First Lens test: 21mm Olympus vs 17-40

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David Clapp
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p.1 #1 · First Lens test: 21mm Olympus vs 17-40

Have a look at this lens test I did for my own benefits that you may be interested see. Hardly ground breaking research but I thought you may like to analyse the results.

I just bought an old Olympus Zuiko 21mm f3.5 and I did a 21mm test with my 17-40 which I dearly love. I have a really good copy of the 17-40 so I was intrigued to see the results.

If your feeling lazy have a look at the f11-16 files, these are the most interesting.

Any problems with my testing feel free to advsie me.

21mm Olympus vs 17-40

Edited on Mar 27, 2008 at 02:31 PM

Mar 27, 2008 at 02:23 PM

StevenPA
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p.1 #2 · First Lens test: 21mm Olympus vs 17-40

Very nice, David. It pretty much mirrors my experience with these two lenses as well. One correction, the OM21/3.5 takes 49mm filters, not 52mm, and even a standard UV filter vignettes like crazy with the 21/3.5's tiny front element and wide view. A step-up ring to 58mm might solve the vignetting, but I've never tried, I just use a handheld Cokin P-filter.

Mar 27, 2008 at 03:20 PM

shirozina
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p.1 #3 · First Lens test: 21mm Olympus vs 17-40

I found my 16-35L out performed my OL21mm 3.5 by just a whisker in every area. I do seem to have a very good copy of the 16-35L though and the OL21 may not have been the best sample.

Mar 27, 2008 at 03:25 PM

cogitech
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p.1 #4 · First Lens test: 21mm Olympus vs 17-40

Nicely done and no big surprises for this Oly 21/3.5 owner. I think my copy is pretty good. The corners on mine are not as muddy, but I have to agree that the CA in the corners can be troublesome.

Mar 27, 2008 at 03:42 PM

Andi Dietrich
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p.1 #5 · First Lens test: 21mm Olympus vs 17-40

what adapter do people recommend for oly lenses? I ll probably get one of these little wides

Mar 28, 2008 at 10:36 AM

Anden
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p.1 #6 · First Lens test: 21mm Olympus vs 17-40

I use a noname with af conf. Bought of ebay from a UK seller.
I use mine with 28/2, 35 Shift, 55 1.2, 80 macro and 135/3.5. Great results.

A

Mar 28, 2008 at 12:01 PM

Grant808
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p.1 #7 · First Lens test: 21mm Olympus vs 17-40

Excellent content David. I don't own a 17-40, but everything you say about the 21/3.5 is consistent with my experience.

Thanks and I look forward to more reviews from you!

Mar 28, 2008 at 06:22 PM

htbyron
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p.1 #8 · First Lens test: 21mm Olympus vs 17-40

Andi Dietrich wrote:
what adapter do people recommend for oly lenses? I ll probably get one of these little wides

I use a happypagehk AF-confirm adapter. They seem to be a bit pricier now than when I bought mine, but still cheaper than the cameraquest, which I also tried and found to be no better (and without AF-confirm). Be careful with some of the cheap ebay sellers, though -- I had one adapter that was quite loose from side to side. One nice thing about the OM Zuiko lenses is that they are easy to remove from the adapter, so I use a single adapter for 3 primes, and I am not worried about wearing out the adapter or the mount.

Mar 28, 2008 at 06:29 PM

David Clapp
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p.1 #9 · First Lens test: 21mm Olympus vs 17-40

I bought a Fotodiox and another with AF confirm from an Ebayer in England for the Olympus. Both are really good quality, a nice weight, but the Fotodiox is better made if that is any help to you Andi / anyone else.

I will have a go at another review soon for a laugh. Please, I dont claim to be any expert at all this, I am just doing this as an experiment as I seem to of had a run of luck with getting some good alternative lenses.

Thanks for showing an interest.

Mar 28, 2008 at 06:54 PM

Andi Dietrich
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p.1 #10 · First Lens test: 21mm Olympus vs 17-40

thanks

Mar 28, 2008 at 10:33 PM

biotar
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p.1 #11 · First Lens test: 21mm Olympus vs 17-40

David Clapp wrote:

...I am just doing this as an experiment as I seem to of had a run of luck with getting some good alternative lenses...

(offtopic) I just had to react, because up till yesterday i felt the same. Right up to the moment i found a contax 167 MT being sold on the internet, almost right next door. Together with a 50/1.4, 28/2.8, vario sonnar 35-70 3.4 and a 80-200/4. I decided to try my luck and did a bid on the vario sonnar 35-70 alone for 200 Eur (i am a poor student oke, otherwise i'd bought em all). He replied that he was sorry he sold THE BATCH for excact the same amount: 200 Eur. I'm still trying to get over this, so consider this as a therapeutic reaction

Mar 29, 2008 at 10:03 PM

David Clapp
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p.1 #12 · First Lens test: 21mm Olympus vs 17-40

Oh my lord....! Thats just sickening....sorry to hear it! I have plenty of non-camera related stories like this.

Mar 29, 2008 at 10:41 PM


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