New Olympus "limiteds"

Jonathan Mac · Jun 30, 2011

Does anyone else think that the two newly announced lenses from Olympus look like they´re very much borrowing from the Pentax limited line of lenses in their style? All metal, smooth manual focus, small & reasonably fast. They seem to be priced like the DA limiteds too. Finally m4/3 has some useful primes, particularly the portrait lens which might finally allow m4/3 users to get a decent defocused background in portraits.

It would be nice if Pentax upped their game by releasing a couple of new DA limiteds, to make sure Oly doesn´t steal the show with small primes...

Meuh · Jun 30, 2011

They do look nice, also the new focus system as well... which im guessing will be faster at af-s than my k5 is with any of my lens.

Its nice to see olympus to bring out some decent glass for there 4/3 range, panasonic has been out doing them lately but in a way its the consumer who wins because you have two company's doing great things for one format

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Managarm · Jun 30, 2011

Jonathan Mac said:
Finally m4/3 has some useful primes, [...]

Finally? Most primes so far - 14mm f/2.5; 20mm f/1.7; 45mm f/2.8 and 25mm f/0.95 are very nice lenses. Only the 17mm f/2.8 and the discontinued 50mm f/0.95 were not completely up to the demand for great prime glass.

While those 2 new lenses look very promising - goodbye focus by wire - I would have wished for a pancake design (might not be doable with the 45mm). At least for me, m4/3 is all about being supercompact and I really like the 14mm and especially the instant classic 20mm pancakes. Sharp, fast, small - the same reasons why I also love the Pentax ltd pancakes (+ superior quality and handling).

ogl · Jun 30, 2011

Jonathan Mac said:
Does anyone else think that the two newly announced lenses from Olympus look like they´re very much borrowing from the Pentax limited line of lenses in their style? All metal, smooth manual focus, small & reasonably fast. They seem to be priced like the DA limiteds too. Finally m4/3 has some useful primes, particularly the portrait lens which might finally allow m4/3 users to get a decent defocused background in portraits.

It would be nice if Pentax upped their game by releasing a couple of new DA limiteds, to make sure Oly doesn´t steal the show with small primes...

Outstanding...Olympus started to make LIMITED instead of Pentax...BRAVO!!!

I don't understand why Pentax couldn't make new LIMITED lenses...
All old designers are pensioned off...I think.

DrugaRunda · Jun 30, 2011

look great, especially that 12mm f2
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zxaar · Jun 30, 2011

brighter side of all this is you can now buy oly and stop trolling here.

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miles green · Jun 30, 2011

I'm in! but what lengths? 8mm? 135? 500?
Some competition in the limited-style lens category will be a good thing!

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Miles Green
Corfu

chariotdriver · Jun 30, 2011

As toys look good, but I'm not impressed by the samples of 12/2. I miss the perspective and color rendering of 15/4 for example. But maybe it is a question of sensor or who knows... In fact I have never been impressed by the final results of Oly cameras.

biza43 · Jun 30, 2011

Jonathan Mac said:
Does anyone else think that the two newly announced lenses from Olympus look like they´re very much borrowing from the Pentax limited line of lenses in their style?

Or maybe from Contax G? Or Leica M? Or Zeiss? Or Voigtlander? It's not like it is rocket science to build solid metal lenses...

Jonathan Mac said:
It would be nice if Pentax upped their game by releasing a couple of new DA limiteds, to make sure Oly doesn´t steal the show with small primes...

Any specific focal lengths in mind? We already have 15, 21, 35, 40, 70... this is almost like a classic 1/2 stop progression in focal lenghts, so maybe next we should have 90, 150, 200, 300... Or perhaps you want 1/3 stop intervals in focal lenghts?

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Raist3d · Jun 30, 2011

I mean prime small metal lenses have existed for decades

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Raist3d/Ricardo (Photographer, software dev.)- "You are taking life too seriously if it bugs you in some way that a guy quotes himself in the .sig quote" - Ricardo

biza43 · Jun 30, 2011

ogl said:
Jonathan Mac said:

It would be nice if Pentax upped their game by releasing a couple of new DA limiteds, to make sure Oly doesn´t steal the show with small primes...

