Zuiko 9-18 How is focus on E-M1

bgalb · Jan 30, 2015

I have been contemplating getting a FT 9-18 lens used which seems to be a little cheaper than the used MFT 9-18s I have seen. Tests show it is also a little sharper than the MFT version. Anyone who has used this lens on the E-M1, how well does it focus and how is the resolution? I don't care if it's fast. Just want reliability.

apathyman · Jan 30, 2015

bgalb said:
I have been contemplating getting a FT 9-18 lens used which seems to be a little cheaper than the used MFT 9-18s I have seen. Tests show it is also a little sharper than the MFT version. Anyone who has used this lens on the E-M1, how well does it focus and how is the resolution? I don't care if it's fast. Just want reliability.

I have the FT 9-18 but I use it on the E-M10.

I find it quite satisfactory - focus is slightly slower than with native m43 lenses but it's far from unacceptable. From what I've read, it should be even better on the E-M1 because it has phase detect autofocus support which is absent on the E-M10.

I found this article helpful:

http://left404.com/photos/43-lenses-on-m43-bodies/

Cheers

Brian

Fraenzken · Jan 31, 2015

bgalb said:
I have been contemplating getting a FT 9-18 lens used which seems to be a little cheaper than the used MFT 9-18s I have seen. Tests show it is also a little sharper than the MFT version. Anyone who has used this lens on the E-M1, how well does it focus and how is the resolution? I don't care if it's fast. Just want reliability.

I use this lens on my E-M1. It is not the fastest focusing lens. Unfortunately, it is not very reliable either - at least if you focus on fine repetitive detail like let's say a hedge or grass. Sometimes the pictures are just slightly oof, which gives horrible results to the edges that become very blurry then. My copy of the lens and my E-M1 seem o.k. (I sent them in to Olympus).

That said, if the focus is correct, the resolution of the pictures is extremely high.

ahaslett · Jan 31, 2015

Fraenzken said:
bgalb said:

I have been contemplating getting a FT 9-18 lens used which seems to be a little cheaper than the used MFT 9-18s I have seen. Tests show it is also a little sharper than the MFT version. Anyone who has used this lens on the E-M1, how well does it focus and how is the resolution? I don't care if it's fast. Just want reliability.

Click to expand...

I use this lens on my E-M1. It is not the fastest focusing lens. Unfortunately, it is not very reliable either - at least if you focus on fine repetitive detail like let's say a hedge or grass. Sometimes the pictures are just slightly oof, which gives horrible results to the edges that become very blurry then. My copy of the lens and my E-M1 seem o.k. (I sent them in to Olympus).

That said, if the focus is correct, the resolution of the pictures is extremely high.

--
http://naturfotos.bplaced.net/Mix/

I shoot mostly landscape with my FT 9-18mm and EM1/MMF3. Focussing works fine. The EM1 PDAF does need a clear vertical contrast feature to focus. This lens is supposed to be CDAF optimised but you can't tell with an EM1. Not as sharp as the Samyang 7.5mm FE, but that's hard to beat.

Not had an OOF problem, but landscape is stopped down.

Infinite are the arguments of mages. Truth is a jewel with many facets. Ursula K LeGuin

bgalb · Jan 31, 2015

Thanks for the info, All.

Klarno · Jan 31, 2015

The 9-18 is actually one of the select few Four Thirds lenses that would have focused without any problems at all on every MFT camera ever. On the E-M1 which forces PDAF and doesn't allow the 9-18's CDAF compatibility, it'll perform the same as it did on any Four Thirds DSLR (with the caveat that the E-M1's PDAF system, which only incorporates vertical AF sensors, can't focus on horizontal detail such as blinds).

--
http://www.photoklarno.com

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Zuiko 9-18 How is focus on E-M1

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