Testing some lenses 14mm - 50mm

It was an ugly day outside, so I spent some time testing the lenses I have on hand in the 14-50mm range.

• OM 35/2.8 (old SC version)
• OM 50/1.8 (new MC/MIJ version0
• ZD 35/3.5 macro
• ZD 14-42
• ZD 40-150
• MZD 12-50
• MZD 14-42
• MZD 40-150
• Bower 7.5/3.5 fisheye (for fun)

The first thing that became apparent is that my big thumbs are still not used to the small buttons on the E-M5 - many mistakes using the way controller on the back, and the info button is nearly impossible to get first time. I'd love to get my hands on an E-M1 and E-M10 to compare.

Still checking over the results, but a few surprises...

zuikowesty wrote:

It was an ugly day outside, so I spent some time testing the lenses I have on hand in the 14-50mm range.

• OM 35/2.8 (old SC version)
• OM 50/1.8 (new MC/MIJ version0
• ZD 35/3.5 macro
• ZD 14-42
• ZD 40-150
• MZD 12-50
• MZD 14-42
• MZD 40-150
• Bower 7.5/3.5 fisheye (for fun)

The first thing that became apparent is that my big thumbs are still not used to the small buttons on the E-M5 - many mistakes using the way controller on the back, and the info button is nearly impossible to get first time. I'd love to get my hands on an E-M1 and E-M10 to compare.

Still checking over the results, but a few surprises...

First I have compared the OM 35, ZD 35, ZD 14-42 & MZD 14-42, MZD 12-50 at 35mm, and the two 40-150s at 40mm on the same bookshelf.

The OM 35 is soft and glows nicely at f/2.8 as expected, but sharpens up nicely by f/5.6, and has the 2nd highest centre sharpness of the lot at f/5.6, with the corners still very respectable. Not bad for a lens bought new in 1976 that has been through a lot, including a sand filled focus helicoid, and sells for next to nothing on eBay.

The MZD 40-150 is slightly sharper in the centre from f/4 to f/8, but the OM 35 beats it on edge sharpness, so it is 2nd overall.

The rest (at f/5.6) fall in order: ZD 35 macro, ZD 14-42, ZD 40-150, MZD 12-50, MZD 14-42.

Hardly a scientific test, and I will try to post some 1:1 samples. I was quite surprised at the 35 macro placing 3rd, and the big difference between the new and old 40-150s at the 40mm end. Also a bit disappointing that the new 14-42 is so soft compared to the ZD version, and the twitchy zoom on the new 14-42 was annoying as well (IS was off).

Next I will compare at 14mm.