Are Olympus Zuiko The GOAT Vintage Lenses?

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[EricPalmerBlog]

Interesting to see someone still doing this.

From 1980 to 2008 I was a photographer in the USAF. For me anyway, we used Nikons because: that is what was issued to us; they take a beating; you can put a lot of film through them without mechanical failure. For me, they always worked. Even then, you had two camera bodies on you so if one did fail, you could still do an assignment.

With that said, I have used the Olympus OM-1n, 24mm, 50mm, 135mm, 200mm extensively. They were a heck of a lot lighter. THAT counts for a lot as if you are shooting often, you get fatigued. 2x OMs around the neck and if doing close in work, one was with a 50mm the other a 24mm. Usually photographing a lot of uncontrolled events.

The ergonomics of the OM-1 (I have not shot the OM-10 so I can't speak on that), make it much more useful than a lot of other cameras.

You are on to something with the lenses, at least the ones I have used. I thought the images (for me Kodachrome and Ektachrome) are of really good contrast.

And as for reliability. I did not have one fail on me, which for me negates the alleged advantage of the Nikon since you can buy a lot more Olympus equipment for the dollar. And if you do damage an OM-1 or whatever, it is cheap to replace.

I still have an OM-1 and a 50mm on the shelf. I only shoot digital now, so whatever.

Thanks for sharing. Keep up the good work.

[RichardMaguire]

I bought my OM-2 in 1993 and was more than impressed by Zuiko lenses. Yoshihisa Maitani said the lens is the soul of the camera and while he was at Olympus he made sure the lenses produced the most beautiful immages.

[mersea.]

Great video. I agree about the quality of Zuiko lenses. My dad was a professional photographer, a photojournalist, and a photography professor. When he passed away, I inherited his gear: Olympus OM2S & a plethora of amazing glass. I’ve been shooting with it since 1992 when I took my first darkroom class and started working at a camera store. I’ve seen many types of cameras, lenses, & gear over the years but I am still as in love with my Olympus gear as I was 30 years ago. I bought Nikon film & later digital gear to get auto focus, etc. I got an amazing deal because of where I worked. I have a collection of gear after working in the industry for 19 years, but my Olympus is definitely my fave gear. I witnessed the very beginning of digital photography and later saw film cameras practically being thrown away. People literally donated large amounts of cameras and lenses to my store because they didn’t know what to do with it. It makes me happy to watch your videos. I thought the world killed film and I’m glad that it isn’t dead. Thanks for sharing your content. -Merry in Virginia, US

[tompoynton]

I have the very rare and sought-after Zuiko 35mm f/2 and along with my 28mm f/2.8 and 50mm f/1.8 are my three very favourite lenses, along with my beautiful all-black OM-2n body. I’ve shot OM’s all my life and will never shoot anything else

[AlexanderHernandez-sblq]

I have an Olympus Om-1 with the 50mm 1.8 lens and I love it. ZUIKO lenses are definitely special, and I can't wait to try more of their ZUIKO lens line up.

[pedrol.]

Those Zuiko lenses work great with the Sony A7… series. They are fantastic, they are fun to play and they have something special. All at a very little price.

[akisoga]

The Olympus OM-1 the 50mm f1.8 was my first serious camera - bought back in the 70s from one of the big discount camera shops in Shinjuku when I was studying in Tokyo. I chose it over the Nikon FM because it just felt better in my hand. I loved that kit even with a buggy light meter for it's size that let me carry it everywhere. It was stolen in the 80s and a friend gave me a Canon to replace it, but I still miss that first OM1.

[DATApushr]

I had a bit of a love affair back in 2014 with my vintage G.Zuiko Auto lenses on my A7 at the time. I spent 3 months in Japan and I've never had more fun with photography, before or after. I've got the 50 1.4 and the 35 f2, absolutely amazing lenses. I own a lot of different lenses, old and new and there's something magical about those vintage Zuikos.

[chrispatmore]

I started shooting with an Olympus OM-1 in 1978. It was the third camera I'd tried. I'm still shooting on OM-1 (and OM-2) today. It was their compactness, design and lenses that got me hooked. My two go-to lenses were 24mm f/2.8 and the 50mm f/1.8, and still are, even though I now have a full range of Zuiko glass up to a 190mm f/2.8. I travelled all over Australia and Asia with them. Those lenses and Kodachrome produced fantastic images. When I went digital, I stuck with Olympus for a while because of the Zuiko glass, but then had a 10 year affair with Canon, but I saw the error of my ways and have gone back to Olympus for digital, and the Zuiko lenses are still as stunning as ever, and even sharper. Even though the Olympus camera division no longer exists, the legacy of Maitani lives on.

