Using OM lens with E-PM2 newbie question

Hello,

I'm making my first foray into the m4/3 world having just got the E-PM2 with the 14-42 and 40-150 lens kit.

I'd like to add a Prime lens and was thinking of getting a legacy OM 50mm 1.8 lens and m4/3 adapter to use with this camera, since the dedicated Prime is not in my budget currently.

I would like to get some comments on this combo of E-PM2 with the 50mm if someone has tried it before. How well does it perform for portraits and is it easy to manually focus this lens with the E-PM2.

Also would like some thoughts on getting a cheap $10 eBay adapter like this one (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Olympus-OM-Lens-to-Micro-4-3-M43-Mount-Adapter-for-EPL3-EP2-EP3-GF1-GH1-G3-G2-G1-/381077141270?pt=US_Lens_Adapters_Mounts_Tubes&hash=item58b9f7b716) vs the Fotodiox.

Any comments would be appreciated

Thanks!

The adapter will probably be fine. I buy the cheap ones too. The OM 50 is a good lens. Don't pay too much for it. I've used one on several of the PEN's, including EPM1, EPL1, and EPL5. It's the same on all of them, except having the tilt LCD on the EPL5 was the best.

Manual focus in magnify mode is pretty straight forward. You will need to program a button on the EPM2 to invoke magnify mode, but it does have two buttons for this purpose. EPM2 should do fine.

2raj wrote:

would like some thoughts on getting a cheap $10 eBay adapter /Olympus-OM-Lens-to-Micro-4-3-M43-Mount-

I got an ebay cheap adapter OM to m4/3 for a Zuiko MC 200mm/f4 (also an ebay purchase).

It works very well, except that manual focus is a little difficult for me (roughly 50% keeps)

farmer35 wrote:

I've really enjoyed the old lenses. Even the hunt for them is fun. If you live in USA you might check out Rainbow imaging. I've had good luck with their adapters and you can pick up the m43 inside lens caps to go with it for next to nothing.

Thanks. I'll check out Rainbow Imaging.

Can you clarify what you mean by "m43 inside lens caps"? Are you referring to the Olympus Body Cap Lens? I already got the BCL-1580 15mm/f8.

hindesite wrote:

The OM 50/1.8 is very good on m4/3, I have used a couple (with different results) on both an E-P1 and G6. Not as sharp as the 45/1.8, nor as convenient, but definitely useful. And cheap.

Would you recommend the OM 50/1.8 over other brand (Nikon, Canon etc.) lenses to use with the E-PM2?

The main problem you will have is judging focus, with no EVF and no focus peaking you will need to use magnified view which wasn't implemented at all well on the E-P1; maybe it is better on the E-PM2 (it isn't good on the E-PM1, either).

Thanks for the tip. I'll try to program one of the buttons to Zoom to help with manual focussing.

Pretty much any cheap adapter will do, the advantage f the OM lenses is that the adapter don't need any release button or moving parts. I prefer adapters with tripod mounts, so they can support heavier lenses without straining the camera.

So, you think going with the $10 adapter over more expensive ones is ok?

-- hide signature --

http://hindesite.co.nz

baxters wrote:

The adapter will probably be fine. I buy the cheap ones too. The OM 50 is a good lens. Don't pay too much for it. I've used one on several of the PEN's, including EPM1, EPL1, and EPL5. It's the same on all of them, except having the tilt LCD on the EPL5 was the best.

What's a reasonable price to pay for the OM 50, and are there things to watch-out for before buying?

Manual focus in magnify mode is pretty straight forward. You will need to program a button on the EPM2 to invoke magnify mode, but it does have two buttons for this purpose. EPM2 should do fine.

Any suggestion on which button to program for zoom?

Thanks!

Valentinian wrote:

2raj wrote:

would like some thoughts on getting a cheap $10 eBay adapter /Olympus-OM-Lens-to-Micro-4-3-M43-Mount-

I got an ebay cheap adapter OM to m4/3 for a Zuiko MC 200mm/f4 (also an ebay purchase).

It works very well, except that manual focus is a little difficult for me (roughly 50% keeps)

Thanks. Any other suggestions on primes?

2raj wrote:

hindesite wrote:

The OM 50/1.8 is very good on m4/3, I have used a couple (with different results) on both an E-P1 and G6. Not as sharp as the 45/1.8, nor as convenient, but definitely useful. And cheap.

Would you recommend the OM 50/1.8 over other brand (Nikon, Canon etc.) lenses to use with the E-PM2?

I love to shoot flowers with G1 + Nikon ai 50mm f/1.8 (why Nikon, becuase I have a few of them back from the film slr time, so 0 cost to me). I used a <US$5 non-brand adapter plus a monopod. My Panny bodies automatically magnified on manual focusing.

The main problem you will have is judging focus, with no EVF and no focus peaking you will need to use magnified view which wasn't implemented at all well on the E-P1; maybe it is better on the E-PM2 (it isn't good on the E-PM1, either).

Thanks for the tip. I'll try to program one of the buttons to Zoom to help with manual focussing.

Pretty much any cheap adapter will do, the advantage f the OM lenses is that the adapter don't need any release button or moving parts. I prefer adapters with tripod mounts, so they can support heavier lenses without straining the camera.

