This is the most magificent portrait lens I have ever owned for the 35mm (24 X 36mm format film) SLR camera. This lens is a fine example of Japanese lens craftmanship. This lens was designed back in the mid 1980's and was decades ahead of other rival lenses. The quality of the Olympus OM Zuiko f2.0 is very near that of medium format sharpness! Beautiful color rendition and buttery soft bokeh. I have used the slower Zuiko 100mm f2.8 lens and it pales in comparison to this lens. This is one of the very few Zuiko lenses that were "ED" in the Olympus OM line and it was one of only two ED lenses at 100mm or below focal length - the other lens was the equally rare (and expensive) Zuiko 35-80mm f2.8 ED. Today ED lenses are now in almost all the lenses of the Olympus Zuiko four thirds digtal line. "ED" stands for Extra Low Dispersion and refers to glass that was either specially formulated or contained special 'rare earth' elements to achieve more colors on the focal plane from the color spectrum. A fantastic lens for portraiture, still life or nature.
Strengths:
Extremely fast for a 100mm prime lens at f2.0. The colors are beyond words and better described in a photograph. Has semi macro capability at .7 meters. Sharp as a tack, beautiful color rendition and unbelievable soft bokeh!
Weaknesses:
Impossible to find and too expensive - ultra rare!!
Similar Products Used:
Carl Zeiss Jenazoom 70-300mm for Olympus OM, Olympus OM Zuiko 100mm f2.8, Olympus OM Zuiko 18mm f3.5, Zuiko 21mm f3.5, Zuiko 50mm f1.4
Bought this lens as I found it to be excellently praised, although I already had its slowest (f/2.8) Zuiko brother. The lens turned out to be a true top performer, at any aperture. Contrast, resolution and color rendition are beautiful as its bokeh. Ideal for portraits at wide open apertures. Focusing is fast, easy and accurate due to both the lens speed and the precise focusing helicoid.
Handling, tendency to collect dust particles (rear lens group collapses deep into the barrel when focusing on close objects, leaving a lot of space for dust specks to intrude).
Rating Reviewed by: mark liszkowski(Unregistered User)
(Expert)
Review Date September 13, 2002
Overall Rating 5 of 5
Value Rating 5 of 5
Used product for 3 Months to 1 year
Visitors rate this review 5.00 of 5,
1 votes
Review 3 of 10
Price Paid:
$699.00
from B&H
Summary:
Impressed by other Zuiko lenses, internet searches indicated that this 100mm f2.0 lens is a true performer. Nothing but praise on discussion group postings and user reviews. Found a new one at B&H (very hard to find any used ones). Impressive by its solid feel, viewfinder brightness, and optical quality. Developped pictures in 8x10 have medium format sharpness. Color reproduction is excellent, contrast and bokeh as well are superb. It stays permanently on one of my OM1n cameras.
Strengths:
-useful focal length for portraits and scenery details;
-optical quality is superb (contrast, sharpness, color) (better than my Canon EF 135mm f2.0??)
-solid and reliable
Weaknesses:
built in hood a little small but get's the job done.
Prices are climbing fast,
discontinued,
hard to find used.
This is the finest lens I have ever used or owned. The first time you pick this lens up you will fall in love with it! It has a great feel in the hand and mounted on the camera.
It is sharp, sharp, sharp!! Nice contrast too.
This is a true jewel no matter what camera you own. Use this on a OM-4Ti and you will never, ever want to use a Canon again!!
My wife has both an old AE-1 and a new EOS system, they look, feel, and are junk next to this Olympus setup!
Such a shame Olympus has ended the OM line. Long live Zuiko!
Strengths:
sharp, contrast. Solid build. This lens will work 30 years from now!!!
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
9 Zuiko primes
Canon FD glass
Canon EOS glass
Pentax K mounts
Sample Images
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