Hey All,

I have a Zuiko 35/2 that I keep strapped to my 5D as a walk around lens. I bought the lens originally because of the relatively fast aperture (f/2) but as it turns out, this particular lens is garbage at f/2 and gets much better by f/2.8. So now I use it at f/2.8 all the time.

I am always looking for a smaller and lighter combination, and the local camera store has a 35/2.8 for cheap. What I'm wondering is...how does the 35/2 @ f/2.8 compare with the 35/2.8 at f/2.8? I'm mainly concerned about sharpness since that's where my 35/2 falls flat on its face.

Any thoughts? Anyone have some samples on full-frame?

I am sure that you will get more samples, but to get the ball rolling I will offer all that I have.

Full Frame on 1Ds2

sounds like you should try a different 35/2 first, they should be reasonably sharp @ f2. that said, the 35/2 should be better than the 35/2.8 in general.

-Ed

Thanks. Yeah I know I should look into another 35/2 but all the ones I can find (like on KEH) are more than I want to pay right now. That's why I was going to use the 35/2.8 as a fairly short term solution.

pixel - thanks for the example photo!

Any others?

there's one @ bh

Hi,

I have the Zuiko f/2 35mm. But I use my wides mainly for landscape and panoramas.

f/8 - f/11 are my standard settings therefore.

I am quite happy with sharpness, but cannot comment on wide open performance.

Here are some shots:

http://www.pbase.com/rudiknust/zuiko_f20_35mm

I had a few Zuiko 35/2's and wasn't happy with the FF performance of any one sample. The biggest problem seemed to be a very curved focus plane. I also had a few copies of the Zuiko 35/2.8 and was very happy with it's full frame performance. It capable of better center and edge sharpness when stopped down a little. I still own my best copy even though I don't use it much. It's my goto lens when I want to travel small and light with a 35mm focal length:

I hear the Minolta 1.8 calling

i do have the minolta 35mm 1,8 @ my 5D.
it is just one of my favorite lens, (together with the 45/2)
very sharp wide open and has a nice 3D effect.

and great great skins colors of my daughter!!!

i will post some pics later this week.

regards
reinhard

Sorry for not commenting on these 2 lenses specifically, but I have faced this slower/faster lens conundrum, too.

If a faster lens has to be stopped down to get what a 1 stop slower lens offers, why get the faster lens? The slower lens will be easier to design out abberrations, and cheaper to do so. High ISO sensors compensate for the slower speed.

Having said the above, with respect to the 5D camera, I wouldn't go slower than f/2.8 due to the focus accuracy of viwefinder or AF.

ok,
here is one, wide open,

Thanks for the responses guys!

I am quite happy with how the 35/2 performs stopped down, it's just the f/2 performance that I am not happy with. So any samples at f/2 or from the 35/2.8 @ f/2.8 would be MUCH appreciated. I might just go buy the lens and try it, and if I don't like it, sell it again. I think it was only $35 last I checked (the 35/2.8).

And yeah Ronan, I would really like one of those 35/1.8's! They are kinda big though aren't they?

Here's some stuff from the 35/2 that I've gotten, mostly at f/2.8

The Minolta I have is very small, the HH version is large alright though. This is the one I have.
http://www.rokkorfiles.com/35mm.htm

The minolta 35/1.8 is quite a nice lens. I have a spare unconverted one of those if anyone is looking for one. It's the (better) earlier Rokkor-HH version, metal focus grip.

-Ed

Thanks. If I were to spend the money on the Minolta, I'd probably opt to get the MD version due to its size and weight.

Has anyone done a comparison between the Zuiko 35/2 and other 35mm lenses like the Nikon 35/2 etc? I'd be interested in seeing some wide open shots.

The MC version is the one to have - sharper and a lot less vignetting (the MD has a 49mm filter mount which tends to vignette a fair bit). Conversion is easier on the MC also.

-Ed

Thanks Ed. It's my battle between small and lightweight and speed. The size is really important to me (otherwise I won't take my camera anywhere...thus making the lens useless) so I'd rather give up a little sharpness (vignetting doesn't bother me...I add it in post oftentimes anyway!) and have the lens smaller.

I ended up buying another used Zuiko 35/2 from Adorama. I'll compare the two when I get it and then get rid of one. Hopefully the one coming resolves the problems with the other one I have.

The Zuiko is nice and small and light and I figure there isn't a HUGE difference between the f/2 and f/1.8 aperture of the minolta. That and I'm really becoming fond of the way Zuikos handle and look. What you get for their size is unreal.

I may end up getting a Zuiko 35/2.8 also for the times when I don't care about light gathering ability when using it outdoors during the day anyway. I currently have the Zuiko 50/1.8 on my 5D and the size is perfect. Hopefully the 35/2.8 is about the same size as the 50/1.8.

It's tough...I want a small, light lens that has the widest aperture possible. I have a feeling the sweet spot is either the Zuiko 35/2 or the Minolta MD 35/1.8.

hi Ed,
i have the MD version with filter and original hood and no vignetting at all.

cheerz
reinhard

The zuikos in general are superb. It's hard to not get addicted to them. ;-)

-Ed

It's true! We'll see when I get it in the mail

Patrick, how did your new 35/2 compare? I got one recently and after a brief outing with it (my first MF lens), I would say its reasonably sharp wide open at f2. Its too early to tell but it almost looked like one stop down at f2.8 was as sharp as f8 or f11. I'm really loving the contrast and colors of this lens, I feel a Zuiko addiction commencing...

I have also a Zuiko 35/2 and it's a bit soft and have low contrast wide open. If you want a sharp lens wide open go for the Zeiss Flektogon 35/2.4

So as it turns out, I will have in my possession at the same time a...

Nikkor 35/1.4 AIS
Minolta MD 35/1.8
(2) Zuiko 35/2s

Eventually I will spend some time with each of them, keep one, and get rid of the rest. I'll report back with what I find! Expect to see some photos in the alt images thread soon...