Lens quandry

Carter64

Carter64

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I have a nice OM10, manual adapter, with 50mm f1.8 and 65-200 f4. I'd love to round it off with a 28mm.
Couple I'm watching on you-know-where-auction, creeping to £35+. Now, then. My local Indy shop has a Zuiko 28mm for £45 and an OM 28mm Vivitar for £25. I'd like to stick with Zuiko if possible but tempted by the Vivitar.
As a further complication, I have an e620 which I use my Zuiko lenses on, with an AF confirm adapter.
How much difference in quality is there?
Any other issues?
 
Get yourself a Vivitar 24mm - it's a perfect compliment to both cameras. Now being Vivitar there are a few different ones floating around, I've got 2 that re both the same design, one MD and one OM fit. They focus down to 0.19m, which is a lot closer than the Zuiko does and they have a broader depth of field which makes focussing a lot less of an issue.

On the digital it makes a nice standard lens, equivalent of the 50mm on OM, and on the OM it makes a vry pleasing wide angle, not a lot of distortion but really good perspective qualities IMO.

Abberations wise - my example has been known to exhibit red and cyan fringes occasioanlly on high contrast edges, we're talking 1-2 pixels wide though so not a major issue, mine also suffers from aperture ghosting especialy at f2.8 so make sure you have a lens hood.

For the price they are well worth it.
 
Oh thanks, Thanks a bundle LOL.
Now I have even more to consider but you're right, 24mm would be ideal, especially now you've pointed me in that direction :)
Just a case of sourcing one in OM, they seem a bit sparse?
 
Carter64 said:
I have a nice OM10, manual adapter, with 50mm f1.8 and 65-200 f4. I'd love to round it off with a 28mm.
Couple I'm watching on you-know-where-auction, creeping to £35+. Now, then. My local Indy shop has a Zuiko 28mm for £45 and an OM 28mm Vivitar for £25. I'd like to stick with Zuiko if possible but tempted by the Vivitar.
As a further complication, I have an e620 which I use my Zuiko lenses on, with an AF confirm adapter.
How much difference in quality is there?
Any other issues?
Click to expand...

Well I can partly answer your questions and offer ideas that you might be interested in:- The Vivitar 28mm f2.8 is a nice lens, but IMO the Vivitar 28mm f2.8 close focus version is better and more useful, but do not have an Olympus 28mm (only 9 other 28mm lenses) to compare with. :shake:
But thinking laterally... for about £25 you can buy a Konica TC camera with Hexanon 28mm f3.5, this lens is a fantastic bargain and quite a few going for under £12 and you have a backup film camera or something else to play with.
 
Carter64 said:
Oh thanks, Thanks a bundle LOL.
Now I have even more to consider but you're right, 24mm would be ideal, especially now you've pointed me in that direction :)
Just a case of sourcing one in OM, they seem a bit sparse?
Click to expand...

If you want bang per buck then try and get the Ensinor 24mm or Sigma super-wide II, these were once hidden gems but the word is out but I was lucky in picking up the Ensinor 24mm with Ensinor zoom and 2Xs adapter for under £12 on the bay only 9 months ago....the Sigma was £8 two years ago.
 
Go down to your local shop, with the digital and adaptor ring, and ask to try 'em out. Quick series of test shots, 5 minutes pixel peeping on the laptop, and decision made - it really is something that digital cameras are good at. If the Zukio is better then snap it up and get out there shooting - agonising over £20 really isn't worth the sweat.
 
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Carter64 said:
Oh thanks, Thanks a bundle LOL.
Now I have even more to consider but you're right, 24mm would be ideal, especially now you've pointed me in that direction :)
Just a case of sourcing one in OM, they seem a bit sparse?
Click to expand...

They do pop up from time to time, the trouble is Vivitar made so many different mounts available you can alsways guarantee when you're looking for an OM mount all you'll find is Pentax...

I'd sell you mine but I like it too much! :D:

Oh and while I remember - one to avoid like the plague is Tokinas metal bodied 24mm f2.8, It was a horrendous lens, soft and oodles of horrible swamp brown fringing.
 
Cheers all!
The Konica option sounds interesting but I've enough 35mm bodies (4), 2 TLR's and the digi kit all with assorted lenses and nowhere to put even those :)
I think I'll have to decide whether or not to be patient for a 24mm or grab a 28mm tomorrow?
At least I now have some more info to go on, thanks.
 
If it's any help a Vivitar 24mm for Canon has just sold for £5.80 on ebay, so even if you get a 28mm to tide you over, I don't think you'll struggle paying for an extra lens! The zuiko 24mms tend to go between £50 and £70 though in f2.8 guise, and around £30 for an f3.5. An f2 will go for stupid money.
 
Carter64 said:
Cheers all!
The Konica option sounds interesting but I've enough 35mm bodies (4), 2 TLR's and the digi kit all with assorted lenses and nowhere to put even those :)
I think I'll have to decide whether or not to be patient for a 24mm or grab a 28mm tomorrow?
At least I now have some more info to go on, thanks.
Click to expand...

Well I understand, but just one more thought:- You know the Olympus 28mm will be VG, but if you can get the 28mm Vivitar close focus for third to half price (of the Olympus), would the Olympus be twice to three times as good....Well I would say my Canon FD 28mm could match the Olympus 28mm and the Vivitar 28mm CF is close enough in comparison (to my Canon).

Vivitar 28mm close focus
viv28mmCF800px-1.jpg
 
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WTF a M42 Ensinor 24mm f2.8 has just gone on ebay for £52.........................................
 
I decided to do the 28mm Vivitar as a stop-gap. The bank account'll be taking enough of a hammering this month anyway :)
Quick and unscientific comparison:
1. The Olympus Digital kit zoom at around 28mm. 100% crop.
FullCropOly.jpg


2. The Vivitar 28mm OM, again 100% crop
FullCropViv.jpg


Both reduced for uploading, no other PP. Taken on my E-620.
Can't wait to get it on the OM10 :)
 
Good choice, I'm sure you'll enjoy using it! :thumbs:
 
Save starting a new thread:- a Kiron 80-200mm f4 going on the bay for BIN £7.74 with 30 days warranty, Canon bayonet.
 
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