So, you think going with the $10 adapter over more expensive ones is ok?

-- hide signature --

http://hindesite.co.nz

-- hide signature --

Just a Pixelpusher, currently experimenting with Fuji HS10 and Panasonic LX5

alcelc wrote:

I love to shoot flowers with G1 + Nikon ai 50mm f/1.8 (why Nikon, becuase I have a few of them back from the film slr time, so 0 cost to me). I used a <US$5 non-brand adapter plus a monopod. My Panny bodies automatically magnified on manual focusing.

alcelc: Is the Nikon a macro lens?

Thanks

farmer35 wrote:

2raj wrote:

farmer35 wrote:

I've really enjoyed the old lenses. Even the hunt for them is fun. If you live in USA you might check out Rainbow imaging. I've had good luck with their adapters and you can pick up the m43 inside lens caps to go with it for next to nothing.

Thanks. I'll check out Rainbow Imaging.

Can you clarify what you mean by "m43 inside lens caps"? Are you referring to the Olympus Body Cap Lens? I already got the BCL-1580 15mm/f8.

It's a cap to protect the inside of the lens when it's not on the camera. It will fit on the side of the adapter that attaches to the camera and keep it closed up when you have the adapter mounted on the lens. I think they sell a body cap/inside lens cap combo for under a dollar. The ones I got from them had Lumix written on them but they work just fine on my Olympus stuff. Last time I ordered from them they offered free shipping on any order over $15.00 so if you order an adapter you need some odds and ends stuff anyway to get up to $15.

Thanks for the additional info.

2raj wrote:

alcelc wrote:

I love to shoot flowers with G1 + Nikon ai 50mm f/1.8 (why Nikon, becuase I have a few of them back from the film slr time, so 0 cost to me). I used a <US$5 non-brand adapter plus a monopod. My Panny bodies automatically magnified on manual focusing.

alcelc: Is the Nikon a macro lens?

Thanks

None, but it could focus very close up with nice bokeh and silk-like smooth focusing ring... and free of charge.

farmer35 wrote:

2raj wrote:

farmer35 wrote:

I've really enjoyed the old lenses. Even the hunt for them is fun. If you live in USA you might check out Rainbow imaging. I've had good luck with their adapters and you can pick up the m43 inside lens caps to go with it for next to nothing.

Thanks. I'll check out Rainbow Imaging.

Can you clarify what you mean by "m43 inside lens caps"? Are you referring to the Olympus Body Cap Lens? I already got the BCL-1580 15mm/f8.

It's a cap to protect the inside of the lens when it's not on the camera. It will fit on the side of the adapter that attaches to the camera and keep it closed up when you have the adapter mounted on the lens. I think they sell a body cap/inside lens cap combo for under a dollar. The ones I got from them had Lumix written on them but they work just fine on my Olympus stuff. Last time I ordered from them they offered free shipping on any order over $15.00 so if you order an adapter you need some odds and ends stuff anyway to get up to $15.

Of course, because the mount of the adapter (attach to camera's end) is a M43 mount and so any M43 lens end cap would do.

alcelc wrote:

2raj wrote:

alcelc wrote:

I love to shoot flowers with G1 + Nikon ai 50mm f/1.8 (why Nikon, becuase I have a few of them back from the film slr time, so 0 cost to me). I used a <US$5 non-brand adapter plus a monopod. My Panny bodies automatically magnified on manual focusing.

alcelc: Is the Nikon a macro lens?

Thanks

None, but it could focus very close up with nice bokeh and silk-like smooth focusing ring... and free of charge.

Forget to mention, old manual film lenses of any kind would be better than newer AF lenses in 2 aspects. 1) There are aperture control ring on the ring by which we could precisely set the aperture on the lens instead of through the one on adapter that is a wild guess (despite all M43' A mode won't care with it anyway and we could see the effect through real time live preview). 2) Cheaper and quality assurance on a just flinch distance modification adapter.

alcelc wrote:

alcelc wrote:

2raj wrote:

alcelc wrote:

I love to shoot flowers with G1 + Nikon ai 50mm f/1.8 (why Nikon, becuase I have a few of them back from the film slr time, so 0 cost to me). I used a <US$5 non-brand adapter plus a monopod. My Panny bodies automatically magnified on manual focusing.

alcelc: Is the Nikon a macro lens?

Thanks

None, but it could focus very close up with nice bokeh and silk-like smooth focusing ring... and free of charge.

Forget to mention, old manual film lenses of any kind would be better than newer AF lenses in 2 aspects. 1) There are aperture control ring on the ring by which we could precisely set the aperture on the lens instead of through the one on adapter that is a wild guess (despite all M43' A mode won't care with it anyway and we could see the effect through real time live preview). 2) Cheaper and quality assurance on a just flinch distance modification adapter.

Any recommendations for good legacy portrait lenses and long zoom lens for birding?

Thanks

You don't have to use OM lenses, you can use lenses from just about any system you like, Canon and Konica lenses are also very good. If you do go with a Canon lens, just make sure you get a new FD lens (FDn) rather than an old breach lock lens which can be hard to mount on adapters.