Where To Repair Old Olympus Lenses

Why would anyone in their right mind desire to use old lenses on their shiny new high-performance DSLR or mirrorless photographic camera? The simple answer is that some older lenses can capture images that accept that elusive quality known as character. And for photographers who want to create unique images that limited their personal manner, character tin exist fifty-fifty more of import than MTF and resolution numbers, corner-to-corner sharpness, freedom from aberrations, evenness of illumination, high contrast, depression distortion, and colour fidelity—in short, all the criteria lens testers consider crucial in evaluating lens functioning.

Indeed, the utilize of vintage lenses on digital cameras has become so popular over the past few years information technology has spawned a cottage industry of small and medium sized companies offer relatively inexpensive adapters that will allow you mount the majority of vintage lenses on your electric current digital marvel with varying degrees of convenience and functionality. Regrettably it has also resulted in skyrocketing prices for some vintage lenses that have become cult classics.

The following are my personal 10 favorite vintage lenses to use on digital cameras. Go 'em quickly earlier someone else snaps them upward! (Scroll down to the bottom of this story to read my tips on choosing and using vintage lenses on digital cameras.)

1. 50mm f/2 Leitz Summar (uncoated)

The starting time "super-speed" f/2 normal lens for screw-mount Leicas, Leitz turned out 127,950 of these collapsible vi-chemical element, 4-group beauties from 1933-40. It's quite sharp in the center but soft at the edges at f/2; surprisingly sharp overall at f/five.6 on down, renders moderate contrast images with that classic  "roundness," and produces gorgeous bokeh.

Price range: $125-250

two. 85mm f/1.five Helios-40-2

Made in Russia from the mid '50s to the '90s this ponderous 6-element Double Gauss lens is said to be based on Zeiss Biotar blueprint and information technology'southward usually found in M42 (Pentax/Practica) mountain in blackness finish and transmission (pre-gear up) aperture configuration. It's non that sharp wide open up but it delivers the much sought subsequently "swirly bokeh" with backgrounds similar copse and flowers, and it's quite abrupt stopped downward. A new version of this lens re-introduced in 2022 is bachelor new and thankfully they oasis't "improved" information technology.

Price range: $300-500 (used or new)

3. 100mm f/2 Olympus OM Zuiko Automobile-T

Introduced forth with the multi-spot-metering Olympus OM-iv in 1983, this 7-chemical element, 6-group classic is one of the few Olympus lenses of its era to comprise ED drinking glass. It delivers outstanding sharpness even broad open, impressive color accurateness, and buttery smooth bokeh. It has a floating rear element to suppress distortion, is a superlative choice for portraiture, still life, or nature, and can focus down to 1:5 for stunning close-ups.

Price range: $500-800

four. 58mm f/2 Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar

Dating back to the '30s in uncoated form, this long-running half-dozen-element, four-group Gauss formula lens fabricated by the former Eastward German branch of Zeiss is typically found in Exakta or M42 screw mount. Information technology's precipitous wide open, especially about the center of the frame; produces superb flossy bokeh, and is a great lens for portraiture in crop-sensor or Micro Four Third Organization cameras where it provides a medium telephoto effective focal length.

Price range: $100-250

5. 100mm f/3.five Canon or Serenar

This exceptional 5-chemical element, iv-grouping medium telephoto Leica/Canon screw mount lens was beginning offered nether the Serenar name in silver finish in 1953 and later under the official company name Canon in black and silverish in 1958. Pictures taken with it have that classic await— sharp with excellent contrast, creamy bokeh, what they called luminance back in the mean solar day. Color rendition is too gorgeous, and its meaty size makes it great for travel.

Toll range: $100-160 (Note: If yous prefer a faster 100mm Canon screw mount lens, check out the 100mm f/ii Canon of the aforementioned era. It has similar imaging characteristics, only it's hefty, not quite as sweet equally the f/three.v—and it goes for $450-600.)

6. 35mm f/2.four Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon

The 6-chemical element, 5-group retrofocus design of this East German (DDR) classic dates dorsum to 1950, but the f/ii.4 version in easily adaptable M42 screw mount is the best of the agglomeration. It delivers outstanding sharpness and colour fidelity even wide open, and shut focusing downwardly to 7.five inches (!) in a compact, well-counterbalanced packet. Build quality is excellent, and its creamy bokeh is gorgeous.

