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Archive 2010 · How Good is the Olympus 50mm f1.2?

  
 
Jim Schemel
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · How Good is the Olympus 50mm f1.2?


As the title says was wondering How Good is the Olympus 50mm f1.2?
How does it compare with the other 50s with regard to image quality.
How would it compare with say a Zeiss 50mm f1.4 besides being faster?

Any thoughts and samples would be greatly appreciated.
-Jim



Jan 24, 2010 at 05:10 PM
dcad10
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · How Good is the Olympus 50mm f1.2?


i used the OM 55mm f1.2. It was relatively soft wide open but was razor sharp stopped down one stop (f2). Everything I've heard is that the OM 50mm f1.2 is even better.

compared to the zeiss (ive never used it), Other benefits are its a faster aperture (obvious) it can be found for cheaper, and since its made by olympus... its probably smaller.



Jan 24, 2010 at 11:46 PM
Kathy Li
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · How Good is the Olympus 50mm f1.2?


Yeah. It's small. Takes a 49mm filter.

L to R: OM 50/1.8, EF 50/1.8 II, OM 50/1.2
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3228/2680528229_17f38bed5c.jpg


Here's a shot wide-open on a 50D (iso 100, f/1.2, 1/1250s). big_is ring.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2537/4118019291_d9c96bd549_b.jpg


And some on an XT (iso 1600, f/1.2, 1/40s, handheld available light)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3057/2860712237_37b9948420_b.jpg


(iso 100, f/1.2, 1/2000s, ND4 filter)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3076/2880632118_a63a7d58fd_b.jpg


I love the hell out of mine, but I only paid $290 for it, so I wasn't expecting an L class lens. Not sure if I'd love it as much if it had cost $500. The contrast and color aren't particularly punchy, but it is surprisingly sharp wide open.



Jan 25, 2010 at 12:18 AM
Greg Feldman
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · How Good is the Olympus 50mm f1.2?


I love me some Oly glass, but you want the Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 AIS.


Jan 25, 2010 at 01:18 AM
pascal03
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · How Good is the Olympus 50mm f1.2?


If $$$ was no object .......

If I had to choose between the Canon 50mm f1.2 L and the Olympus 50mm f1.2, I would choose the Canon.
If the choice is between the Zeiss 50mm f2 Macro and the OM 50mm f1.2, I would be torn but would probably go with the OM 50mm f1.2
If I had to choose between the OM 50mm f1.2 and the Sigma 50mm f1.4, I would choose the OM for image quality and the Sigma for AF
If I had to choose between the Nikon 50mm f1.2 AiS and the OM 50mm f1.2, I would choose the OM for wide open bookeh (but since I shoot Nikon now, I choose the 50mm f1.2 AiS over the Sigmalux)
If the choice is between the OM 50mm f1.2 and the OM 55mm f1.2, the OM 50mm f1.2 would be it.
If the choice is between the Converted Contax N 50mm f1.4 and the OM 50mm f1.2, I would choose the OM 50mm f1.2 (actually sold my 50mm f1.4 N)



Jan 25, 2010 at 02:33 AM
pdmphoto
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · How Good is the Olympus 50mm f1.2?


I tried the Nikon 50/1.2 AIS and kept my Oly 50/1.2. I find the Oly 50/1.2 to be the best overall lens for wide open and stopped down performance. Of all the fast MF fifties, it is the last designed (1990's). It is almost perfectly corrected for CA, has just a little LoCA wide open, distortion free, great Oly color, and excellent contrast. The contrast is good at f/1.2 and just gets better as you stop down. I also haven't found a 50/1.2 or 50/1.4 that hold its sharpness as well to the very corners of the frame.

If I had a Nikon, I would be happy with the 50 AIS for the large aperture stuff, but not nearly so for the stopped down landscapes.



Jan 25, 2010 at 02:34 AM
IDURITA
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · How Good is the Olympus 50mm f1.2?


Love my Zuiko f/1.2 50mm. Here is a shot wide open - bokeh is like an oil painting style.

http://ic2.pbase.com/g1/44/535144/2/110217467.Ar8phUUT.jpg

Here are a few other images:
http://www.pbase.com/rudiknust/olympus



Jan 25, 2010 at 05:41 AM
IDURITA
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · How Good is the Olympus 50mm f1.2?


I found this website about the Zuiko f/1.2 50mm

Just look at the bokeh, amazing !

http://forum.mflenses.com/zuiko-om-55-1-2-on-4-3-body-t12152.html



Jan 25, 2010 at 08:08 AM
Bifurcator
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · How Good is the Olympus 50mm f1.2?


I have both the 1.4 and the 1.2 auto-s (redesign) - both manual focus and unless you need the 1.2 aperture you might want to consider the 1.4 as it produces identical results otherwise. Both are very nice lenses IMO. Not "excellent" like my Zuiko 85mm f/2 but still very good. All 3 have a top notch build quality. Out of all of the 50mm lenses I've owned I'd give it a 9.2 out of 10. I have no idea what the 50mm's go for these days but if there is much of a price difference and you're on a budget take a look at the 1.4 too.



