180mmf2 did i make a mistake buying one

Hi, just found this forum and it's good to talk olympus. Wish I had

posted this before I ordered though.

 

I am just waiting delivery of a 180/2 lens, long story but have wanted

a 180/2.8 for a while and seen them for around 700 - 900 US dollars

but never plucked up the courage to buy one. Then I found that you can

still buy them new for a little bit more and also the f2 180, 250 and

350, so figuring this is the last chance to get one I ordered the

180/2 (about third of olympuses list price and I reckon after my

searching that there are now four new ones left in the world outside

japan), dismissing the 250/350 as too heavy and that I would use the

180 more.

 

I am getting a lot of flack from the missus - she wanted a new roof

instead, but it's too late now. There was no way I would have invested

in it unless I had read about an adaptor to fit digital cameras - I

was hoping for the E-1 adaptor (olympus have just anounced in the UK

that they will not be releasing one - source amateur photographer)but

if need be then I will buy a canon. I am not planning to leave film

just yet but it's nice to be futureproof. But for the price of the

lens I could have bought an E-1 and a couple of lens though not the

new 300F2.8

 

so have I done right in paying a fortune for an old lens (in design)

or should I have switched manufacturer or even bought a new E-1. My

thinking was that an E-1 body would be worthless in a couple of years

and wasn't sure about the lenses, with internal AF they are more

likely to fail in several years than the old manual ones.

 

any comments to ease my guilty conscience for not spending it on the

roof.

I'd love to have that lens, but I don't think it sounds like a very "future proof" choice. Any adapter, assuming you can get one, is likely to lose your diaphragm automation and may also either lose infinity focus or degrade the image with a negative correcting element... all things I might put up with to keep using a lens I already had or to take advantage of a real bargain. But to spend enough money to pay for an E1 and a couple of lenses, and still face that kind of compromise, I don't think I'd have done that unless I was going to stick with film OM's for some time to come.

 

Sorry not to be more helpful.....

 

rick :)=

 

http://rick_oleson.tripod.com

Thanks Rick,

 

I am not planning to move to move away from film for a while, I have a digital compact, but still use the olympus film camera for the more serious shots - and I don't see that changing. I hope film will be here for a long time yet. The lens was a dream fullfilled, been using OM kit since my first camera (om10) 20 years ago.

 

I am aware of the limitations of using om lenses with adapters, but have seen some pretty good results from zuiko's with the eos to om adapter. Can't afford a digital body now until next year at least.

 

(olympus are very foolish in not releasing the adapter - how many would have like to have tried that and bought an E-1 body when the price drops and then once you have the body and you get fed up of the limits of using the old lenses you would end up buying new ones - i have sent my comments to olympus)

 

OK I admit it probably wasn't my most sensible decision, just hope I get some amazing photo's to justify it.

Personally, I'd like an OM to E1 adapter a lot; I already have the OM to Pen adapter and i got rid of my Pen tele lenses and use the OMs (with o auto diaphragm) on the Pen F and FT; and I'm one of those people who WOULD use them on the E1 if I had one and the adapter to permit it....

 

:)=<div></div>

There's enough of us out here lusting after that 180/2 that for the near term at least you'll likely recoup your investment if you change your mind.

The OM-to-EOS adapter <i>does</i> work, retaining infinity focus, but you lose auto diaphram - you get manual stop-down, which isn't so bad. As far as I can tell, it should also be possible to make a OM-to-E1 adapter, too - also retaining infinity focus. If Olympus won't supply one, another manufacturer will no doubt profit by supplying one. I'm wanting a 180/2.8: you f/2 version would be <i>way</i> too heavy for me!!

regarding the 180f2.8 - I was told by a few pros to forget that lens and buy the tamron 180 f2.5 instead - just passing on advice given. Yes the 180f2 is a heavy lens, but it's half the weight of the 250f2 and thats why I opted for it as I will carry it and hence use it more often. The shop has a new 250f2 ex demo lens for 3900 euros which is about 4900 USD. B and H still advertise a new 180f2 lens, but it has a local tax surcharge for me.

