jaapv Posted July 19, 2015 Share #1 Posted July 19, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've been trying out the Olympus Zuiko 75-150. The advantages: It costs next to nothing, Very light Compact Useful focal range. The price was increased somewhat by giving it a CLA by Will van Manen but the ebay price was 39 Euro for a near-mint lens. In use it did not disappoint. The rendering is nice and matches my Leica lenses The center is very sharp, the edges and corners more than adequate. The lens shows distortion, especially at the 75 mm end, easily corrected in PS Quite noticable CA, again easily removed in PS Slightly blueish-greenish colour cast (PS again) Pleasing bokeh. This is a lens that really benefits from the possibilities that postprocessing gives us, placing it at a higher level than it can be on film. It has earned its place in my bag travelling for those occasional longer focal length shots. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/247975-small-light-versatile-cheap-travel-lens/?do=findComment&comment=2857006'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 19, 2015 Posted July 19, 2015 Hi jaapv, Take a look here Small, light, versatile, cheap travel lens. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted July 19, 2015 Author Share #2 Posted July 19, 2015 . Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/247975-small-light-versatile-cheap-travel-lens/?do=findComment&comment=2857008'>More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 19, 2015 Author Share #3 Posted July 19, 2015 Off-centre crop Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/247975-small-light-versatile-cheap-travel-lens/?do=findComment&comment=2857009'>More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 19, 2015 Author Share #4 Posted July 19, 2015 Grab shot - what this lens is for. I like the Bokeh. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/247975-small-light-versatile-cheap-travel-lens/?do=findComment&comment=2857012'>More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 19, 2015 Author Share #5 Posted July 19, 2015 Obviously it needs a crop, but for demonstration the whole frame. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/247975-small-light-versatile-cheap-travel-lens/?do=findComment&comment=2857013'>More sharing options...
DMJ Posted July 19, 2015 Share #6 Posted July 19, 2015 Jaap, The eye shield on the EVF is that to help with using glasses? If so where did you get it please? Regards, Martin Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted July 19, 2015 Share #7 Posted July 19, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) How about the Summicron-C 40/2. Step back for a 35mm FOV and step forward for a 50mm FOV. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted July 19, 2015 Share #8 Posted July 19, 2015 The eye shield is a standard Olympus accessory and is useful when wearing spectacles. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 19, 2015 Author Share #9 Posted July 19, 2015 Is useful in general cutting out stray light. The EVF has a good diopter correction. I think glasses put the eye too far from the diopter, and the eyecup would worsen that effect. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 19, 2015 Author Share #10 Posted July 19, 2015 How about the Summicron-C 40/2. Step back for a 35mm FOV and step forward for a 50mm FOV. How would that get you 75-150 mm? And how would you manage to photograph the squirrel without chasing it away and the boat without drowning? I have the Summicron 40/2. Very nice but different use. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carduelis Posted July 19, 2015 Share #11 Posted July 19, 2015 I have had similar thoughts about trying to find a lightweight telephoto lens for my Leica M. I believe the Nikon E series 75-150 may be another alternative as well as perhaps a Nikon 135 mm F3.5 lens as a prime lens. Although I can handle my 90 mm Summarit lens OK, I think I might struggle with heavier 135 mm Leica lenses; I have not got the steadiest of hands. The prices of these lenses are poles apart. I have just seen your Olympus lens advertised for about 35 euros. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 20, 2015 Author Share #12 Posted July 20, 2015 But do have it cleaned. These older zoom lenses are not that well sealed and usually have considerable dust and haze on the lens elements reducing contrast. Mine even had the beginning of fungus (fortunately without any damage to the glass). I did not get an expensive Novoflex adapter, I ebayed a midrange Chinese one for about 30 Euro, and it is excellent and well made. