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Ecooper
Joined: 06 Jul 2012
Posts: 163
Location: Vancouver
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 Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2012 8:40 pm Post subject: anyone tested the OM-system Zuiko 50mm macro F3.5 |
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Has anyone worked with the vintage OM-SYSTEM Zuiko 50mm macro F3.5 lens? How sharp are they? Back in the 80s-90s I did all my auto bellows photography with a reversed Zuiko 50mm F1.8 lens. But I now find that the resolution (with this lens and bellows on a E-620 body) just isn't that great.
I never quite got around to buying an OM system Zuiko F3.5 50mm macro lens back then, but I see that they are still very affordable. I'm thinking that perhaps I should pick one up, but would like to know more about their performance (sharpness wise) first...
EC |
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Harold Gough
Joined: 09 Mar 2008
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Location: Reading, Berkshire, England
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Ecooper
Joined: 06 Jul 2012
Posts: 163
Location: Vancouver
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| Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2012 12:33 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you! So if I understand correctly, the resolution of the Zuiko OM 50mm macro is similar to that of the new Zuiko 35mm autofocus? That is good news as I can get a Zuiko OM 50mm macro for around $100.
I see that you also use a Tamron 90mm macro. I have one that used to be my go-to lens back in the 90's. I'll need to dig it out and try it on the bellow...
Ernie |
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Pau
Joined: 20 Jan 2010
Posts: 1314
Location: Valencia, Spain
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| Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2012 12:48 pm Post subject: |
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I haven't tested it at high magnification on a digital camera, but between infinite and 1:1 (1:2 to 1:1 with extension tubes) it is really excellent. Now I also have the similar Canon EF 50mm 2.5 and they play in the same league, perhaps the Oly a bit sharper.
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Harold Gough
Joined: 09 Mar 2008
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Location: Reading, Berkshire, England
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| Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2012 1:06 pm Post subject: |
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Ernie,
I used the Tamron 90mm f2.5 macro for all my macro for many years, often with a TC behind it. I then started using the OM 50mm macro for overseas (air) trips because it was smaller and lighter but I missed the working distance. The Olympus 4/3 35mm AF gives excellent results when you can get close enough to the subject but I found I was knocking insects off horizontal leaves and casting a shadow over them in some cases. Reversed is another matter which I don't plan to investigate. The 60mm Elmarit now takes the place of these for regular digital, non-reversed macro.
Unlike the Elmarit and my Kirons, the OM 50mm macro is not a all recessed at the camera end. The OM 80mm macro bellows lens is recessed and is optimised at 1:1 whereas the 50mm is optimised at 1:10. This may all be irrelevant when reversed. However, you main gain a lot of working distance with the 80mm reversed but I don't thnk I have tried this yet.
Harold
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My manual flash setup for high magnification:
http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=117843#117843 |
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Harold Gough
Joined: 09 Mar 2008
Posts: 5727
Location: Reading, Berkshire, England
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| Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2012 7:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Harold Gough wrote: | | The OM 80mm macro bellows lens is recessed and is optimised at 1:1 whereas the 50mm is optimised at 1:10. This may all be irrelevant when reversed. However, you main gain a lot of working distance with the 80mm reversed but I don't thnk I have tried this yet. |
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On further consideration, this is probably not helpful. When reversed, the lens will focus out to infinity and will probably not act as expected for reversed lens in macro, being, in effect reveresed in its normal use as a bellows lens.
Harold
_________________
Happiness is having the right adapter.
My manual flash setup for high magnification:
http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=117843#117843 |
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Harold Gough
Joined: 09 Mar 2008
Posts: 5727
Location: Reading, Berkshire, England
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| Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 4:26 am Post subject: |
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| Harold Gough wrote: |
Unlike the Elmarit and my Kirons, the OM 50mm macro is not at all recessed at the camera end. |
Having just received my (Vivitar) Kiron 35mm f2-8 prime, I have been looking again at this recessing.
When at their closest focus, the primes are just about adequately recessed to (maybe) not need a hood. The same focal lengths of the Kiron 28-70mm zoom have no useful recessing. This alone could give considerably better performance for the primes in strong light.
The biggest extreme is in the OM 50mm macro. At infinity it has no recessing at all but at its closest focus it is very deep, making a hood totally superflous.
This shows that we have an adiditionnal variable to watch out for with reversed lenses, especially with zooms.
Harold
_________________
Happiness is having the right adapter.
My manual flash setup for high magnification:
http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=117843#117843 |
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Harold Gough
Joined: 09 Mar 2008
Posts: 5727
Location: Reading, Berkshire, England
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Harold Gough
Joined: 09 Mar 2008
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Location: Reading, Berkshire, England
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Ecooper
Joined: 06 Jul 2012
Posts: 163
Location: Vancouver
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| Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 1:16 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Harold, that is good information to know. In the next couple of weeks I'm adding a Zuiko OM system 50mm macro to my collection (along with a couple other lenses).
Cheers,
EC |
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Harold Gough
Joined: 09 Mar 2008
Posts: 5727
Location: Reading, Berkshire, England
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| Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 12:47 am Post subject: |
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Ernie,
One thing to consider is that the lens is optimised, in normal use, for 1:10. Perhaps it will be better on a longer extension when reversed.
In the test I did yesterday my best OM lens for the magnification would be the 38mm auto bellows one.
Harold
_________________
Happiness is having the right adapter.
My manual flash setup for high magnification:
http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=117843#117843 |
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