 

regarding the adapter - I have no doubt that if it was released it would fly off the shelves, I can see why they wont release it hoping people will just buy all new kit, but as you can get the adapter for eos I think they are being very foolish. as stated I expect someone will make an adapter for the om to four thirds system, and I dream a little here that someone will make adaptable digital backs, I mean it must be possible to modify backs from another manufacturer if necessary - is this not the age of inventiveness. shame silicon film never materialised.

Ian, you only live once... If it was a 'dream' of yours then I say good for you for getting one !!

 

Olympus is a wonderful brand and the film photos you will be able to take with this camera can be shared by your family for years and years to come (who knows if you can find a CD-reader 10-15 years from now...).

 

Should you after a while decide that you really need that roof - or realize that you don't use the lens that much anyway - I'm sure you can sell it and regain 70%+ of what you paid for it. If that's the case then see the 30% as 'rental fee' and divide that cost up by days you had the lens for and break that down for the wife :-)

 

Good luck!

I'd vote for a digital back for OM... I have more than one OM camera, but I love digital. A digital back which I could use on my film bodies would be perfect for me!! - and, I suspect, perfect for others out there too! I guess I'll just keep dreaming...

Regarding the 180/2.8 vs. the Tamron 180/2.5: The Tamron is a superior lens, as I've had and used both. The 180/2.8 is nice, but it has visible chromatic aberrations that the Tamron's ED glass eliminates. The Zuiko also gives up handling to the Tamron, as the my focusing mount tended to tighten a bit as you focused closer, wheras the Tamron's internal focusing eliminates that issue. And the Tamron is much cheaper.

 

On the big, white glass, the 180/2 is a spectacular lens, and one that will go great on a 10D or similar camera or an OM body. I've also owned all three of the white monsters and for my use, the 250/2 is the winner, as it has enough reach to be usable for sports, especially with the 1.4 or 2x, yet is not too long or heavy. The 350/2.8 is great, but it's quite a monster and longer than I needed for the sports that I was using it for. 11.5 pounds was more than I could deal with. The 180/2 is superb as a portrait lens or something for basketball. You'll be blown away by the quality of the images.

 

It's a shame that the OM-to-E1 adapter may never see the light of day because of some marketing guy's decision in Japan. It's never made it out of Japan, as I understand, and maybe was only made in a prototype form. I think that Olympus is being very shortsighted here. There are a significant number of Zuiko owners that would buy an E-1 just to use some of the older, more specialized OM-System lenses. But after using them in stop-down mode, I'd bet that most would opt for new, Zuiko-Digital lenses over 12-18 months. The only option those users now have is to buy a 10D or Digital Rebel, in which case they're likely lost to Canon forever.

I agree with your conclusion Skip - I see no reason to buy an E-1 as I could never afford it <i>and</i> the lenses to go with it. I have more than a couple of OM Zuiko lenses, which I'm very happy with, and I see no reason to trade them in on a new set of lenses (others have called me short-sighted; maybe I am!!). I bought a 10D, and I use the Zuikos on it as I obtained an adapter. I'm <i>very</i> happy with the 10D, and will be looking out for an affordable full-frame version (I'm sure they'll market one sooner or later, as we all know that they will sell like hotcakes!! Point is, if Canon supply the DSLRs for me, then likely I <i>will</i> be lost to them forever, at least as far as camera bodies go). Look, if Olympus won't market an adapter, someone else will: if Olympus doesn't want a share of that market, so be it...

Perhaps I should add that at least Olympus could sell a few more E-1 bodies <i>if</i> there's an adapter available to fit the old OM Zuikos onto it. And hey, if we're <i>using</i> the E-1, <i>maybe</i> we'd probably buy more <i>new</i> accessories for it in time... so <i>surely</i> Olympus could only be helping itself by keeping its old OM customers happy, as well as making money on the adapters themselves <i>if</i> they were to market them!

