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[OM] 135/2.8 and the Jessops saga.

Subject: [OM] 135/2.8 and the Jessops saga.
From: "David Jenkinson" <Dangerous@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 23:54:55 +0100
Evan asked:
>>[OM] 135mm lens...what to buy?

I am looking for a 135mm lens.......<< snip
Evan, I'd hold out for a MC Zuiko 135/2.8.  I was initially not sure about
this model, purchased as part of a package with a MC 100/2.8.  I wanted a
200/4 but couldn't find one at the time.  Thank God!
The 135/2.8 performs brilliantly regardless of aperture.  Brilliant images
with quite magnificent out of focus areas (is that "bokeh?") that look like
they have been done by an oil painter.
It's light and well balanced on an OM body.  Has a 55mm filter thread which
is a bit of a pain but I'll live.  Be careful buying because here in the UK
there is a quite remarkable variation in prices, from a surprising £59 to a
ridiculous £195.  I paid £100 for mine, but I'd've been happy to pay £130
odds like I paid for the !00/2.8. YMMV.
I used to have a Tamron 135/2.5 AD2  for a Nikon  which was very
disappointing, especially wide open, which seemed excessively soft.  The
Zuiko isn't pin sharp, but it's certainly good enough for me using 100asa
reversal film up to 10x8.

On another note, I thought I'd update you all on the stunningly good fun I'm
having courtesy of Jessops, which for those of you not from the UK is a
chain of photo retail stores who seem to be taking over the world.
As I told the list, I recently splurged on an OM4 which a colleage at work
mentioned seeing in Jessops in Sauchiehall St (Glasgow, Scotland).  Lovely
condition, just a few wee paint scrapes on the memo holder nothing less.  No
buzzer, though, to check for late circuits.  Chrome battery and drive caps
and a 11xxxxx serial number filled me with hope, however so I took it home
all excited.  Tried to shoot the kids with the T20 fitted....nothing.  Tried
T18.  Nothing.  Viewfinder showed flash ready light, and highlighted the
1/60th to show the two other pins were working.  (It also cheekily told me I
was under when the damn flash didn't fire...).
Back, then to Jessops.  I agreed to try to get it repaired, as there is a
well thought of Oly repair service in Glasgow, (Johnstones).  Had some
dialougue with them whilst the camera was in the shop.  It was a later board
with improved electronics, but not a Ti board.  And it was fried.....,
needed a new board, and Jessops would not pay.
Jessops got me another OM4, again with later circuits, chrome caps, 11xxxxx
serial no, buzzer turned off after 30 secs.  Not so clean, but it looked OK,
so...I took it home.  Put a roll of film in, fitted flash, went to shoot
kids.  LCD meter bar was flashing overexposed.  In a dark room, F5.6,
Kodachrome 64.  Tried to reboot it a couple of times, new batteries etc etc.
No joy.  Now meter bar is amusingly going between 1/1 and 1/2000 at various
rates.  Spot meters OK.  Baffled.  Roll of film comes back.  Pleasing
mixture of gross over and under exposure, with about 2 out of 36 correctly
exposed.  Ho hum.  It goes back....
Jessops got me another OM4. 10xxxxx serial number, black caps, buzzer stays
on indefinitely.  Oh deary me.  It's also a bit of a user, very dirty, manky
viewfinder.  I'm not happy.  Try it out, and discover the asa setting ring
is buggered, so you've no idea what film speed you've set.  I give 3rd OM4
back.  Ask salesmen for my salary, as I've decided to charge £100 a day plus
expenses for testing OM equipment.  He laughs nervously.  "I promise you,"
he says once my tantrum is over, "I promise you we have an OM4 which has
just been fully serviced, and does all those things and has all those things
you keep asking about..."(They think I'm off my head about the 30 sec buzzer
and the chrome caps bit).  It'll be here on Saturday.   I'll let you know.
The moral of this story, is of course don't buy from Jessops second hand if
you can bear it.  It doesn't look as though they do anything other than
glance at bodies coming in on trade ins etc.  Their trade in prices are grim
to say the least ( they offered me £45 for an Zuiko 35/2...Ace cameras in
Bath gave me £100...) and so I'm beginning to suspect that people only take
their knackered bodies there.  Jings that sounds a bit weird.  Take your
knackered body into Jessops...but you YKWIM.  I'll be asking for my money
back I suspect, unless body no 4 is indeed a late circuit, CLA'd model.
Speak to you when it happens.
Dave in Glasgow.


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