Click to expand...

Outstanding...Olympus started to make LIMITED instead of Pentax...BRAVO!!!

Since when are they labeled Limiteds by Olympus? And instead of? Come on... this is childish.

ogl said:
I don't understand why Pentax couldn't make new LIMITED lenses...

Perhaps because the focal lengths are already very well covered? DA Limiteds at 15, 21, 35, 40, 70. This is the classic 1/2 stop interval in focal lengths (as explained by John Shaw in his books). Unless you want 1/3 stop interval in focal lengths, which is overkill. And remember, you can also use the FA31 and 77 Limiteds... If you go to higher focal lenghts, forget about the Limited concept (small and very high quality).

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iamphil · Jul 1, 2011

Jonathan Mac said:
Does anyone else think that the two newly announced lenses from Olympus look like they´re very much borrowing from the Pentax limited line of lenses in their style? All metal, smooth manual focus, small & reasonably fast. They seem to be priced like the DA limiteds too. Finally m4/3 has some useful primes, particularly the portrait lens which might finally allow m4/3 users to get a decent defocused background in portraits.

It would be nice if Pentax upped their game by releasing a couple of new DA limiteds, to make sure Oly doesn´t steal the show with small primes...

Isn't it still focus by wire? Is the design mechanical now?

Managarm · Jul 1, 2011

iamphil said:
Isn't it still focus by wire? Is the design mechanical now?

"Olympus's take on the concept is to deliver a premium quality, large maximum aperture lens that becomes the first in the system to feature 'snap focus', a system by which the focus ring can be pulled back, engaging a modified manual focus mode. In this mode the lens is designed to feel much more like a conventional mechanically-operated manual focus lens, rather than the usual focus-by-wire behavior.

There are four major differences between 'snap focus' and conventional manual focus mode. Firstly, the relationship between the focus ring movement and the movement of the focusing elements is fixed - rather than being speed-sensitive. This direct relationship allows the focusing ring's movement to be stopped at either end of the focus travel which, in turn, has allowed Olympus to add proper distance and depth-of-field scales to the lens. The final difference you'll notice in snap focus mode is that the damping of the ring's movement has been modified to provide a little more resistance and more 'feel.' Such engineering touches don't come cheap, of course, but really do help make the lens feel like a high-end manual focus optic. Right up until you decide you want to re-engage the super-fast autofocus."

Greetings

iamphil · Jul 2, 2011

From that description it sounds like it's still focus by wire, just tuned to emulate a mechanical ring.

Managarm said:
iamphil said:

Isn't it still focus by wire? Is the design mechanical now?

Click to expand...

"Olympus's take on the concept is to deliver a premium quality, large maximum aperture lens that becomes the first in the system to feature 'snap focus', a system by which the focus ring can be pulled back, engaging a modified manual focus mode. In this mode the lens is designed to feel much more like a conventional mechanically-operated manual focus lens, rather than the usual focus-by-wire behavior.

There are four major differences between 'snap focus' and conventional manual focus mode. Firstly, the relationship between the focus ring movement and the movement of the focusing elements is fixed - rather than being speed-sensitive. This direct relationship allows the focusing ring's movement to be stopped at either end of the focus travel which, in turn, has allowed Olympus to add proper distance and depth-of-field scales to the lens. The final difference you'll notice in snap focus mode is that the damping of the ring's movement has been modified to provide a little more resistance and more 'feel.' Such engineering touches don't come cheap, of course, but really do help make the lens feel like a high-end manual focus optic. Right up until you decide you want to re-engage the super-fast autofocus."

