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

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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.

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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.