Photo of the Day

Olympus Pen E-P5, Olympus Zuiko MC 21mm f/3.5

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

Vintage Camera Marketplace by ImagingPixel

Malaysia's Online Marketplace for Vintage Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses,
and Camera Accessories. Follow ImagingPixel on Facebook, Pinterest, and X.

Photo of the Day

Olympus Pen E-P5, Olympus Zuiko MC 21mm f/3.5

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

Vintage Camera Marketplace by ImagingPixel

Malaysia's Online Marketplace for Vintage Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses,
and Camera Accessories. Follow ImagingPixel on Facebook, Pinterest, and X.

Photo of the Day

Olympus Pen E-P5, Olympus Zuiko MC 21mm f/3.5

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

Vintage Camera Marketplace by ImagingPixel

Malaysia's Online Marketplace for Vintage Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses,
and Camera Accessories. Follow ImagingPixel on Facebook, Pinterest, and X.

Photo of the Day

Olympus Pen E-P5, Olympus Zuiko MC 21mm f/3.5

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

Vintage Camera Marketplace by ImagingPixel

Malaysia's Online Marketplace for Vintage Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses,
and Camera Accessories. Follow ImagingPixel on Facebook, Pinterest, and X.

Olympus Zuiko OM MC 21mm f/3.5, A Lens Worth The Keep

Digital Moments: A quick look at a highly recommended legacy prime well worth its keep value and usability on modern digital cameras with crop sensors.

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

Vintage enthusiasts looking for a manual focus legacy worth the keep, or one worth for a keepsake, should look at the Olympus Zuiko OM MC 21mm f/3.5 as one with potentially very high credentials. This 7-element in 7 groups lens, a testament to Yoshihisa Maitani’s design philosophy for lightweight, portable, and high-quality photography equipment, was the smallest and lightest ultra-wide-angle when it was first introduced with the Olympus OM-1 35mm SLR film system cameras in 1972. The lens is acknowledged for its unusually high resolving power with excellent contrast even at full aperture.

The Olympus Zuiko OM MC 21mm f/3.5, seen here with an OM-M4/3 Lens Adapter

The lens, a lesser of two siblings (the other being the faster Olympus Zuiko 21mm 1:2), was seen over a couple of iterations. It was first introduced as the G.Zuiko Auto-W 21mm f/3.5, and later updated to the Olympus OM Zuiko MC Auto-W 21mm f/3.5. Both iterations, the later with Multi Coating, are of the same optical construction, with a body length of 31mm, a diameter of 59mm, a minimum focusing distance of 0.2 meters, and weighs between 180 and 185 grams each.

Within the digital realm, the lens can be easily adapted and used on current mirrorless digital as well as digital SLR cameras, which, to some enthusiasts, are cameras from the previous generation. For versatility with differing photographic genres, including street photography, landscapes, urban vistas, and architecture interiors, the ultra-wide 21mm will still stay an ultra-wide 21mm on digital cameras with full-frame sensors, with subtle vignetting that adds vintage authenticity to images.

On mirrorless digitals with 2x crop sensors (as seen here, shot with peak focusing on the Pen E-P5), the lens will equate to almost a perfect standard normal with a focal length equivalent to 42mm on a full frame. The lens will equate to a shorter wide-angle equivalent of 31.5mm on 1.5x APS-C digital SLRs, and a 33.6mm wide-angle equivalent on 1.6x APS-C digital SLRs (Canon EOS DSLRs).

The lens is also said to have commendable flare resistance when shielded from direct light sources, a sweet spot between 1:5.6 to 1:8 that will yield images comparable to current digital lenses. The tendency of the 6-blade diaphragm to produce 12-pointed sun stars at small apertures at 1:11 to 1:16, a characteristic prized in urban and astrophotography, has also been mentioned. Hoods are rarely necessary except in heavily backlit scenarios.

The truly compact and lightweight lens, comparable to other more modern pancake lenses, is also a favorite among photographers seeking discretion and mobility. Its zone-focusing capability, with a very finger-reachable 90° focus throw, allows hyperfocal shooting at 1:8 with sharp images from as short as 0.5 meters.

Olympus Pen E-P5, Olympus Zuiko OM MC 21mm f/3.5

The Zuiko MC 21mm f/3.5, mostly available on the secondary market and auction listings, is normally priced slightly higher than expected, mainly due to its representation as a candidate for the ultra-wide-angle lens market. It's all metal construction with brass internals and hardened aluminum exteriors is the trademark to their longevity, with many (including mine) still functioning well while having passed their fifties.

Vintage Camera Marketplace by ImagingPixel

Malaysia's Online Marketplace for Vintage Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses,
and Camera Accessories. Follow ImagingPixel on Facebook, Pinterest, and X.

