Best Third Party Zoom Lenses Ever for Olympus OM?

<p>Dennis, I have to ask this question:</p>

<p>Is the Voiglander lens, Color Zoomar 24-70/4, produced by a Japanese contract company, such as Cosina?</p>

<p>I was a BIG user of the old Voiglander Bessamatic (circa 1967-1976) and also have the old Zoomar 28-72mm f/2.8 lens, the first zoom production lens for 35mm cameras. That's why I'm curious as to who actually produced the Color Zoomar for Voigtlander.</p>

<p>As far as I'm concerned it is Cosina. Rob also confirmed so a few posts earlier. I wasn't sure since Cosina bought the brand just in 1999 and this lens looks like something from the age of all-metal dinosaurs :) But apparently it was among the latest lenses produced for the OM system.</p>

<p>One more :)</p><div></div>

<p>I like how it uses the same diamond pattern rubbers as the Zuikos. Blends right in for an OM kit.</p>

 

<p>Hi folks</p>

<p>Hoping for some advice please. A few months ago i was just given an OM-1n with a Zuiko 50mm f1.8, a Hoya 28mm f2.8 and a Hoya 80-205mm f3.8 macro HMC selection of lenses. I've had the OM-1n and my 50mm lens cleaned and serviced but haven't really given either of my newly acquired Hoyas much thought at all recently .... That is until i found this post! </p>

<p>Upon examination both Hoyas seem to be in good condition .... I can't see any real signs of dust or growth through the glass, and as far as i can tell there are no marks on the optics ..... But something else that i can't see which is worrying me is when i turn the aperture ring, i can't see the diaphram changing size .... This is the same for both Hoyas. Is this just the way that these lenses are?! My gut instinct is that these lenses need servicing .... I'd consider sending them away at some point if these lenses were really worth the expense .... I'm not convinced?! </p>

<p>However, as i don't have a telephoto zoom for my OM-1n, do any of you think it is worth me servicing/repairing my Hoya 80-205mm zoom? Has anyone used this lens and been pleased or even impressed with its performance? Particularly on a manual OM body? Or should i dismiss this lens as a poor quality 3rd party zoom? .... I have seen a mint condition Carl Zeiss Jena 70-210mm f4.5/f5.6 macro online .... </p>

<p>Appreciate any advice given<br>

Donaldo</p>

 

<p>Denis great photos from your Olympus OM Voigtlander Color Zoomar 24-70mm f4 zoom lens, lovely soft pastel colors and sharpness in your photographs, thank you for sharing here!</p>

<p>Donaldo I read in another recent post that you purchased a Olympus OM Carl Zeiss Jena 70-210mm f4.5/f5.6 macro zoom lens. How do you like this lens? Have you shot with it yet? Is it the Jenazoom Series I or II? Feel free to post photos here.</p>

<p>As you probably read I have shot with the Olympus OM Carl Zeiss Jenazoom 75-300mm f4.5/f5.6 Series I macro and it is a great lens, sharp and excellent color saturation. It was a Series I. I read once on a brochure that there were "improvements" with the Series II Zeiss Jenazooms. I can't find the brochure so I don't remember exactly what the improvements were but I think it was better lens multi- coating to reduce lens flare or maybe APO glass? I also shot with a very rare Carl Zeiss Jenazoom 75-300mm 4.5/5.6 AF EF Jenazoom for Canon EOS (see photo in this thread) on the digital Canon 5D camera and that lens was indeed APO glass. The quality from the photos was amazing. In any case, the quality of the Jenazoom Series II should be better than the Series I zooms. Also check out your lens "macro feature" this was a very cool feature with my Carl Zeiss 75-300mm it was 1:3 life size macro. How it works is that you "zoom in" to your subject on the telephoto range and focus. None of these Jenazoom lenses are "true macro lenses" like a flat field macro lens which is the real deal, but it is decent low-cost macro.<strong> For certain the Jenazoom Series II have a new "blue ring" on the barrel </strong>so check that out. As I mentioned before these lenses were manufactured by Sigma but supervised and licensed by Carl Zeiss Jena. Sigma made great lenses and many IMO were "above average" zoom lenses, so you should expect similiar quality in these Jenazooms.</p>

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<p>Just for those interested in the Zoomar line one has come up on the bay. It appears to be maybe pre-Cosina? It's a 36-82mm f/2,8, anybody familiar with these? Looks quite retro.</p>