Price range: $200-350 (Notation: The more than common 35mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon is an excellent economical culling at $100-150.)

seven. 35mm f/2 Leitz Summicron-M

In production from 1979-1996, the series IV, seven-element, v-grouping version of this exquisite lens (serial numbers 2974251-3880946) is widely hailed every bit the "Bokeh Rex" and commands fancy prices. Lately there'southward been considerable pushback from Leicaphiles asserting that the original eight-element version or the current ASPH. version are improve choices and accept fifty-fifty better bokeh. My verdict: The version IV I used on a Leica M9 captured images with that luminous rounded expect and had awesome bokeh, especially when stopped downward to f/4-5.six:

Price range: $2,000-3,500 (all types). (Annotation: A cool alternative is the pre-ASPH. version of the 50mm f/i.4 Summilux-M. which ranges from $1,500-2,500.)

8. 50mm f/ane.4 Super-Takumar

Asahi Optical Company of Pentax fame is known for its outstanding lenses and this 7-chemical element, half dozen-group Zeiss Planar-inspired archetype is certainly no exception. It has been produced in various iterations, e.yard. the Super-Multi-Coated and SMC Super Takumars, in both M42 and K mountain. All are excellent performers and opinion varies as to which is best. When information technology comes to beautiful image quality and gorgeous bokeh along with impressive sharpness at broad apertures, I cast my vote for the original non-multi-coated version in spiral mount.

Cost range: $60-100 (Other versions: $80-200)

9. 35mm f/i.8 Westward-Nikkor C

The first high-speed broad-angle for the Nikon S2 rangefinder camera of the 'l's, this high performance 7-element, v-grouping classic is surprisingly compact and uses rare earth lanthanum glass to heighten it'due south performance. It's amazingly sharp for a lens of its specs and era, has beautiful bokeh at wide apertures, and captures images with that indefinable vintage feel.

Price range: $500-800

10. 35mm f/2.8 Leitz Summaron
This nearly symmetrical 6-chemical element, four-grouping lens was announced in 1958 equally a slightly faster variation of the archetype 35mm f/3.5 Summaron, and is bachelor in 39mm Leica screw mount or K bayonet. Though compact and fairly calorie-free, it features solid, all metal structure and has a almost circular 10-bladed diaphragm to enhance its already creamy smoothen bokeh. Information technology captures images with a luminous vintage wait, but it'south at to the lowest degree every bit sharp as the 35mm f/2 Summicron ASPH or 35mm f/1.4 Summilux at moderate apertures and has excellent colour contrast. $700-1,200. More than economic alternatives: 35mm f/3.v Leitz Summaron.

Toll range: $250-$550; 35mm f/2.8 Catechism or Serenar in screw mountain: $200-350.

Tips on Buying & Using Vintage Lenses
An important word on adapters: opt for well-made, loftier quality lens adapters fifty-fifty if they price more; steer clear of adapters that include optical elements to permit your vintage lens focus to infinity, and practice an online search of the dozens conversation rooms on this discipline to notice the adapters and combinations that piece of work best.

Other things to consider:

1. Vintage lenses, peculiarly those made prior to WWII, exhibit greater sample- to-sample variation than modern lenses, and so if possible effort it before y'all buy it.
2. Many older lenses have mucus in the glass and balsam (optical cement) separation, both deal breakers. Tiny scratches or minor blemishes in the coating seldom affect image quality, but should lower the price. Check information technology out!
3. Uncoated lenses are quite prone to flare when shooting against the light, and unmarried-coated lenses are not every bit resistant to flare as multi-coated ones.
4. Check eBay for the price range of the lenses you desire to buy before you pull he trigger. The prices lenses take really sold for are the best guide to value.
5. Look for lower toll alternatives to lenses prized by collectors—a spiral-mount 100mm f/3.5 Canon is every bit skillful as a105mm f/vi.iii Mountain Elmar.

Where To Repair Old Olympus Lenses,

Source: https://www.shutterbug.com/content/our-10-top-vintage-lenses-use-digital-cameras

Posted by: smithdesichall74.blogspot.com

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