OM wideangle lenses

[z-dave]

Hi All

I'm considering the pros and cons of picking up a wide angle OM lens, whether a zoom or prime, to use for landscapes.

Is this pointless?

The way I figure it, is that even a 28mm OM will be equivalent to 56mm on my E-410.

Conversely, my 14-42 is equivalent to around 7mm OM?

Any opinions?

[Radar]

Re: OM wideangle lenses

I've been trying to get my head around the thing about Field of View (FOV) in Four Thirds lenses vs. 35mm lenses and I understand it (so far) like this >

- If you buy a 28mm OM lens it will still be a 28mm if you wanted the equivalent modern digital lens for your camera. It's a 28mm lens in 35mm format so placed on a 35mm camera (OM-type) it would ALSO be a 28mm. BUT : Because of the cropfactor, the 28mm OM-lens on your E-system camera will have the FOV equivalent to a 56mm on an OM-system camera. Difficult?

If you got your 28mm OM-lens on your E-system camera and want the same FOV when you go back to your OM-camera, you'd have to get a 56mm lens.

This is a little confusing and I suggest a little reading about FOV if you want to know more. http://dpanswers.com/content/tech_crop.php#fov

[meach]

Re: OM wideangle lenses

Hi All

I'm considering the pros and cons of picking up a wide angle OM lens, whether a zoom or prime, to use for landscapes.

Is this pointless?

The way I figure it, is that even a 28mm OM will be equivalent to 56mm on my E-410.

Conversely, my 14-42 is equivalent to around 7mm OM?

Any opinions?

I think you've got it but just to clarify:

Yes, a 28 mm is effectively a 56mm on an Olympus dSLR.

A 7mm OM lens would effectively be 14 mm on one.

Your 14-42 is effectively 28-84 on a dSLR but would be 14-42 on an OM (or any 35mm) camera.

[z-dave]

Re: OM wideangle lenses

That's essentially the issue.

The OM lenses, and all 35mm lenses for that matter, have their focal length effectively doubled due to the crop factor. This means even a 8mm fisheye would be 16mm on 4/3 DSLR.

So really, the only option I have to get a short wideangle on an E-system, would be to buy a 4/3 format wideangle. Hence why they are so expensive I suppose.

I guess the outcome to my query really, is the that it's best to use the OM/35mm lenses for telephoto use, where the crop factor will double it.

[mike_j]

Re: OM wideangle lenses

The OM 24mm f2.8 has been recommended as a good option. Price is reasonable and results OK. I use a 15mm Heliar which gives decent results. Generally wide angle legacy lenses are not especially effective, they tend to act as less than ideal standard lenses on MFT and 4/3 due to the crop factor.

This thread has some example shots and discussion

[David M]

Re: OM wideangle lenses

I think you've got it but just to clarify:

Yes, a 28 mm is effectively a 56mm on an Olympus dSLR.

A 7mm OM lens would effectively be 14 mm on one.

Your 14-42 is effectively 28-84 on a dSLR but would be 14-42 on an OM (or any 35mm) camera.

I think you mean the 14-42 has the equivalent field of view of a 28-84 on an OM (or any 35mm) camera.

[HughofBardfield]

Re: OM wideangle lenses

Unfortunately, the crop factor and lens design means that all the affordable wide OM glass is pretty much wasted on 4/3rds. All the excess light bouncing around at odd angles inside the mirror box doesn't seem to result in good quality.

You're better off with lenses designed for the format IMHO, even though the design means that you're holding a brick compared to the small, elegant OM optics of yore. Especially my beloved and lamented 21mm

Teles are a different matter.

All things photographic involve compromise and the 4/3rds system is a case in point - if I had the money, I would keep with 4/3rds for wildlife but buy a full-frame system for landscape and architecture. However, since I didn't

[meach]

Re: OM wideangle lenses

I think you mean the 14-42 has the equivalent field of view of a 28-84 on an OM (or any 35mm) camera.

I think so too!! To be precise (or even pedantic) the 14-42 on an Olympus dSLR has the equivalent field of view to a 28-84 lens designed for 35 mm on a 35mm camera. On a 35mm camera the 14-42 would still be 14-42. On a dSLR the 28-84 would effectively be a 56-168.

[theMusicMan]

Re: OM wideangle lenses

I've been trying to get my head around the thing about Field of View (FOV) in Four Thirds lenses vs. 35mm lenses and I understand it (so far) like this >

- If you buy a 28mm OM lens it will still be a 28mm if you wanted the equivalent modern digital lens for your camera. It's a 28mm lens in 35mm format so placed on a 35mm camera (OM-type) it would ALSO be a 28mm. BUT : Because of the cropfactor, the 28mm OM-lens on your E-system camera will have the FOV equivalent to a 56mm on an OM-system camera. Difficult?

If you got your 28mm OM-lens on your E-system camera and want the same FOV when you go back to your OM-camera, you'd have to get a 56mm lens.

This is a little confusing and I suggest a little reading about FOV if you want to know more. http://dpanswers.com/content/tech_crop.php#fov

Here's my explanation for you in 4/3rds and little piggy terms....

http://e-group.uk.net/forum/showthread.php?t=6812

(look and you'll understand )