Olympus EVOLT with non ZUIKO Lenses - Question

06/10/2006 01:16:33 PM · #1

Hey all...hopefully some of the few with the olympus dSLRs can chime in and help me out.

I've got the E500 with both kit lenses, and would like get another lens or two in the near future, but am a bit deterred by the cost and lack of selection of 4/3 lenses. I received my cam as a christmas gift, and I'm thrilled with it, but feel like my hands are tied when it comes to upgrades and accessories.

Can anyone share some info regarding using the EVOLT with non-Zuiko, 4/3, Olympus lenses, etc? I know that adapter rings can be purchased for OM lenses (this is the older Olympus lens mount, correct?). Can adapters be purchased for lenses such as Nikon or Canon mounts as well?

Whatever the case, what are the consequences of using the adapters and other lenses? What functionality is lost in the process, and how does one make up for that (AF vs. MF is obvious, but what about metering, shutter speed, etc). Is the camera able to communicate with the lens, or what?

Again, I'm new at this, so I apologize if my questions have somewhat obvious answers. I've tried to search, and have been looking at the 4/3 websites and the such, but the info for anything other than Canon and Nikon seems limited.

Thanks in advance!
Mike

PS - I guess I should mention that I'm looking to have a good wide-angle, maybe a macro, and then something in between (keep the kit lenses?)

Am I better off looking for lens attachments to accomplish these goals on a limited amount of money e.g. macro filters that screw on in front of the lens, wide-angle screw-on attachments, extension tube (not quite sure how this works or how it affects the functionality the camera currently has...).

Thanks again!

w24x192

Canon PowerShot S50

06/10/2006 01:32:23 PM · #2

I know that there are also third-party lenses available, but I can't speak to their image quality.

Here's a list...don't know if it is complete or not.

From what I recall, there have been adapters available for 4/3 cameras that allowed other Olympus lenses to be used. That info was posted at the Olympus board on DPReview.com, so they didn't mention whether or not adapters were available for Nikon or Canon lenses.

There is a wide range of focal lengths available (14mm to 1000mm in 35mm equiv) for the 4/3 cameras, and since the system is only a few years old and built from scratch, it seems to be coming along well.

hyperfocal

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 105mm f/2.5 AIS

06/10/2006 03:24:41 PM · #3

If there ever was a thing as a universal camera, itâ��s the 4/3rds standard. Its very large 46mm bayonet size coupled with the short flange to sensor distance enables the adaptation of many lens systems.

I use third party lenses via adapters on my 4/3rds cameras probably more than my Olympus lenses. I have Nikon & M42 adapters and they work quite well. The only real automation that you lose is automatically stopping the lens down for exposure. As I shoot mostly landscapes and macro this is a non-issue with me. Also its is easy via adapters to go from M42 to M39, which enables the use of enlarger lens that are great macro lenses due to their flat field designs.

As far as lenses is concerned you have a very limited choice for wide angles, cause of the size of the sensor relative to 35mm film size that the lenses were made for. But one great and really cheap choice is the Peleng 8mm f3.5 fisheye. Unlike Nikon or Canon bodies the lens doesn't vignette on the 4/3rds bodies, making an extremely useable combination. Its sharp and contrasty, but like all fisheyes is subject to flare. As if you proficient with your editing software you can easily defish for traditional wide views.

Telephoto & macro use is where adapter use really shines. Probably my favorite lens to use on my 4/3rds cameras is my Nikon 50mm f1.8. It is incredible sharp and becomes the equivalent of a 100mm f1.8. This lens also functions well as a macro lens with extension tubes; in fact with the brighter viewfinder I like it better than my 55mm f2.8 macro. The best part is than the 50mm 1.8 (AI, AIS or series E) can be found for less than $40 (AF a little more).

I bought a Takumar (Pentax) 200mm f4 in mint shape on ebay for $35 and with a $25 m42 adapter I have a combo super cheap combo that provides quite good results. And as a bonus it has the same filter threads as the Olympus kit lens, 58mm.

Anyway Iâ��ll quit rambling except to say that itâ��s not with out its flaws. My Nikkor AF 70-210mm f4 suffers from terrible purple fringing, so approach it on a lens-by-lens basis. Also due to the small viewfinder of the E-500 focusing can sometimes be an issue especially in lower light. Definitely pick up an Olympus MF-1 eyepiece magnifier, as it will really help with manual focus even with the kit lenses.