[kamranhkhan]

Got a notification from fstoppers for this video link. So happy to finally see people acknowledge the quality of zuiko glass which IMO is so under rated. I love my Zuiko 50mm f1.8, Zuiko 135mm f3.5, Zuiko 135mm f2.8 and finally the Zuiko 200mm f4. Super sharp lenses with amazing contrast and character.

[OneMonthTwoCameras]

Yes to everything here! Huge zuiko fan and loved the edit and opening to this review!!

[mariotheotaku]

The Olympus OM 4Ti and the 50mm 1.2 were my first film camera setup and it is still one of my favorite combo that I have.

[theadamtron]

Hey Lucy! So glad I discovered you. I just got a Olympus e-p5 camera on my photography journey and loved this history lesson and listening to you share your passion.

[PeteCocoPhoto]

I always loved the Olympus gear. When I worked at a camera store in the 2000s, I was able to play with all the great used gear side by side, and the OM series were always some of my favorites. Great vid, Lucy!

[thescotlandeffect]

Just can't beat Olympus with a Zuiko lens, I look forward to watching more of your Olympus experience. I'm currently shooting with an old OM2 and a 28mm Zuiko lens which I mainly use here in Glasgow, just got a roll back today and was amazed by the pictures. So yes Olympus with Zuiko all the way.

[peterlund]

Nice to see that you are testing the camera that I bought in 1982 and it was my first camera. I only got to know how good this cameras was, as I was progressing in my photography and getting to the point where I went from Nikon over canon eos to Leica. Now you won’t believe it, I still have those zuiko lenses and I use them on my Leica too. So cheers from Germany and happy shooting 😊

[olympusOM]

Hi Lucy. You are the Olympus OM-10 girl. Very nice shots by the way. I started with the same combo back in 1979. 1980 followed the OM 2-N and later a used OM-1N. I have still all this Cameras.
Olympus OM is known for its small and light designs. Olympus in this department beats all other Companies in the 70s and 80s. Designer Yoshihisa Maitani was a genius.

My recommendations:
21mm f3, 5
24mm f2.8
28mm f2
35mm f2.8
85mm f2
100mm f2.8
135mm f 2, 8

If someone could afford more.
This are the expansive and rare power lenses:
18mm f3, 5
50mm f2 Makro
90mm f2 Makro
100mm f2

[palmerino]

Ho iniziato a fotografare nel 1985 con una Olympus Om4 e lo Zuiko 50mm f/3, 5 macro.
Nel tempo ho acquistato il 18mm, il 24mm f:2, il 35mm f:2, il 55mm f:1, 2, il 90 mm f:2 macro ed il 180mm f:2, 8 con il moltiplicatore 1, 4x.
Nel reportage (matrimoni, teatro... ) ero a mio agio e per la compattezza del sistema ed anche la discrezione duranto lo scatto, poco rumoroso.
Nel tempo ho acquistato la Om4ti e Om3 per avere (come con la 0m4) una precisione nellla esposizione con le diapositive insuperabile grazie alla misurazione multi spot.
Con il digitale sono rimasto in casa Olympus nel sistema 4/3 e poi micro 4/3.
Ancora oggi uso una reflex E-5 Oly professionale (l'ultima della serie) anche con i vecchi Zuiko Om che ho conservato, mentre altri li ho venduti.
Infine con la Panasonic G9 e l'adattatore Metabones 0, 64x... di fatto quasi ripristino angolo e profondità di campo delle ottiche Zuiko Om sul micro 4/3.
Ad esempio lo Zuiko 55mm diventa un 35mm f:0, 8 !!!!
Posso fotografare con pochissima luce ambiente. ;)

la pellicola non la uso dal 2004... e va bene così: la vita è bellissima.

[tedphillips]

Olympus cameras & lenses are very under rated thankfully. I have an OM1 & OM4 with several lenses purchased reasonably because people seem to pass them by. As you have mentioned the size & the quality is amazing. Love them. Another good video. Thanks!

[dorothykey]

my very first film camera was an olympus OM-10 from my grandfather, I absolutely loved it! I then got an OM-1 several years later that I still use, my mom and I think Zuiko glass is totally the best! Great reveiw as always :)