Photo of the Day

Olympus Pen E-PM2, Zuiko OM 21mm f/3.5

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

Vintage Camera Marketplace by ImagingPixel

Malaysia's Online Marketplace for Vintage Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses,
and Camera Accessories. Follow ImagingPixel on Facebook, Pinterest, and X.

Photo of the Day

Olympus Pen E-PM2, Zuiko OM 21mm f/3.5

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

Vintage Camera Marketplace by ImagingPixel

Malaysia's Online Marketplace for Vintage Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses,
and Camera Accessories. Follow ImagingPixel on Facebook, Pinterest, and X.

Photo of the Day

Olympus Pen E-PM2, Zuiko OM 21mm f/3.5

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

Vintage Camera Marketplace by ImagingPixel

Malaysia's Online Marketplace for Vintage Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses,
and Camera Accessories. Follow ImagingPixel on Facebook, Pinterest, and X.

Photo of the Day

Olympus Pen E-PM2, Zuiko OM 21mm f/3.5

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

Vintage Camera Marketplace by ImagingPixel

Malaysia's Online Marketplace for Vintage Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses,
and Camera Accessories. Follow ImagingPixel on Facebook, Pinterest, and X.

Olympus Pen E-PM2, Zuiko OM 21mm f/3.5

Digital Moments: A look at vintage primes and legacy lenses equivalent to the standard normal primes on 4/3 mirrorless or APS-C digital SLR cameras.

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

If not for the additional 22mm depth of the lens adapter, and an additional 17mm for the lens hood, the combination of the Olympus Pen Mini E-PM2, mounted with the legacy Olympus Zuiko OM 21mm f/3.5, would probably the smallest and most compact vintage digital camera setup with an equivalent 40mm prime ever (please correct me if I am wrong here, thanks). On the 2x crop sensor E-PM2, the Zuiko OM 21mm is equivalent to a 42mm prime on a 35mm full frame camera, near enough to the 43mm focal length considered the perfect 'standard normal' lens.

The 40mm focal length, a favorite with many photographers, is not only the sweet spot for street photography, but is also relevant for genres including travel and documentary photography, video making, landscapes, portraiture, or just everyday shooting.

When it was first launched in 2012, the Olympus E-PM2 was the smallest and lightest model in Olympus’s PEN series. The camera measures 110 x 64 x 34 mm and weighs 223 grams body-only, and comes only with a tripod mount, and a hot shoe that doubles as an accessory port for an external flash unit or an electronic viewfinder.

The camera comes fitted with a 35-point contrast-detect AF system, a 16.1MP Live MOS sensor (with advanced imaging capabilities inherited from the likes of the OM-D E-M5), Olympus’s TruePic VI image processor, and a 3-inch LCD touchscreen with 460k-dot resolution.

The Olympus E-PM2 supports SDXC cards and is powered by a battery (BLS-5 lithium-ion) that averages 360 shots per charge (adequate for casual use but limiting for extended shoots). Olympus also integrated 12 Art Filters, including Dramatic Tone, Grainy Film, and Pin Hole, into the in-camera creativity context, and a 'Live Guide' interface with simplified parameter adjustments for novice users.

The legacy Zuiko OM 21mm f/3.5, a testament to Olympus’s engineering capability during the film era, is a compact ultra-wide-angle design with a 7-element in 7-group optical design. The lens measures only 31mm thick and weighs 185 grams, and is acknowledged for its unusually high resolving power with excellent contrast even at full aperture. Despite its modest 1:3.5 maximum aperture, reviews indicate that the lens also excels in landscape, architectural, and environmental portrait applications.

Olympus Pen Mini E-PM2, Zuiko OM 21mm f/3.5

While it might be that the images here may not be a true reflection of the potential of the camera and lens setup, it is sufficient to say the E-PM2 is capable of demonstrating that entry-level cameras could adopt flagship-grade sensors without compromising size or cost. With the appropriate lens adapters, renowned legacies like the Zuiko OM 21mm f/3.5 can also be assured of their continued relevance in the digital photography realm.

Vintage Camera Marketplace by ImagingPixel

Malaysia's Online Marketplace for Vintage Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses,
and Camera Accessories. Follow ImagingPixel on Facebook, Pinterest, and X.

Photo of the Day

Olympus E-500, Zuiko OM 21mm f/3.5

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

Vintage Camera Marketplace by ImagingPixel

Malaysia's Online Marketplace for Vintage Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses,
and Camera Accessories. Follow ImagingPixel on Facebook, Pinterest, and X.

Photo of the Day

Olympus E-500, Zuiko OM 21mm f/3.5

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

Vintage Camera Marketplace by ImagingPixel

Malaysia's Online Marketplace for Vintage Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses,
and Camera Accessories. Follow ImagingPixel on Facebook, Pinterest, and X.

