Hi

I am trying to assemble some lenses for the same price as a 50L or even 85L(gulp). I have recently bought a Zuiko 50/1.2 and a Zuiko 35/2. I am thinking of trying to find some others.I quite like the manual focus, seems to make me more selective and saves deleting loads of rubbish shots when i get home. I have currently spent £300 so i have room to left in the budget. I would sooner try and get some low light lenses as i have the 24-105L for a lazy walk around lens

What are peoples opinions on the Zuiko 24/2, 85/2, 100/2 or 100/2.8.

I know some lenses can be fitted with shaving mirrors or taking the lens apart but i dont feel confident doing things like that.

My cameras are a 5D and 1Dmk3. So how what are the options with £500 or so.

Cheers

Lee

What are peoples opinions on the Zuiko 24/2, 85/2, 100/2.

Great lenses.

good thoughts. Any of the f/2 zuikos are excellent.

On a budget though, I'd go for (All Zuikos)

21/3.5
24/2.8
100/2.8

The faster versions are sometimes (often) better but the 24/2.8 in particular is quite good. The slower versions are a good bit cheaper though.

Other useful choices:

Vivitar series 1 28mm f/1.9 (can be had in Oly and other mounts)
Vivitar Series 1 90mm/f2.5 macro

-Ed

thanks for the replies, will get buying soon.

Sometimes here in the USA you can run into the Zeiss/Contax Distagon 28mm very cheap, I found it for $100, and it is very good. I know, you did not mention looking for a 28mm, but if you can find it for that price in (I assume you are in) the UK, you might consider it--mine was excellent.

Ed Sawyer wrote:
good thoughts. Any of the f/2 zuikos

Other useful choices:

Vivitar series 1 28mm f/1.9 (can be had in Oly and other mounts)
Vivitar Series 1 90mm/f2.5 macro



I kind of went through a "original Vivitar Series 1" phase this year. I managed to aquire most of the originals, made up until roughly 1982 when the brand fell apart.

The only three I kept were the 90/2.5 Macro (love it), the 135/2.3 (non-vmc) and the (AMAZING) 200/3.

I thought the 28mm was kind of soft, even stopped down. It's rare, which probably accounts for the fairly high price, but good? I dunno. The Zuiko 28/3.5 is sharper, though with a tad more distortion, and has better colors.

Chococat wrote:
Sometimes here in the USA you can run into the Zeiss/Contax Distagon 28mm very cheap, I found it for $100, and it is very good. I know, you did not mention looking for a 28mm, but if you can find it for that price in (I assume you are in) the UK, you might consider it--mine was excellent.

Seems to me that the price is closer to $200. But the market isn't perfect. It's interesting how expensive the 25 2.8 has become. Significantly worse performer than the 28mm according to mtf charts. But now twice the price. Fewer of this lens were made, I guess.

You could look at:

Tamron SP 17mm f3.5
OM 24mm f2.8
OM 28mm f2.8 or 28mm f3.5

CZ 85mm f2.8
OM 85mm f2.0
Tamron SP 90mm f2.5 Macro

.... all of which will easily fit within the price of a 50mm f1.2 L

The Zuiko 28/3.5 is very cheap and readily available here in the UK. I picked one up just for kicks and to compare it to my Zeiss 28/2.8 - something that I haven't done yet but will get around to it soon. I got mine for about £30 on ebay and I notice that ffordes have them starting at £35.

The 2.8 version is also easy to find and doesn't cost much more. I don't know much about that one only that people seem to say it's no better than the 3.5 - just faster.

Agreed the Zuiko 28/3.5 is a nice cheap lens, I just got one in as-new shape with case and hood for under $5, though that was quite a deal, they are usually not *that* cheap.

I'll compare it to the vivitar soon. My main interest in the viv series 1 was the speed, and the fact it has a floating element design.

Got A tokina 17/3.5 recently too, which I need to try out soon, as it's supposed to be decent, and not that expensive . (it's the older 67mm filter version)

-Ed