Jan 25, 2010 at 09:51 AM
Arianne Dubois
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · How Good is the Olympus 50mm f1.2?


"Image quality" is a broad field. If you want to know about pure resolving power than these are my results (also mentioning the Contax lenses you were asking for):

Best resolving power at f1.2: Contax f1.2/55 followed by Pentax SMC f1.2/50
Best resolving power at f2.8 (among f1.2 lenses): Contax f1.2/55 followed by Canon FD SSC f1.2/55 and then Olympus Zuiko f1.2/50
Best resolving power at f4 (among all lenses): Contax f1.7/50

The Olympus f1.2/50 is not improving much after f2.8, which means it reaches its sweet spot earlier than other lenses!
While the Contax f1.4/50 is very similar to a modern Canon f1.4/50 L (in results and optical formula nearly identical), the Contax f1.7/50 is a must have in my eyes: At f4 there is no other SLR lens in this range with higher resolving power.
From a lot of testing this was my final ranking of the f1.2 lenses in terms of resolving power at an average between f1.2 and f5.6(Note: I had two Rokkor f1.2/58, one of them converted by Paul, but none of the famed older radioactive ones. The other lens I never had is the Canon EF f1.2/50 L USM):

1. Contax Planar f1.2/55
2. Pentax SMC f1.2/50
3. Nikon Nikkor f1.2/50 AIS
4. Minolta Rokkor f1.2/58, Olympus Zuiko f1.2/50, Canon FD SSC 1.2/55, Canon FD SSC AL 1.2/55, Yashica ML 1.2/50 (All of these: different behaviour at certain f stops but similar in average. All are nice.)

If you want to shoot at anything else then f1.2, it is highly recommended to use the solid and economical Contax Planar f1.7/50.



Edited on Jan 25, 2010 at 12:09 PM · View previous versions



Jan 25, 2010 at 10:12 AM
alexandre
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · How Good is the Olympus 50mm f1.2?


As a Zuikoholic, I'd love to have a Zuiko 50/1.2, but given:
- my lack of budget
- my 2 other f/1.2 lenses (Pentax-K and Rokkor) and
- the Zuiko 55/1.2, well, sucks IMO,
I won't buy one as fast as my addiction wants...
I guess you'll be way better served if you:
- buy a Rokkor if you need f/1.2 ($450)
- buy a high serial # Zuiko 50/1.4 if you need f/1.4 ($120)
- buy a Planar 50/1.7 or a Zuiko 50/1,8 MiJ otherwise. ($80-$180)

Edited on Jan 25, 2010 at 01:35 PM · View previous versions



Jan 25, 2010 at 11:40 AM
htbyron
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · How Good is the Olympus 50mm f1.2?


I love my OM 50/1.2. It is very small, light, and easy to use (focus and aperture rings are well placed and responsive). Results are excellent, when I can nail the manual focus.

Right now it is my only 50mm prime (I used to have a canon 50/1.4, but after it broke the second time, I realized I hadn't used it much after getting the Zuiko). I would like to have the sigmalux too, but I don't want to spend the money right now, and I don't really have a need for another 50, as the Zuiko does everything I need except for AF.

I also had at one time (before buying the 1.2) an OM Zuiko 50/1.4 multicoated (don't recall the serial number --it was not the absolute latest, but also was not an older model). I did not like the performance at all, and quickly sold it. So you might need to be prepared to go through a few copies of the 50/1.4 if you decide to go that route. Sample variation has not been a reported problem AFAIK among the 50/1.2 lenses I have read reports on.

Note that from what I read and saw, the OM 50/1.2 is a very different lens -- much better -- than the 55/1.2, which is far less well-regarded. So don't be dissuaded by poor reports from owners of the 55mm lens.

Prices have swung around a bit in the last few years. I got mine about 3-4 years ago for between $200 and $250, I think. But I have seen some sales in the last year in the $500+ range. Keep your eyes open and you might find a deal (although the lens is popular enough now, that they probably go fast).



Jan 25, 2010 at 12:39 PM
pascal03
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · How Good is the Olympus 50mm f1.2?


htbyron wrote:
........Note that from what I read and saw, the OM 50/1.2 is a very different lens -- much better -- than the 55/1.2, which is far less well-regarded. So don't be dissuaded by poor reports from owners of the 55mm lens.



I agree the OM 50mm f1.2 and the OM 55mm f1.2 are both very different lenses. However, I would not consider the OM 55mm f1.2 a slouch by any means. You would notice a difference if you shot both side by side at wide open aperture.
By f2.0, both are very close and by f2.8, I would have a very hard time telling one apart from the other.

I have had all the OM50's including 50mm f1.4 over the 1,xxx,xxx serial number. The OM f1.2's are in a whole different class than the other 50's. The only other OM that comes close to the f1.2's is the OM Macro 50mm f2.0.



Jan 25, 2010 at 01:36 PM
dfresh
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · How Good is the Olympus 50mm f1.2?


I was going to chime in and say the same thing. Even though I don't plan on keeping my Zuiko 55/1.2, its not nearly as bad as I was expecting it to be based on its reputation.


Jan 25, 2010 at 01:55 PM





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