zuiko 28/3.5    56 Exc  44 Exc    50 VG   50 Exc    ?              MP 4/73
Zuiko 35/2.8    56 Exc  44 Exc    50 VG   50 Exc    ?              MP 4/73
Zuiko 35-70/3.5-4.5
   at 35mm      56 Exc  50 Exc    63 Exc  56 Exc    0.45% barrel   MP 6/86
   at 50mm      56 Exc  50 Exc    56 Exc  50 Exc    ?              MP 6/86
   at 70mm      57 Exc  51 Exc    57 Exc  51 Exc    0.950incsh   MP 6/86
Zuiko 35-105/3.5-4.5
   at 35mm      63 Exc  50 Exc    70 Exc  56 Exc    0.7% barrel    MP 2/86
   at 70mm      64 Exc  51 Exc    72 Exc  57 Exc    ?              MP 2/86
   at 105mm     63 Exc  56 Exc    70 Exc  56 Exc    1.370incsh   MP 2/86
Zuiko 50/1.4    55 VG   49 Exc    69 VG   62 Exc    0.9% barrel    MP 11/85
   same         55 VG   49 Exc    69 VG   62 Exc    0.9% barrel    MP 6/87
Zuiko 50/1.8    57 VG   40 Exc    90 Exc  40 VG     ?              MP 4/73
   same         55 VG   49 Exc    69 VG   62 Exc    0.930incsh   MP 7/85
   same         50 G    45 Exc    70 Exc  56 Exc    <1%            MP 4/86
Zuiko 100/2     55 Exc  49 Exc    69 Exc  62 Exc    0.450incsh   MP 6/86
Zuiko 100/2.8   55 Exc  49 Exc    55 Exc  44 Exc    ?              MP 4/73
Zuiko 135/2.8   50 Exc  32 VG     50 VG   35 G      ?              MP 6/75
Zuiko 180/2     55 Exc  49 Exc    69 Exc  62 Exc    <10incsh     MP 10/86
Zuiko 200/4     42 VG   37 Exc    37 G    37 Exc    ?              MP 4/73

Representative competing lenses:

Soligor 28/2.8  54 VG   30 Acc    76 Exc  30 Acc    ?              MP 4/73
Nikon 28/2.8    54 VG   43 Exc    54 G    48 Exc    ?              MP 6/75
Zeiss 28/2.8    56 Exc  50 Exc    63 Exc  56 Exc    0.5% barrel    MP 1/86
Canon 50/1.4    50 G    45 Exc    70 Exc  63 Exc    0.46% barrel   MP 7/86
Nikon E 50/1.8  52 VG   33 VG     66 VG   46 G      <1%            MP 1/83
Leica 50/1.4    54 VG   38 Exc    76 Exc  48 G      0.47% barrel   MP 9/87
Zeiss 50/1.4    45 G    40 Exc    72 Exc  64 Exc    0.92% barrel   MP 1/88
Zeiss 50/1.7    50 G    45 Exc    70 Exc  63 Exc    0.9% barrel    MP 1/86
Vivitar 75-200/4.5:
  at 75mm       46 VG   41 Exc    58 Exc  46 Exc    1.95% barrel   MP 6/89
  at 200mm      39 VG   28 VG     44 Exc  31 VG     1.670incsh   MP 6/89
Sigma 90/2.8 macro:
  at 1:49       69 Exc  62 Exc    87 Exc  78 Exc    0.680incsh   MP 6/89
  at 1:2        57 Exc  29 VG     72 Exc  40 VG     same?          MP 6/89

        Thanks to Michael Covington <mcovingt@xxxxxxxxxx>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

boc

--

                   Brian O'Connor, Unix Systems Consultant
      La Trobe University,Bendigo,Australia; b.oconnor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
                    http://ironbark.bendigo.latrobe.edu.au




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