Zuiko 200mm f4 OM fit
 

Hello

Has anyone used this lens? I am looking to buy one but I don't know if it's worth it.

What sort of photography are lenses in this focal length suited to?

Any advice appreciated

Alex

A bit puzzled by this one Alex. Is the focal length just a fancy, or are you thinking of particular applications.

Don

Alex,

Ha.ha. Googling for info and I saw your post on APUG.
This may help. The lens has a minimum focus of 2.5mtrs. I have just tried my Nikon 200 on a full frame camera and at that minimum distance against a tape measure you will get 46 inches wide in frame.

I have no idea how that lens performs at minimum distance. May be good, maybe not. I'll example that with my Nikkor 105mm f2.5. Stunning beyond 18ft but not so closer, and that has a minimum focussing distance of 1mtr.

In your position I would be looking at the 85mm f2. I would expect that to be well corrected for near use and useable at f2 for nicely blown background.

Of course there is also the 135mm f2.8 or f3.5 that may be worth checking out as they have closer focussing distance than the 200mm.
135mm at min distance against a tape measure will get 38 inches wide in frame.

Don

Worth looking at on the 135mm f3.5.
Quote the interesting bit .... " This highly portable Zuiko tele-lense has built among the users with a fine reputation in able to deliver uniform image quality throughput the entire focusing range with high resolution and contrast for maximum edge-to-edge sharpness across all aperture range from f/3.5 to f/22. As one of the smallest lenses capable of producing true telephoto effects, with additional features in a practical design, excellent lense handling, a moderately fast maximum lense speed and a highly affordable price, it is an ideal addition to any photographer's equipment as well as a perfect lense to start off as a second lense for beginners. "

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography...mls/135mm1.htm

Don

Hi, yes I did also post on APUG, they are a large and knowledgeable community when it comes to old rubbish like this.

The 135mm f3.5 is an impressive lens, however I already own the equally impressive 100mm f2.8, which is why I was looking at the 200mm.

The 200mm has a 1:3 macro ratio as well so it does focus pretty close.

Well probably only you can answer that one now. In what way is the 100mm not meeting your needs ?

Don

Good question. I guess I need to get closer to stuff...The main reason I'm considering it is because it's being offered to me at the bargain-bucket price of £15, otherwise I wouldn't have considered it.

Well £15 is hardly going to break the bank is it, you might as well go for it as long as it is in full working order I would have thought. Mind you I have an Olympus OM1 and OM10 complete with two 50mm lenses 35mm wide angle and 135 f3.5 in perfect working order bar needing new light traps on the OM1 that I do not know what to do with so you could always tempt me instead! The OM1 had an update done to it so it takes a modern battery and the OM10 has a manual adapter fitted.

Well as Mike has said for £15 you cannot go far wrong.
As for the 1:3 macro ratio then there is no reference to that in either of these links. Both quote minimum focus distance of 2.5 mtrs.
http://www.datasync.com/~farrar/zuiko.html
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography...tmls/200mm.htm

Don

Which 2 50mm lenses are they

Seller says the 200mm is fairly well used but optical quality is still good, and for £15 you're right, can't go far wrong.

...Always an excuse for buying more camera stuff!

Hi Alex

I had one of these lenses for years, it's a top performer, unfortunately it's minimum focussing distance was a bit of a let down and it's short focal length was just too short for general wildlife photography. I traded it in for a Tamron 60-300 SP Zoom, now that was a cracking lens. Incidentally, the Zuico 200 I had didn't have macro focussing, it's closest focus was about 8 feet from the film plane.

nirofo.

Both are 50mm f1.8. Also have a 28mm f2.8. All like new as far as I can tell without checking the apertures don' stick.

All great lenses, especially the tiny sharp 28mm - one of my favourites. Incidentally do you use your OM setup often?

No, I have never even used the cameras. The OM1 was a silver wedding anniversary present from my dad to my mum and the OM 10 was a present from my mum to my dad because he kept nicking her OM1. When mum died dad kept the cameras and lenses although never used them again and now dad has recently died I have got them. Like I say I do not really know what to do with them as they have sentimental value as the only personal keep sake I have got but I have my digital cameras which I use all the time plus a goodly collection of my own Canon film cameras and lenses, both FD mount and EOS. I must say the Olympus cameras, especially the OM1, and lenses are absolutely beautiful and a joy to handle - they don't make them like that any more.

If they're in good condition the full setup would fetch 200-300 pounds on Ffordes, but if you're not willing to sell that's fine.

I used to use a Leica R3 (which shares a body with some Minolta) and after using the OM-1 it just looks and handles like an ugly brick in comparison - far larger, heavier and less ergonomic. Olympus actually did ergonomic studies when designing the OM-1 to find out the perfect dimensions for something that's pretty much square (no chunky rubberised handgrips). It's a shame for such a beautifully made camera to sit unused. Perhaps you should grab some Ektar or HP125 and chuck it in - who knows, you might get a nice surprise.

Anyway, I think I will buy the 200mm, for £15 it's cheaper than a 3rd-party lens, feels like stealing really.

Give them a space on a bookshelf or some other nook in your house, keep them out on display, but in a less prominent location. They are aesthetic objects in many ways, take them out and love them as the pieces of enigineering that they are.

If the camera had feelings (I like to think mine do, sentimental fool that I am) it would be very offended at being reduced to an ornament. It's like buying a wonderful work of art and locking it up in a bank vault for no-one to see.