OM Lenses on E510/520

<p>I'm curious about focusing OM lenses on the E510 and E520 bodies. Is it a fussy procedure to get the correct focus or as simple as it would be on an OM body? Thanks</p>

<p>I haven't used the E510 or E520, but in general it is a bit different focusing on a digital body vs. a manual-focus film body.</p>

<p>If you have a traditional optical viewfinder on a digital camera, it generally lacks the focusing aids that are built into manual-focus viewfinders, such as microprisms and split-image rangefinders, because the camera's design is optimized for autofocus. On the other hand, your camera may provide focus confirmation by having AF points in the finder light up.</p>

<p>If you don't have an optical finder, or if you prefer to compose and focus using the back panel LCD display, then the shooting experience is quite different. Determination of correct focus may require you to zoom the LCD display and focus while being able to see only a small fraction of the image.</p>

<p>If I were going to use OM lenses on a modern Olympus digital camera, I'd buy one of the Digital Pen models, either the EP-2 or EPL-2, with the optional electronic viewfinder. I have read that this works very nicely because the electronic viewfinder provides (perhaps unintentionally?) a sort of Moire-like "shimmering" effect on the part of the image that is correctly focused. This seems like an acceptable substitute for traditional focusing aids.</p>

<p>The E5xx models (as well as E4xx and E620 models) have very small, dim finders. Way too dim and small for me to accurately focus manually.</p>

<p>Yep, the Pens, especially with the eyelevel VF2 finder, makes manual focusing a breeze. Better than any focus aid in a film SLR, you can set the Pen to where the screen will magnify to 10x when you touch the focus ring to make manual focusing extremely, extremely easy. I use my 12-60 f2.8-4 SWD Zuiko on my E-PL1 and manual focus. Easy as cake and a lot of fun.</p>

<p><a href="http://gmchappell.smugmug.com/Other/Olympus-E-PL1/13342422_j5raf#1050309976_7P4aw"><img id="lightBoxImage" src="http://gmchappell.smugmug.com/Other/Olympus-E-PL1/PA161848/1050309976_7P4aw-XL.jpg" alt="" /></a></p>

 

Unlike Greg's experience I find the screen on my E-410 to be plenty bright but of course small. I use my OM Zuikos and other lenses on the 410 but manual focus is hit and miss. The problem is that the built in screen is optimized for brightness and not contrast. You focus on contrast and not brightness. There are aftermarket screens available that with some care are user interchangeable, These screens have a split wedge focusing aid that should help with most manual focus lenses. They are not cheap at about $105~$200 but may be a viable option if one intends to use manual focus lenses often on the E series SLR's. Check out Katz-Eye, a google search will locate their site. One thing to note about these aftermarket screens is that the little red auto focus lights will not appear on them but auto focus will still function normally with compatible lenses. Quite honestly I think I'm going to purchase a micro 4:3 Olympus camera, most likely the EPL2, and the electronic VF for it. There is no way I can check it out without a long trip so I'll have to rely on others reported satisfaction with the manual focus feature. With adapters I can mount my OM, M42, Leica M and LTM and my Pen F mount lenses.

<p>I have a collection of OM lenses and recently bought an E-510. Absolutely love the combination of gear. I've been keeping my OM lenses mounted on the camera and stock digital zoom in the bag most of the time.<br>

Focusing hasn't been a problem. I usually just rack the focus back and forth a little to find the sharp focus point. When I'm using 'tele' lenses, the plane of focus is very shallow... which is nice for dramtic effect but does require closer attention to overall focus.<br>

Mostly, i love how fast the OM lenses are, allowing me to shoot in lower light situations then the stock zoom.<br>

I'd say go for it... you wont be dissapointed.</p>