Olympus Zuiko 50mm f/1.8 Lens

[ColinEC]

Hi,

I'm currently using a Sony DSC-W200 point and shoot. It works well, however it does not have manual focus. Today I was toying around with my mother's Olympus OM-1 35mm SLR, and it had an Olympus F.Zuiko 50mm f/1.8 lens attached to it (which of course is a manual focus lens).

Can this lens be fitted to a modern camera? I love the focus and vignetting effects caused by these lens.

I'm considering purchasing either a Nikon D40 or an Olympus EP-1; is this lens compatible with either model?


Here's a photograph of the OM-1 along with the 50mm f/1.8 lens:

Thanks.

 

[oxfan]

According to dpreview.com Olympus are producing an adaptor to mount OM lenses on the E-P1 so you would be able to use the 50mm manual focus with stop-down metering, it would be the equivalent of about 90mm on a 35mm camera. You wouldn't be able to mount it on a D40.

 

[ColinEC]

Great, thanks a lot.

Are there any reasons to go with an EP-1 over a Nikon D40 aside from aesthetic/size differences between the two?

 

[compuwar]

Can this lens be fitted to a modern camera? I love the focus and vignetting effects caused by these lens.

Depth of field won't be the same on 4/3rds or APS-C, and you probably won't come close to vignetting on either sensor format, especially the small 4/3rds one. If you eventually want the same effects out of a FF 35mm digital body, your best bet is likely to be to go with Canon. There are EF adapters available. If you have the cash, you'd get equivalent effects out of an EOS 5D mk. I, otherwise, I'd get the adapter and go with a Digital Rebel if I wanted to use it, at least you'll be closer to FF size..

You'll want something like this:

http://www.rugift.com/photocameras/olympus_canon-eos-pro_adapter.htm

Paul