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Also, surely it wouldn't hurt Olympus to make a digital OM-5: a camera that is full-frame for the 35mm format, and that can accept the OM lenses. I mean, they could always market <i>new</i> versions of the lenses. Surely they would make money on this venture. If they made the lenses to the quality of the E-1 then they would sell... Anyway, I'm no market analyst, but there must be some way to keep the old OM users happy <i>and</i> make a profit <i>and</i> get a decent market share?!

Neil, I've seen this argument over and over on the Olympus List for years, about how Olympus should do something for us old OM-types because we are great guys, take great pictures, own a lot of old OM equipment, and by-golly, we're just swell.

 

Well, I faced the music years ago about 3-4 years after Olympus introduced the 35-80/2.8, the best zoom lens they ever made, and then.....nothing. The writing was on the wall that Olympus had missed the boat with AF and the OM system was going to be milked as a prestige line until something was ready to take over. Well, that "something" is the E-1 and Olympus doesn't care one rat's-ass about old OM-System types.

 

Over on the Olypmpus List, we were all VERY surprised when the almost mythical MA-1 OM-to-E-system adapter appeared on the E-system photo and the dealer price lists. Then the reality sank in as Olympus back-peddled on their "promise"...or was it just a tease...and said that the adapter wouldn't be released. For several years, Olympus America has told us that OM-System lenses COULD NOT be used on a DSLR satisfactorly, as the non parallel light rays would produce bad images on a CCD. Well, the successfly use of Zuiko lenses on the 10D has obviously proven all of those marketing jerks wrong. That doesn't mean that the optimum performance isn't achieved with Zuiko-Digital lenses, but to state that OM-System lenses were almost unusable was just ridiculous.

 

In the end, I'm sad to see Olympus abandon us OM'ers, but business economics are taking over and Olympus seems to have decided that the best way for them to build a new system is to make a total and complete break with the past. So it looks like no E-System to OM-System link will come, and we'll all be poorer for it. But when my E-1 system comes in the mail in a few weeks, I'll still enjoy the new Zuiko Digital lenses and long for the ability to put my 90/2 Zuiko Macro on the E-1 and get the equivilant of a 180/2 Macro. Wouldn't that be nice?

 

And if pigs had wings.............

Skip - the same guys that made the OM-to-EOS adapter, and who apparently make many other adapters too, will no doubt supply the new adapter for us at some stage. If Olympus refuses to produce it, I would happily buy from someone else. The lens registration distance for the E-1 (can't recall it right now) made it clear that an adapter which retains infinity focus is possible, and is in fact thicker than the 2mm of the above-mentioned OM-to-EOS adapter. No doubt, you are right that the pigs won't be cleared for take off any thime soon... Anyway, enjoy your E-1, I'm sure it will be nice to use!!

thanks for all the comments, I have no doubt that an adapter will come out maybe not from olympus, but someone will do it. I am loyal to olympus OM but not now to olympus as a company, so when I will look for a digital camera, I will go for the best one I can fit my lenses too, especially if the 180/2 is as special as everyone says. Its a shame that I am not wealthy enough at the moment to be able to buy any of the current 35mm digital backs to see If I can adapt them to my olympus. Maybe when the price of these drops I will have an experiment, or maybe its just easier to get the lens mounts converted when eventually I have to move to digital.

 

good look with the E-1 and I look forward to the reviews

I have just got the lens today, will try it out over the weekend.

I noticed this comment "Over on the Olypmpus List," could someone give the URL to that please as this is the only active newsgroup re olympus I have come across.

 

thanks once again ian

The Olympus mailing list can be found here:

 

http://zuiko.sls.bc.ca/~swright/olympuslist.shtml

 

A good list, but some of the OT talk can be obnoxious. Also, check out this resources (and the links) for good OM info:

 

http://olympus.dementia.org/eSIF/om-sif.htm

 

Enjoy the 180/2!

