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Olympus E-500, Zuiko OM 21mm 1:3.5

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Olympus E-500, Zuiko OM 21mm 1:3.5

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40mm Equivalents: Olympus Zuiko OM 21mm 1:3.5

A look at legacy and vintage primes and zooms equivalent to a standard normal 40mm prime on 4/3 mirrorless or APS-C digital SLR cameras.

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The Zuiko OM 21mm 1:3.5 was the smallest and lightest super wide-angle legacy lens introduced for the OM-System 35mm SLR film camera system when it was introduced with the launch of the OM 35mm SLR film camera series in 1972. The lens, with 7 elements in 7 groups, is acknowledged for its ability to deliver unusually high resolving power with excellent contrast even at full aperture, measures 31mm long, has a diameter of 59mm, weighs 185 grams, and takes 49mm filters. The ultra-wide-angle is highly recommended for landscapes and is equally suitable for architectural, interior, and other creative options.

When mounted on vintage 4/3s or the more modern Micro 4/3 digital cameras with 2x crop sensors, the lens is equivalent to a 42mm lens on a 35mm full-frame camera, near enough to the 43mm focal length considered the perfect 'standard normal' lens. The focal length is a favorite with many photographers.

The strength of the focal length is a natural and realistic field of view that mimics what the human eye sees. Images offer a perspective view slightly shorter than a 35mm wide-angle but noticeably longer than the ubiquitous standard normal 50mm, sharper, and with minimal distortion. Physically, the lens, as with the Zuiko OM 21mm 1:3.5, is normally compact and lightweight.

Shooting with a 40mm focal length lens is also less intrusive than using wider-angle lenses, which require the photographer to be closer to the subjects. A 40mm lens is the sweet spot for street photography, with just the right coverage for a balanced composition, including background details and isolation of the main subjects. The focal length is comfortable and equally usable for other photographic genres, including video making, portraiture, and everyday candids.

Though the focal length can be tight in smaller spaces, documentary photographers and photojournalists favor the focal length for storytelling with a more engaging narrative and a 'bigger picture' for a better depth of the story. For portraits, the focal length allows for capturing full-body shots with enough background details for storytelling.

Handling is best with a compact camera setup, say a small DSLR body with a 40mm pancake lens, which is a good option for travel photography, particularly for landscapes and street life. The setup, without the bulk of a larger camera, is more convenient for discreet and unobtrusive image making, light enough for mobility, and a space in the shoulder bag, instead of a more cumbersome backpack or carry case.

The Olympus E-500, fitted with the highly acknowledged 8MP Kodak KAF-8300CE CCD and mounted with the Olympus OM Zuiko MC 21mm 1:3.5, is a vintage kit you'll be proud to have and happy to lug for your travels or other documentary endeavors. The E-500, successor to the E-300, was introduced in 2005. The camera incorporates Olympus' patented Supersonic Wave Filter dust reduction system and Olympus' TruePic Turbo system for image processing.

Olympus E-500, Zuiko OM 21mm 1:3.5

The Zuiko 21mm 1:3.5, first launched as the Olympus OM G Zuiko Auto-W 21mm 1:3.5 with the introduction of the OM system 35mm SLR film cameras in 1972, was later updated to the Olympus OM Zuiko MC Auto-W 21mm 1:3.5. Both have the same optical construction, and a minimum focusing distance of 0.2 meters.

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Canon EOS Kiss X3, Sigma Mini-Wide II 28mm 1:2.8

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Canon EOS Kiss X3, Sigma Mini-Wide II 28mm 1:2.8

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Vintage Camera Marketplace by ImagingPixel

Malaysia's Online Marketplace for Vintage Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses,
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