Lenses than I feel were successful that Iâ��ve tried on a 4/rds cameras (I buy & sell on ebay, so Iâ��ve tried quite a few)â�¦

Nikkor GN 45mm f2.8 pancake lens
Nikkor AF 50mm f1.8d
Nikkor 55mm f2.8 macro
Nikon 500mm f8N
Nikkor AF 85mm f1.8D
Nikkor AF 24mm f2.8D
Nikkor 300mm f4.5 AIS
Nikon 100mm f2.8 Series E
Takumar 200mm f4 (m42)
Sigma 135-400mm f4.5-5.6
Tamron 200mm-400mm f5.6
Peleng 8mm f3.5 (I use it with itâ��s M42 mount)
Nikkor EN 75mm f4 enlarger lens

06/10/2006 09:08:05 PM · #4

Thanks for the detailed reply. I might have some more questions, but for now, can you just explain the following:

Originally posted by hyperfocal:

The only real automation that you lose is automatically stopping the lens down for exposure. As I shoot mostly landscapes and macro this is a non-issue with me.

What exactly does this mean? If I set my aperture to say, f/22, will the viewfinder become dark (because the lens is closed, as opposed to staying wide-open until the shot is taken)?

I experienced this on my old Pentax SLR. I bought an adapter ring so I could use some older lenses that my father had from his 30 year old Pentax (thread mount vs. whatever my camera had). The lenses worked, but when I changed the aperture the view would get lighter or darker. It did make it hard to compose shots quickly. I basically needed to focus wide open, then stop down and take the shot.

Maybe I'm just not following things here. I guess that by using non-4/3 or Zuiko lenses that my camera body will not be able to control anything, right? I'll have to set the aperture manually via the ring on the lens, right?

I do have some other questions (regarding some of the older lenses I have at home). Should I post them here or can we e-mail or chat via IM? Thanks again...glad to find some other happy Olympus owners out there!

-Mike

hyperfocal

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 105mm f/2.5 AIS

06/13/2006 10:03:32 AM · #5

Originally posted by PSUlion01:

What exactly does this mean? If I set my aperture to say, f/22, will the viewfinder become dark (because the lens is closed, as opposed to staying wide-open until the shot is taken)?

Youâ��re correct. As you stop down the aperture the viewfinder will become darker. This can be a deal breaker depending on your subject. If you were shooting faster action, etc. it would be difficult to do unless you are shooting wide open. Like I said earlier this is a non-issue with me since I shoot mostly landscapes and macro, both of which I almost always nail it down on a tripod.

Originally posted by PSUlion01:

I experienced this on my old Pentax SLR. I bought an adapter ring so I could use some older lenses that my father had from his 30 year old Pentax (thread mount vs. whatever my camera had). The lenses worked, but when I changed the aperture the view would get lighter or darker. It did make it hard to compose shots quickly. I basically needed to focus wide open, then stop down and take the shot.

Maybe I'm just not following things here. I guess that by using non-4/3 or Zuiko lenses that my camera body will not be able to control anything, right? I'll have to set the aperture manually via the ring on the lens, right?

You will lose the aperture automation, but metering, flash metering, manual exposure mode, and aperture priority mode will all work fine. Program and shutter priority modes both will not because the camera can't control the aperture. Again this is a non-issue cause very few experienced photographers use those modes anyway, preferring the greater control of the final image that manual and aperture priority affords.

If you still have those M42 (Pentax screw mount) lenses they are prime for use on your camera. Oh, one other thing to remember. I assume since currently the fastest lens in the 4/3rds mount is a f2, anytime you mount a faster lens such as my 50mm f1.8D Nikkor exposure compensation must be dialed in to make up the difference. I don't technically understand why this is so since there is nothing telling the camera that a faster lens is mounted, but it just works out that way.

BTW a photo accidentally released by Olympus Europe shows a possible E-1 update (has higher buffer rate shown than current E-1 is capable of) with F1.0 shown as the selected aperture of the lens that is mounted. If there is an f1.0 lens in the works, a firmware update might fix this particular peculiarity.

Originally posted by PSUlion01:

I do have some other questions (regarding some of the older lenses I have at home). Should I post them here or can we e-mail or chat via IM? Thanks again...glad to find some other happy Olympus owners out there!

-Mike

Either way feel free to PM me or post them here where someone else might learn or add to or correct any info.

06/20/2006 12:23:33 AM · #6

Originally posted by hyperfocal:

If you still have those M42 (Pentax screw mount) lenses they are prime for use on your camera.

I took a look at some of those older M42 lenses, and had a question regarding how the focal length 'converts' if attached to my E-500. For example, I found a telephoto zoom rated at 85-205mm i believe. Now I know that my Zuiko lenses are twice their specs when converted to 35mm terms (e.g. 14-45mm on my E-500 is equal to a 28-90 on a 35mm cam, correct?). So... does this make the 85-205 = 42.5-102.5 if I use it on my Oly? I tried holding the lens up to the body, but the only difference I could see when looking through the viewfinder was that the pic appears as a 4:3 ratio (duh) vs. whatever the ratio on my film camera was. The composition is totally different, and I don't know which is better or which i prefer. I assume that only the 4/3 systems do this, right (Canon, Nikon, etc would look like my 35mm)?

Just curious what all of this means...

thx
mike