To get more pleasure from yr 180 f2 lens, go to photos4u.dk and I bet you will say..I wish I could take photos like that.. I did, even after 60 years of trying to improve with Feininger, etc...photography.. The point I now make is that Ole, the man whose 400 photos will amaze u, uses a 180, (Zeiss, sorry,) for at least 25% of all his shots...Look at his 180 shots and learn..What an education that guy is!! ALSO...If any u Olympus fans know where Ican buy an adaptor to use the 500 zuiko mirror on EOS body?..Thanks..

This has been an interesting thread - regarding the E1-OM adaptor, I have wondered if a specialist shop like SRB in the UK would be able to make one (without being sued by Olympus!). They are here:

 

<a href=http://www.srbfilm.co.uk>http://www.srbfilm.co.uk</a>

 

You would probably have to hand over the E1 body to them for a bit for them to figure out dimensions - not sure I'd want to do that!

 

Bill

This post has made for some very interesting readers for OM users everywhere. A camera tech-o in New York said he thinks an independent maker will manufacture a Zuiko-to-E1 lens adapter if Olympus doesn't.

 

The key now is to wait and see what happens. A digital back for OM bodies? Possible, but perhaps it will not be Olympus itself who manufactures such an item.

 

I have been looking at going digital for a while, simply because that's what some clients request or expect, even if you try to convince them that tranny film is better/nicer/more archival or whatever.

 

So, can someone tell me where I can get my hands on the Olympus/EOS adapter you mention? Who makes it, and where can I buy one? What functions are lost? Does the viewfinder in the EOS go dark at all but maximum aperture? Which EOS does it fit?

 

I believe there is also an adapter for putting Nikon lenses onto OM bodies (so, we have choice after all!) but again, where do I get one?

 

In regards to the OM monster white lenses, yes the 180 is a beautiful optic. Good for indoor sports on small fields - ice hockey, figure skating and basketball are just a few sports activities that immediately spring to mind - if you can focus in time!

 

The lens has just the right focal length and the ultra fast maximum aperture. (And there's also the manual focus Nikon 200/2 and Canon AF 200/1.8.)

 

As for the 250 and 350, the 250 is indeed the sharper of the two. But the 350 is still a very good lens. As with all monster lenses, you've got to handle it with care if you want the best results. Such lenses are always unforgiving of people with sloppy technique!

 

The 350's design is a superb and intelligent blend of the more usual 300 and 400mm focal lengths. I'm happy with mine, although it often gets mistaken for a Canon lens when shooting sport. It might weigh four kilograms, but it's lighter than lugging both a 300mm and 400mm around, me thinks.

 

Can't wait to test the new E1 digital and its 300mm f/2.8 (equivalent = 600mm f/2.8) telephoto. But, in the meantime, can someone provide some meaningful info or links for the OM-to-EOS and Nikon-to-OM adapters?

Olympus are giving away the OM lens adapter to all registered E-1 users from February ... but you have to claim one ... and supplies will be limited. See:

 

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=7298349

 

.... yet another reason why OM users (who cannot afford to buy the E-1) should consider buying that OM-EOS adapter!

In regards to Ian Wilcox's concern about buying into "an old lens design", the OM Zuiko optics are very good and there is nothing wrong with using manual focus equipment.

 

(This can, however, depend on subject matter. Sports photography is an obvious example in which AF would be helpful.)

 

Shooting sport with manual focus lenses is challenging, but perhaps the 180mm f/2 lens will perform better at this than a zoom. (I figure zooming AND manually focusing during sports is a hard task.)

 

As for the 250mm f/2 lens, it is one of the sharpest photographic lenses NASA has ever tested. It is THE sharpest of all Zuiko OM brand lenses. (I don't know why NASA tests lenses, but they do.)