E5 and SHG's still doing the job

[IanColley]

I'm up late tonight processing photos from some Jet boat racing last weekend and just about to call it a night and thought I might post a couple of photos for those of us still using the old gear. I have two EM-1's but still prefer to use my E5 for this motor sport. Lenses used were 35-100 f2 plus ec14 and 90-250 f2.8 . Thanks Dave (Dav) for the use of the 90-250. I have downsized the photos to 2400 pixels on the long side and hopefully they come up ok on the site. I'll keep the E5 and 4/3rds lenses until they die, unfortunately what has happened to my 50-200SWD. Have to figure out what I want to replace it with now.













Regards Ian

 

[drj3]

Very good images.

In the USA the flat rate repair for the 50-200 SWD is $234, I don't know where you live. Mine failed about 8 months ago and I had it repaired. It works well on the E-M1 MkI and even better on the E-M1 MkII.

 

[19andrew47]

These are excellent Ian! Well captured with great technique!

Andrew

 

[bthomas001]

Superb images! Very well done! Go E-5 and SHG lenses!

 

[Henry Stamm]

Really nice action shots. Being able to see faces & eyes is a real bonus.

 

[IanColley]

Very good images.

In the USA the flat rate repair for the 50-200 SWD is $234, I don't know where you live. Mine failed about 8 months ago and I had it repaired. It works well on the E-M1 MkI and even better on the E-M1 MkII.

 

[IanColley]

These are excellent Ian! Well captured with great technique!

Andrew

Thanks Andrew

Regards Ian

 

[IanColley]

Superb images! Very well done! Go E-5 and SHG lenses!

Thanks, it's still very capable gear.

Regards Ian

 

[IanColley]

Really nice action shots. Being able to see faces & eyes is a real bonus.

 

[drj3]

Very good images.

In the USA the flat rate repair for the 50-200 SWD is $234, I don't know where you live. Mine failed about 8 months ago and I had it repaired. It works well on the E-M1 MkI and even better on the E-M1 MkII.

 

[IanColley]

I have had the lens to Oly Australia and was quoted $192 to repair, unfortunately the S-Frame unit (controls aperture I believe and only costs $32) is no longer available as a spare part. Oly Japan and U.S. don't have stock and I have contacted many repairers and nobody stocks the part.

Regards Ian

The S-Frame unit was what was repaired on mine (after 6 years and several hundred thousand images) last August. I did have to wait about 3 weeks for them to get the part an repair it.

I knew that the non-SWD version of the lens had problems with getting repair parts, but I had not heard anything about the SWD parts not being available.

I find it very strange that they would not have this part. The Olympus USA website still has the lens for sale new. They don't say anything about not having the 4 year extended warranty available.

--
drj3

From what I gather Olympus made a certain amount of those parts when the lens was new and unfortunately because they failed more often than expected they ran out quicker than usual, and they have no intention of making any more parts to keep them going. An approach I find more than a little disappointing as an owner of 2 x SHG's and 2 x HG lenses plus teles. I have asked Oly Australia to inform me of the spare parts availability for the SHG lenses because I am still interested in owning a 90-250 but so far no reply. I expressed my disappointment to Oly Australia informing them that these lenses have been sold new until recently in Australia and are still available new in the U.S., so Oly Japan is supposed to have parts to honour warranties at the very least, apparently not. The message here may be to look after your "old" 4/3rds HG and SHG lenses.

I am still thinking about sending an email off to Oly Japan because I would like to keep this lens going. A $1500 lens unusable for the lack of a $32 part.

Regards Ian

 

[Messier Object]

Good action very well captured Ian.

I some respects I still find the E-5 does a better job with my 300/2.8 than my E-M1 II.

My 50-200 SWD has only a few 1000 clicks on it so I'm hoping it keeps going as long as I do.

Peter

 

[IanColley]

Good action very well captured Ian.

I some respects I still find the E-5 does a better job with my 300/2.8 than my E-M1 II.

My 50-200 SWD has only a few 1000 clicks on it so I'm hoping it keeps going as long as I do.

Peter

Thanks Peter,

I used the 90-250 on both the E5 and E-M1 mkI on the day and got better results (focus wise) with the E5. It is a magnificent lens even if it is a bit of a beast trying to follow these race boats in tight. The E5 seems to be able to move the focus elements quicker in these big lenses and as the light fades in the afternoon the E5 starts to pull ahead of the E-M1 mkI with it's double cross focus points.

With regards to the 50-200SWD, I'm looking at replacing it with another one (2nd hand) or buying a Panny 100-400 but I'd like to continue using the E5 for some sports. I tried the Panny a couple of weeks ago in a shop and was impressed with it's focus speed. I was amazed though at the difference in the zoom stiffness on the 2 examples in the shop, one was about the same as my 50-200SWD and the other one was as stiff as, unacceptably so. The guys in the shop were surprised at the difference between the two.

