According to the Olympus OM System Manual for Zuiko Interchangeable Lenses
Group, the 21/3.5, 24/2.8, 28/2, 28/3.5, 35/2.8, 35/2.8 shift, 50/3.5 macro,
50/1.4, 50/1.8, 85/2, 100/2.8, 135/3.5, 200/5 and the 75-150/4 zoom lenses
take 49 mm filters. (There were a few others, such as the 35-70/3.5-4.5 zoom,
added since this manual was printed.) Look at the broad range of lenses
using 49 mm filters!
There are some design oddities. The 21/3.5 has a 92° angle of view, but still
takes 49 mm filters. The 24/2.8 and the 24/2 have an 84° angle of view, but
the former takes 49 mm and the latter takes 55 mm filters. The 28/2 and the
28/3.5 have a 75° angle of view and both take 49 mm filters. The 35/2 and the
35/2.8 have the same 63° angle of view, but the former takes 55 mm and the
latter takes 49 mm filters. Go figure. It has to be a simple matter of lens
design.
Apparently the original Olympus plan was to have as many lenses as possible
share the 49 mm filter size. That was a smart, user-friendly engineering
design plan. A reasoned attempt was made to minimize the different filter
sizes and accessories required of professional and advanced amateur
photographers. In addition to the 49 mm users, note that several lenses share
the 55 mm filter size. The 18mm/3.5 fisheye wide angle and the 300/4.5 and
400/6.3 telephotos share 72 mm filters. These are popular, widely used,
readily available filter sizes. That's good planning. (Must have been some
other dude who came up with the 100 mm size.)
So was the insistence on small, lightweight, but rugged, durable and
dependable camera bodies and lenses. Don't forget that Olympus was taking
dead aim at the professional photographer accustomed to heavy, bulky Nikon
equipment and accessories. I recall that several major associated press
companies made the switch once Olympus had a chance to prove its product in
the field. To paraphrase a cliche, "They would take a licking and keep on
clicking." <g>
Pen F lenses started with a 43 mm filter size, but the telephotos and zooms
take 49 mm filters. I suppose Olympus listened to the users and tried to plan
better for the OM series.
No problem either way. A 43-49 mm, a 49-55 mm, a 49-72 mm, or a 55-72 mm
step-up ring will handle most of the filter problems nicely unless use of a
lenshood is a *must* factor. Respectively they are listed new at $9.95, 6.95,
7.95 and 8.95 at B & H.
Just MHO.
Robert
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