Well... got my first Zuiko OM lens today - and the adapter on the same day. So I took some test shots... this was also a good way to test out the Ec-S focusing screen...
I am getting pretty good at nailing focus. Any movement throws me, though, particularly at these wide apertures. I used Lightroom for these (normally I use Capture One but I got the trial on Lightroom) and might have oversharpened... but it does show what the lens can do. Wide open the contrast is not good but it is relatively easy to work with in post.
Also got a 135mm 2.8 "Super Albinar" lens - I don't know who makes it, but it seems "OK", not stellar. I'll post some samples in a bit.
Pilgrimatic wrote:
I call my little Oly (50/1.8 - silver nose) the "Honey Dripper"...it's color, contrast, and bokeh can be quite amazing.
Is silver nose has different optical design than other. I love my 50/1.8 more than 50/1.4... But in Bokeh, 50/1.8 is just harsh.... 50/1.4 is very smooth..... Altough 50/1.4 is softer than 50/1.8, because of creamy blurr-ness is keeping bigger bro on camera most of the time...
Compared the 100 f2.8 Zuiko at f2.8 with the 90mm f2 Summicron at f2.8 and could find no difference at f2.8, except I didn't have to ask the bank manager! A beautiful lens. The 24mm f2.8 is also a stellar performer wide open. contrasty, sharp, and low distortion.
The bokeh on that lens esp in #2 and #3 is atrocious!
I'm not trying to be a jerk here, but if you bought the lens for its bokeh, and that is what it produces on oof highlights i would send/give/sell it! Super distracting out of focus areas, especially in the outdoor shot.
Justin, I don't disagree about the bokeh being distracting, although I might use the term "unique". Some people love the look for certain types of pictures, hence the market for the Helios-40. I think the effect shown can be used beneficially in certain instances depending upon your taste and the effect you're after.
I got a bokeh like that on 3 or 4 pictures of my Oly 50/1.4 (SN >1,100,000), but have been unable to duplicate since. I'm guessing it takes a specific situation to get that look with most Oly lenses. That's certainly not the normal bokeh I get with my copy.
I just got a pretty nice shape Oly 50 1.4 yesterday for $5(!). It's a neat little lens. I doubt I will use it a whole lot as I have a nice Oly 50 1.2. But for $5, hell, it makes an excellent loupe. ;-)
wide-open bokeh on a lot of fast lenses is unique. Check out the biotar 75 1.5 sometime... ;-)
This is kind of amusing... I can't speak to the indoor bokeh - it is what it is. But the outdoor one, shot #2 - there is a simple explanation... it was windy!! The bird feeder itself was swaying, but slowly enough to get a sharp shot. The foliage in the background was definitely swaying a fair amount in the wind.
I didn't think of that while I was shooting it, but on a calmer day I'll go out and try the same shot :-)
TVR, don't get me wrong - I like the bokeh effect on shot 2. For some pictures I think it adds a whole new dimension to a photograph. My similar experience with my Oly 50 led me on the search for a lens where I could get that effect consistantly. I found it, and it's the Helios-40.
Backlit scenes seem to magnify that effect, on some lenses anyhow. I can occaisionally see a little bit of that on my 50 when wide open and most of the time on my Helios with f-stops of 5.6 or greater.
The Helios 40 is an 85/1.5 lens that used to be made in Russia. There are 2 varieties; the 40 is a silver version with 66mm filter threads and a fixed tripod collar. The later version, the 40-2, is black with 67mm filter threads and a rotating tripod collar. It's a very solid, heavy (over 2#'s) lens. I've got a copy of the original. I've read somewhere that the newer glass on the 40-2 has corrected some of the "Gaussen" style blur of the original, but I've not used one, so I can't say for sure. The lens is very sharp in the center and very below average on the edges of the frame, even when stopped down. It's got a very unique signature.
The Zuiko 50/1.8 produces nicer bokeh (to my eye), especially the softer early non-"Made in Japan" model than the Z 50/1.4. I prefer the Super-Tak 50 to the Zuiko 50/1.4 for a direct replacement.
Other than the 50's, most Zuikos go for Leica-R prices... I prefer the Leica look.
I'm sure I would have bought the Z 50/1.4 for $15 just to have another 50 to play with... I only recently sold mine, but the OM-1 is a nice camera to shoot... I hope you use the lens on the proper body once or twice.