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted July 20, 2015 Share #13 Posted July 20, 2015 How would that get you 75-150 mm? And how would you manage to photograph the squirrel without chasing it away and the boat without drowning? I have the Summicron 40/2. Very nice but different use. I did not realize the thread only applied to zoom/long lenses. Sorry. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 20, 2015 Author Share #14 Posted July 20, 2015 No problem, I like the Summicron 40 as a supercompact versatile too. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bocaburger Posted July 22, 2015 Share #15 Posted July 22, 2015 Glad it worked out for you! The convenience of a zoom can't be beat, particularly a long one, because many subjects are too far away for foot-zooming to be effective. Someone mentioned the 75-150 Series-E Nikkor...an excellent lens optically but many of them are found with loose sloppy zoom mechanisms not fixable by a simple re-lube. The Oly lens is extremely robust by comparison. I'm partial to the 70-210/4 R lens, which I have not found needs any PP corrections, and compared to the 80-200/4 it's fairly light and small, though it would dwarf the Oly. Very tempted. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted July 22, 2015 Share #16 Posted July 22, 2015 Is useful in general cutting out stray light. The EVF has a good diopter correction. I think glasses put the eye too far from the diopter, and the eyecup would worsen that effect. Not my experience Jaap. But I agree with the shielding effect. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmahto Posted July 23, 2015 Share #17 Posted July 23, 2015 (edited) The advantage here (for zukio) is 1) price and 2) zoom convenience. I agree BUT I would rather have 90mm Macro Elmar M (which is permanently in my bag) and Voigtlander 180 Lanthar (weight 430g compared to Zukio's 430g !!) I will only lose convenience of zoom and some extra $$ (one time only) and in return, I get corner to corner CA free sharp pic with the most beautiful bokeh. Not disagreeing with OP, but showing alternative option for travel. Edit: I re-read the title and it says "small", "light", "versatile" and "cheap". My setup misses out on "cheap" part only. Edited July 23, 2015 by jmahto Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmahto Posted July 23, 2015 Share #18 Posted July 23, 2015 (edited) Going back to old MF lenses, I am surprised how good many of the old lenses are after PP. I have bunch of Konica AR glass (ranging from $10 to $100) and I can use each one of them without any hesitation. Even Hexar lenses are pretty good (compared to better Hexanons). Recently I did a comparison between $50 Konica 57mm 1.4 hexanon wide open with 50mm lux ASPH and found the bokeh of Konica to be nicer !! The reason was little longer FL (57 vs 50) and little softness (hint of dreamy) wide open. I can use the Konica for portraits in a heartbeat (and I am not talking about 57mm 1.2 which is costly). This lens stopped down to f8 matches sharpness of lux for infinity as well. We are comparing $50 to $4000. BTW, my avatar on the left has Konica AR 135 f/3.2 on M240. Edited July 23, 2015 by jmahto 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmahto Posted August 21, 2015 Share #19 Posted August 21, 2015 ...... I would rather have 90mm Macro Elmar M (which is permanently in my bag) and Voigtlander 180 Lanthar (weight 430g compared to Zukio's 430g !!) ..... Gave up resisting the GAS and bought Zuiko 75-150. Shipping, adapter everything was just above $100. In two week's time I will run the test. (Only sometimes I talk to myself) Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmahto Posted September 3, 2015 Share #20 Posted September 3, 2015 Got this lens and took some test shots. Compared with 80-200Vario R f/4. My impression: On M240: - Color and rendering good. - At f4 the corners and edges soft enough not suitable for landscape. Some CA in high contrast. Note that I am comparing with 80-200 Vario R. - Stopped to f5.6, it is kind of OK in edges and corners if you are not critical. I didn't test at f8. Now my surprise: - On Nex6 (crop sensor), it is very good even at f4. I compared M240+80-200vario@200mm with Nex6+Zuiko@150mm and they are very close at f4. I am not surprised that on FF it is less than the better lens. I paid $40 for EX++ condition. therefore I should not complain. For non-landscape use it is very fine lens on M240. I have decided to use it with Nex6. The camera+lens is 2lb !! (in comparison 80-200vario+M adapter is 2.4lb - just the lens).Thanks Jaap for this under appreciated gem. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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