Greetings

Pentax_Prime · Jul 2, 2011

Still focus by wire, still only covering 4/3 sensors, no aperture ring, no QS, and no evidence that they are strong performers optically. The only thing Limited about these lenses are their appeal.

iamphil said:
Jonathan Mac said:

Does anyone else think that the two newly announced lenses from Olympus look like they´re very much borrowing from the Pentax limited line of lenses in their style? All metal, smooth manual focus, small & reasonably fast. They seem to be priced like the DA limiteds too. Finally m4/3 has some useful primes, particularly the portrait lens which might finally allow m4/3 users to get a decent defocused background in portraits.

It would be nice if Pentax upped their game by releasing a couple of new DA limiteds, to make sure Oly doesn´t steal the show with small primes...

Click to expand...

Isn't it still focus by wire? Is the design mechanical now?

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Managarm · Jul 4, 2011

iamphil said:
From that description it sounds like it's still focus by wire, just tuned to emulate a mechanical ring.

Yes, sounds like that. But at least the main downsides of the "traditional" focus by wire should be gone as it now isn't speed sensitive and you can actually reach both ends of the focus travel.

Let's just wait and see how good or bad it turns out.

Tan68 · Jul 4, 2011

many people would like to see a 30mm LTD
i think 28-30 makes a better "standard" lens than 35
i think they should make a 29.
that follows the progression 15> 21> 29> 40 at ~1.4x
plus, 29 is more oddball than 30 and suits Pentax focal length decisions.

biza43 said:
Perhaps because the focal lengths are already very well covered? DA Limiteds at 15, 21, 35, 40, 70. This is the classic 1/2 stop interval in focal lengths (as explained by John Shaw in his books).

Jolly Oly · Jul 4, 2011

Pentax_Prime said:
Still focus by wire, still only covering 4/3 sensors, no aperture ring, no QS, and no evidence that they are strong performers optically. The only thing Limited about these lenses are their appeal.

I think the most Limited thing here is your knowledge about Olympus glass.
Hello forum, btw

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cheers
JO

http://kresimir.smugmug.com

Pentax_Prime · Jul 4, 2011

Yet, you appear to agree on all points. Good try kid.

Jolly Oly said:
Pentax_Prime said:

Still focus by wire, still only covering 4/3 sensors, no aperture ring, no QS, and no evidence that they are strong performers optically. The only thing Limited about these lenses are their appeal.

Click to expand...

I think the most Limited thing here is your knowledge about Olympus glass.
Hello forum, btw
--
cheers
JO

http://kresimir.smugmug.com

--
My Website
http://www.andrewallenphoto.com

My Pentax Street Gallery - Arranged By Lens Used
http://photobucket.com/andy_allen

Managarm · Jul 4, 2011

Pentax_Prime said:
Yet, you appear to agree on all points. Good try kid.

Well, I don't agree on all points.

Pentax_Prime said:
still only covering 4/3 sensors

I hardly think there will ever be a fullframe µFT as this would contradict the whole concept, so I don't see the point. Olympus will also for sure never go APS-C. Also most Pentax limiteds "only" cover APS-C.

Pentax_Prime said:
no aperture ring

Again, the DA limiteds also don't have one. Too bad for those and Olympus, as I really enjoy aperture rings.

Pentax_Prime said:
no QS

Seems like you never had an Olympus, since any (µ)FT lens on any recent µ(FT) body is able to do exactly the same as QS on the DA limiteds. This function is being activated on the body (S-AF+MF), instead of the lens. This time, the FA limiteds don't have QS, you seem to mix the functions of DAs and FAs up as you please.

Pentax_Prime said:
no evidence that they are strong performers optically

But also not that they aren't strong performers, since they are brandnew and not even released in most countries. If they meet good old FT standards, then they should do very well. But that remains to be seen.

I wouldn't say that Olympus mimics the limited series, these new lenses are just also small and seem to offer high build quality (perhaps also optical quality). But there are dozens of lenses also sharing these properties, actually there have been decades ago, even before the limiteds.

My collection of Pentax limited lenses definitely also would welcome great new Olympus glass.

Greetings

New Olympus "limiteds"

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