If I buy another 50-200SWD I can't fix the thing if the most common problem with that lens rears it's head. I'm waiting for Panny to get the 50-200 to the market or Oly to make something longer than the 40-150 that will take their tele. Don't think I can wait that long.

Regards Ian

 

[Messier Object]

Good action very well captured Ian.

I some respects I still find the E-5 does a better job with my 300/2.8 than my E-M1 II.

My 50-200 SWD has only a few 1000 clicks on it so I'm hoping it keeps going as long as I do.

Peter

Thanks Peter,

I used the 90-250 on both the E5 and E-M1 mkI on the day and got better results (focus wise) with the E5. It is a magnificent lens even if it is a bit of a beast trying to follow these race boats in tight. The E5 seems to be able to move the focus elements quicker in these big lenses and as the light fades in the afternoon the E5 starts to pull ahead of the E-M1 mkI with it's double cross focus points.

problem with the Mk II is that despite having 121 cross points it has no Small Single Target box, and it has a bad habit of focusing on things well outside the single box making it even larger, resulting in frustratingly poor precision. The E5 kills the Mark II in that respect

With regards to the 50-200SWD, I'm looking at replacing it with another one (2nd hand)

I have both 50-200 versions, both with low mileage and still mint. Hopefully they will keep going as long as I do

did you see this ?

ending in a few hours

Loading…

www.ebay.com.au

local .au seller ships only to Aus

Peter

or buying a Panny 100-400 but I'd like to continue using the E5 for some sports. I tried the Panny a couple of weeks ago in a shop and was impressed with it's focus speed. I was amazed though at the difference in the zoom stiffness on the 2 examples in the shop, one was about the same as my 50-200SWD and the other one was as stiff as, unacceptably so. The guys in the shop were surprised at the difference between the two.

If I buy another 50-200SWD I can't fix the thing if the most common problem with that lens rears it's head. I'm waiting for Panny to get the 50-200 to the market or Oly to make something longer than the 40-150 that will take there tele. Don't think I can wait that long.

Regards Ian

 

[IanColley]

problem with the Mk II is that despite having 121 cross points it has no Small Single Target box, and it has a bad habit of focusing on things well outside the single box making it even larger, resulting in frustratingly poor precision. The E5 kills the Mark II in that respect

Yep, have found the same when I have tested the E-M1 mkII . MkI does the same and as a result I shoot with single point, both small and normal depending on the situation. When at a racetrack with lots of trees around the track very often the trees will get picked even if they are outside the indicated focus area, a major pain.

did you see this ?

ending in a few hours

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Olympus-...053897?hash=item1ec7f9c589:g:T5YAAOSw-K9ZJrFo

local .au seller ships only to Aus

Thanks for the link, it's in Brisbane too. I'd like to be able to try whatever I buy before I hand over the money but Ebay guarantee should be good enough. Very interested.

Regards Ian

 

[john isaacs]

I am still thinking about sending an email off to Oly Japan because I would like to keep this lens going. A $1500 lens unusable for the lack of a $32 part.

Regards Ian

Lenses are now as much electronics as hardware. There is more chance for them to fail, and more chance for old models to lose support.

One of the many reasons I sold most of my 4/3 lenses.

 

[IanColley]

I am still thinking about sending an email off to Oly Japan because I would like to keep this lens going. A $1500 lens unusable for the lack of a $32 part.

Regards Ian

Lenses are now as much electronics as hardware. There is more chance for them to fail, and more chance for old models to lose support.

Yep no argument from me about lenses becoming more electronic and more prone to failure but what is disappointing is the fact that even though this lens was released about 9 or 10 years ago it was sold new in Australia as recently as a year ago and is still available overseas new and Olympus Japan don't have the part available to fix the most common fault with this lens. Based on that, warranties can't even be covered it would appear. Which then raises the question for all those who forked out for the 90-250 and 300 f2.8's, not a small investment in glass by any means and still available new, are parts available for those ?

One of the many reasons I sold most of my 4/3 lenses.

The are a couple of reasons why I kept my 4/3rds lens (2 x HG and 2 x SHG) and they include my preference for their combination of sharpness and nice out of focus backgrounds and another is their ability to maintain focus while pulling the zoom during shot bursts, something that is not possible with m4/3rds lenses. They suit my shooting style but that may have to change.

Regards Ian

 

[NjoyCam]

Action shots with such clarity, detail and colors...

Very well done.

 

[IanColley]

Action shots with such clarity, detail and colors...

Very well done.

Thanks NjoyCam

 

[dav]

Hey Ian, great photos as usual and expected from you and that gear.....glad you liked the lens, it is one of quality over performance speed though , no digital correction will ever beat optical correction for smoothness. Hope to see you at the next round too. Perhaps you will have your own 90-250 by then and I can use mine