Old OM Lenses

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leezer3

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OK, slightly dense questions, but I want to make sure :)
I've acquired a free pair of OM mount primes (Which I'm intending to play with on my 400D), but no lens caps.

First is a Olympus Zuiko 50mm F1.8- This has no filter size written on the lens (?), but has 50mm both on the front and side of the lens. From fishing on the net, Olympus OM lenses should all be a 49mm filter thread?
Second is a Makinon 24mm F2.8. This has a 55mm filter size written on the lens.

I therefore want a 49mm & a 55mm cap? I've got one rear cap, and I'm intending to use a spare Canon cap on the end of the adaptor for the other I think- Is this right?

Secondly, they've both got a little surface grime on the front of the lenses. Can anyone suggest the most appropriate cleaning solution?
I'm a little wary of modern stuff doing nasty things to older lenses, and want opinions before I do anything!


Decent information is hard to find on these, but from what I can see, the Olympus is the 'better' made in Japan version, and a relatively reasonable lens, and I can find very little on the Makinon, other than some complaining about a lack of sharpness.
Opinions and information much welcomed!
 
My 50mm 1.8 OM has a 49mm filter thread. Nice sharp lens, good colour rendition.
Check Youtube for videos on how to clean lenses.

Makinon was one of the cheaper lens manufacturers.
 
Olympus Zuiko lenses were very good back in the day and will still perform well. Your 50mm f1.8 was the standard lens that went with most of the OM's unless people opted for the more expensive 50mm f1.4. You are right it has a 49mm thread, Olympus statndardised this on many, but not all of their lenses.

The Makinon was a cheap and chearful range of third party manufactured lenses and were available in a variety of fittings. They were at the cheapo end of the market and were often a bit soft. I have a couple of M42 Makinons that are acceptble in qulaity when stopped down below f5.6. The Zuiko, is in a different league though!

Hope this helps
 
Yes, the 50mm f/1.8 has a 49mm filter thread. Olympus arranged things so that up to 200mm, you always had a lens available with a 49mm filter size, so you didn't have to buy different sizes. They also usually had a faster version that took 55mm filters, so e.g. the 50mm came in f/1.8 and f/1.4, both 49mm; and f/1.2 at 55mm.

Lens tests at the time made the Zuiko f/1.8 the best 50mm lens.
 
For cleaning lenses...I use lighter fuel and isopropanol alchohol with a very soft cloth gently, of course don't flood the lens with liquid as it could seep underneath the front lens element inside to the assembly.
 
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Cheers, got plenty of Isopropyl.
Sounds like the Makinon is an unknown quantity, but we'll see once I've got it cleaned up and on the camera. Can't diss a freebie mind :)
 
leezer3 said:
Cheers, got plenty of Isopropyl.
Sounds like the Makinon is an unknown quantity, but we'll see once I've got it cleaned up and on the camera. Can't diss a freebie mind :)
Click to expand...

Stopped down to say F5.6 and it could give good results, but with Makinon, Hanimex and so on...some are good and others :arghh: and added with copy variation (well you can always stay with Zeiss for quality ;)) in manufacture it's suck it and see. My Makinon 28mm (not 24mm) is quite good but of course not up to Olympus standards. Oh and I had a Makinon zoom once :arghh: and gave it to a charity shop, also got a Hanimex 28mm which is also :arghh:
 
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