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Olympus PEN E-P5, G.Zuiko OM 35mm f/2.8

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Olympus PEN E-P5, G.Zuiko OM 35mm f/2.8

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Olympus PEN E-P5, G.Zuiko OM 35mm f/2.8

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Olympus PEN E-P5, G.Zuiko OM 35mm f/2.8

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Olympus PEN E-P5, G.Zuiko OM 35mm f/2.8

Camera and Lenses: Images with a legacy G.Zuiko OM 35mm f/2.8, a vintage wide-angle prime known for its solid all-metal construction, a long-throw focus ring, and classic mechanical build, a 70mm short-tele equivalent on the Olympus Pen E-P5.

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The wide-angle Olympus G.Zuiko Auto-W 35mm f/2.8 (G.Zuiko OM 35mm f/2.8 for short), one of the most affordable Zuiko lenses when it debuted along with the OM System in 1972, is deceptively small, more compact than the Zuiko 28mm f/2.8, but stood high on the threshold with its acclaim for sharpness, contrast, color rendition, and the acknowledgement for low distortion and minimal vignetting.

The lens carries the ‘G’ designation to indicate the optical design of early version Zuiko lenses, with the 35mm f/2.8 being a 7-element in 6-group construction, and comes with 6 aperture blades, a minimum focusing distance of 0.3 meters, measures 33mm in length and 58mm wide, takes 49mm filters, and weighs 170 grams.

Later versions of the 35mm f/2.8 were reportedly to have a longer body length (43mm) and a heavier weight (240 grams). The letter designation for Zuiko lenses (e.g., D=4 elements, F=6, G=7) was also phased out by the early 1980s when Olympus transitioned from single-coated to multi-coated lenses. The lenses were then labelled "Zuiko MCs."

On the 2x crop sensor Olympus E-P5, the 35mm f/2.8 lens is equivalent to a 70mm short telephoto or a handy portrait focal length on a full-frame camera, a focal length highly recommended for head-and-shoulders shots, architecture, environmental portraits, and candid street photography, where the main subject can be captured within the context of its scene.

With its minimum focusing distance of 0.3 meters (and maximum magnification of 1:6.4), but short of being a true macro lens, the lens is equally adaptable for crops and close-ups. Pairing it with a digital camera that has EVF aids (magnification, focus peaking) adds to the comfort of using the setup and the convenience of achieving greater depth in your photos.

Though not clinically sharp by modern standards, images are artistically pleasant with punchy colors and film‑like hues, clear separation, and smooth and creamy bokeh. Minor tweaks on the desktop image editor do help to accentuate and enhance these qualities.

As it stands, the Zuiko OM 35mm f/2.8 is quite a cult favorite among vintage‑digital enthusiasts for its compact size, smooth manual focus, and image renders that may feel analog even with modern digital bodies. It is one of the smallest OM prime lenses available, and pairs beautifully with small digital bodies, like the Pen E-P5, fitted with readily available lens adapters.

Olympus PEN E-P5, G.Zuiko OM 35mm f/2.8

The Olympus PEN E‑P5, a compact, rangefinder‑style Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera released in October 2013, is an enthusiast-level retro‑film‑camera design with modern specs. The camera is fitted with a 16.1MP Four Thirds Live MOS sensor (the same as the OM-D E-M5), a TruePic VI image processor, and 5-axis In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS), a system that works well with adapted manual lenses to allow for more stabilized shooting at slower shutter speeds.

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The Galleria, Photo of the Day

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

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

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

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

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

Camera and Lenses: Images with an Olympus Zuiko OM MC 21mm f/3.5, highly acclaimed for its exceptionally compact pancake-style metal build, outstanding edge-to-edge sharpness when stopped down, and a lightweight everyday carry.

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For vintage enthusiasts looking for a manual focus legacy worth keeping, or one worth keeping as a keepsake, consider the Olympus Zuiko OM MC 21mm f/3.5, which has 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.

Olympus Zuiko OM MC 21mm f/3.5

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 latter 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 weigh 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, 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, which is the trademark of their longevity, with many (including mine) still functioning well while having passed their fifties.

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The Galleria, Photo of the Day

Olympus Pen E-P5, Zuiko OM 35mm f/2.8

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The Galleria, Photo of the Day

Olympus Pen E-P5, Zuiko OM 35mm f/2.8

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The Galleria, Photo of the Day

Olympus Pen E-P5, Zuiko OM 35mm f/2.8

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Olympus Pen E-P5, Zuiko OM 35mm f/2.8

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Olympus Pen E-P5, Going Legacy With Focus Peaking

Cameras and Lenses: A look at focus peaking, a focus aid feature that highlights edges of in-focus areas with a color overlay or highlighted display, with a manual-focus vintage Zuiko OM 35mm f/2.8, mounted on the Olympus Pen E-P5.

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One of the best aids a vintage photo enthusiast could have when using legacy lenses on their mirrorless digital camera is the 'focus peaking' (or 'peak focusing') feature.

When used with manual focus lenses or in low-light conditions, the feature highlights the edges of in-focus areas in the camera's viewfinder or LCD screen with a color overlay or a highlighted display.

As the focus is adjusted, the highlighted edges will move across the screen to follow the selected portions of the image that are in sharp focus.

The feature, or technique, first developed for professional video cameras to help maintain critical sharpness during scene transitions, migrated to still photography as mirrorless cameras eliminated optical viewfinders, relying instead on electronic displays that could overlay focus data directly onto the live images.

Integration of this feature across a few camera models has helped to realize the re-use of legacy lenses, which offers cost-effective solutions for color characteristics, macro precision, and creative depth-of-field effects.

For legacy lens users, the potential of these optics, unimaginable when they were first manufactured, is back to the fore.

The first digital camera to incorporate focus peaking in the product line was the Sony NEX digital cameras introduced in 2011. Panasonic's Lumix GH series (GH4, GH5, GH5S, and GH6) implements peaking with user-selectable highlight colors (red, blue, yellow) through dedicated processor arrays that monitor luminance gradients.

Sony's Alpha cameras employ a similar approach with added focus magnification compatibility, while Canon's EOS R system integrates peaking within its Focus Guide system. Fujifilm X-series cameras with focus peaking include the X-T5, X-T4, X-T3, X-Pro3, and X-H1.

From the stables of Olympus, two models well documented with this feature are the Pen E-P5 and E-M10. On the E-P5 (2012), which is used for this shoot, the Peak Focusing On/Off menu item is nestled (Olympus style) four layers down the Custom Menu (Gearbox) tab. To set the feature, the sequence to follow is:

Custom Menu → AF / MF → MF Assist → Peaking → On/Off

Images for this test session were captured on an Olympus Pen E-P5, mounted with a legacy Zuiko OM 35mm f/2.8. The E-P5 was introduced by Olympus in 2012, while the seven-element, six-group Zuiko OM 35mm f/2.8 lens, recognized for its top-level image clarity, sharpness, and minimal aberrations and flare, was among the original batch of Zuiko lenses that debuted along with the OM system in the 1970s. The lens was once a very popular choice among photographers, and it was also one of the most affordable Zuiko lenses.

Olympus Pen E-P5, Zuiko OM 35mm f/2.8

While not all digital cameras are equipped with focus peaking functions, camera makers do provide other means of manual focus assist, including magnification (zooming in on the image) or focus assist functions to help you along.

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The Galleria, Photo of the Day

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

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

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

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