Photo of the Day

Olympus E-500, Zuiko OM 21mm f/3.5

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

Vintage Camera Marketplace by ImagingPixel

Malaysia's Online Marketplace for Vintage Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses,
and Camera Accessories. Follow ImagingPixel on Facebook, Pinterest, and X.

Photo of the Day

Olympus E-500, Zuiko OM 21mm f/3.5

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

Vintage Camera Marketplace by ImagingPixel

Malaysia's Online Marketplace for Vintage Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses,
and Camera Accessories. Follow ImagingPixel on Facebook, Pinterest, and X.

Olympus E-500, Zuiko OM 21mm f/3.5

CCD Resurgence: A look at vintage primes and legacy lenses equivalent to the standard normal primes on 4/3 mirrorless or APS-C digital SLR cameras.

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

The Zuiko OM 21mm f/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 f/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 f/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 f/3.5

The Zuiko 21mm f/3.5, first launched as the Olympus OM G Zuiko Auto-W 21mm f/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 f/3.5. Both have the same optical construction, and a minimum focusing distance of 0.2 meters.

Vintage Camera Marketplace by ImagingPixel

Malaysia's Online Marketplace for Vintage Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses,
and Camera Accessories. Follow ImagingPixel on Facebook, Pinterest, and X.

Photo of the Day

Olympus OM-2S, Olympus OM Zuiko 21mm f/3.5

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

Vintage Camera Marketplace by ImagingPixel

Malaysia's Online Marketplace for Vintage Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses,
and Camera Accessories. Follow ImagingPixel on Facebook, Pinterest, and X.

Photo of the Day

Olympus OM-2S, Olympus OM Zuiko 21mm f/3.5

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

Vintage Camera Marketplace by ImagingPixel

Malaysia's Online Marketplace for Vintage Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses,
and Camera Accessories. Follow ImagingPixel on Facebook, Pinterest, and X.

Photo of the Day

Olympus OM-2S, Olympus OM Zuiko 21mm f/3.5

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

Vintage Camera Marketplace by ImagingPixel

Malaysia's Online Marketplace for Vintage Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses,
and Camera Accessories. Follow ImagingPixel on Facebook, Pinterest, and X.

A Re-Edit: Olympus OM-2S, Olympus OM Zuiko 21mm f/3.5

Analog Diary: Film photography favorites, a re-edit of a street shoot with an Olympus OM-2S and Olympus OM Zuiko 21mm f/3.5.

<< Click on images for enlarged Lightbox display >>

Film photography, or analog photography, the pivot of our image-capture system for over a century, uses the traditional method of capturing images using light-sensitive film. The technology and demand for the services went into a deep dive not too long ago, and film photography suffered a significant decline in popularity. This was with the advent of digital cameras, whose image capture method does away with the need to buy film and the cost of developing the film.

Lately, however, the genre is experiencing a revival, a resurgence in the interest of film photography, especially among younger photo enthusiasts seeking a more tactile and authentic photographic experience, fueled by nostalgia, group interest, and the unique aesthetic that film photography offers.

The revival has also fostered community hubs with huge followings on social media platforms and image-sharing sites. These online cultures encourage interaction among enthusiasts, with emerging sub-sets that group and link interested enthusiasts together with club meets, street walks, community auctions, and the like.

The resurgence can also be seen as a reaction against the fast-paced digital world. Many young people seek ways to slow down and engage more mindfully with their creative processes. Film requires patience and deliberation, with the slower process of shooting, lab processing, and waiting for prints to develop, a contrast to the instant gratification of digital photography.

By itself, film photography is also facing challenges in cost and community access to film service points. The cost of film for film photography has risen tremendously over the last couple of years, while film manufacturers struggle to meet demand amid supply chain hiccups, global shortages of raw materials, and redundant manufacturing facilities.

On the other side of the coin, the hardware cost for vintage film cameras, legacy lenses, associated accessories, and whatnot is still easily available on auction listings and in brick-and-mortar stores with prices that are stable and non-fluctuating. New film cameras have also been announced, and a couple of so are already on the market.

Technique-wise, film cameras are generally less complex than digitals, with most SLR cameras having fully manual controls while compacts and autos are mainly point-and-shoots. For newbies, master the art of the 'exposure triangle,' understand that ISO and ASA are technically similar, and that there are only 24 or 36 shots (frames) available on each 35mm film roll.

These images are re-edits from a street shoot with the Olympus OM-2S mounted with a Zuiko OM 21mm f/3.5, presented in the 5:4 format. The fully electronic OM-2S (1984-1988) was an updated version of the OM-2n with innards closer to the OM3 and OM3, which were already available when the 2S was launched. The ultra-wide Zuiko 21mm f/3.5 is lightweight and extremely compact, highly acknowledged for its optical quality.

Vintage Camera Marketplace by ImagingPixel

Malaysia's Online Marketplace for Vintage Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses,
and Camera Accessories. Follow ImagingPixel on Facebook, Pinterest, and X.