Support our Sponsors, they keep FADU free:   AG Photographic   The Imaging Warehouse   Process Supplies   RH Designs   Second-hand Darkroom Supplies  

Notices

Go Back   Film and Darkroom User > Equipment > Cameras - small format

  ***   Click here for the FADU 2015/2014 Yearbooks   ***

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 29th November 2020, 07:18 PM
Martin Aislabie's Avatar
Martin Aislabie Martin Aislabie is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Stratford-upon-Avon, England
Posts: 2,080
Default Olympus OM 35mm lenses

I have a couple of OM bodies sitting in a cupboard gathering dust and wondered about reviving them for a bit of fun.

So, I am looking for 35mm focal length lens and have read elsewhere that the f/2.8 lens isn't all that great for corner sharpness, where as the f/2 is a sharper lens.

Of course there is also the f/2.8 shirt lens just to add a third alternative in to the mix.

Does anyone have any views as to the merits of the various options ?

Martin
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 29th November 2020, 09:02 PM
Rob Archer's Avatar
Rob Archer Rob Archer is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Kings Lynn, Norfolk - flatlands and big skies.
Posts: 1,243
Default

I've got the OM Zuiko 35mm f2.8 and have no complaints about its sharpness. That said, I rarely use it wide open or shut down to f16. It's probably the 35mm lens I use the most tbh. The Olympus OM cameras and lenses are pretty much all superb but, unless you shoot wide open, my experience is that the f2 versions aren't worth the extra cost - plus they're bigger, heavier and use a 55mm filter rather than the 49mm on the 2.8 versions. The notable exception is the 85mm f2 which is superb across all apertures and still takes the 49mm filter. Sadly I can't afford one but I know a couple of people who do have one and swear by it. I love my OMs and have OM1n, OM2, OM2n, OM10, OM20 and OM2000, along with 24mm f2.8, 28mm f3.5, 35mm f2.8, 50mm f1.8, 50mm f3.5 macro (my current favourite!), 100mm f2.8 and 135mm f3.5. Get your OMs out - you won't regret it!

Last edited by Rob Archer; 29th November 2020 at 09:09 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 29th November 2020, 09:26 PM
Collas Collas is online now
Friend
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 971
Default

Shirt lens? Is that the Olympus version of the Vest Pocket Kodak?
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 29th November 2020, 11:01 PM
Alan Clark Alan Clark is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 1,426
Default

Hi Martin, I have been using a 35mm f2.8 Zuiko lens on my OM1 for 40 years. At f4 it is a bit soft round the edges, but at f5.6 it is pin-sharp right into the corners.

Alan
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 30th November 2020, 08:55 AM
Quendil Quendil is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 441
Default

I'm an Olympus fan like Rob and have never had an issue with the 35mm lens. I don't own the faster F2 lenses as can't justify the price my fastest is a 50mm 1.4. As Rob states the 50mm f3.5 macro is a great lens. I do at some point want to get the 35mm shift lens but have not yet used one

Dave
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 30th November 2020, 09:17 AM
John King John King is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: County Durham
Posts: 3,318
Default Olympus lenses

These are (were) among some of the sharpest around and when I used Olympus equipment, I really appreciated the aperture ring being at the front of the lens - a lot easier for large fingers to use.

I never found a bad one among them. Right from the 21mm F3.5 (I could not afford the F2 version) up to the F4 300mm. They say the 28mm F3.5 was to be avoided - well I never has a problem with it. The only down side I found was the lens diaphragm on all of them can get 'lazy' with lack of use and would only close down slowly, but a good clean and check-over always sorted it out

The Zoom lenses they made, especially the 35/70 F3.6 constant aperture was an absolute cracker - I doubt if it has ever been bettered, and would certainly give my 35/70AFD Nikon a good run for it's money!

Last edited by John King; 30th November 2020 at 09:21 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 30th November 2020, 12:48 PM
Terry S Terry S is online now
Friend
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Southend on Sea, Essex, England, UK
Posts: 3,796
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Collas View Post
Shirt lens? Is that the Olympus version of the Vest Pocket Kodak?
I too was confused with that name as well, even though I'm a Pentax type of guy.

Looking it up, I think the poster meant to say 'shift' lens, as in perspective control lens. It's only one letter different, but on the other hand I could be wrong and it is actually a 'shirt' lens...? Anyone?

Terry S
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 30th November 2020, 02:48 PM
Quendil Quendil is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 441
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Terry S View Post
I too was confused with that name as well, even though I'm a Pentax type of guy.

Looking it up, I think the poster meant to say 'shift' lens, as in perspective control lens. It's only one letter different, but on the other hand I could be wrong and it is actually a 'shirt' lens...? Anyone?

Terry S
Its a shift lens

David
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 30th November 2020, 05:57 PM
alexmuir alexmuir is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Glasgow, Scotland.
Posts: 2,668
Default

Just as well it wasn’t one letter less😂
Alex


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 30th November 2020, 07:17 PM
Alan Clark Alan Clark is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 1,426
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by alexmuir View Post
Just as well it wasn’t one letter less😂
Alex


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Yeah! I think we have all had lenses like that....

Alan
Reply With Quote
Reply
Support our Sponsors, they keep FADU free:   AG Photographic   The Imaging Warehouse   Process Supplies   RH Designs   Second-hand Darkroom Supplies  

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Need Help with Olympus Pen EE3 claire Cameras - small format 16 19th October 2017 08:53 AM
FS: clearout of various bits and bobs: 5x4" lenses, camera, 35mm LTM Skopar, etc DaveP Sale or Wanted 0 29th March 2016 12:51 PM
50mm lenses on 35mm cameras alexmuir Cameras - small format 45 23rd September 2013 11:28 AM
Three Pentax K lenses + Olympus XA3 & A11 flash wojtek Sale or Wanted 0 31st August 2010 04:08 PM


All times are GMT. The time now is 01:07 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.