Vintage Lens Test - Olympus Zuiko 50mm f1.4

[@KNURKonesur]

I only ever had its bigger brother, the 55/1.2. I liked it quite a lot, and it had some interesting and unique warped bokeh. Never used this 50/1.4, but seen samples several times and I was always impressed, given the size of the lens and relative abudance/price.

[@GrumpyTim]

Hi KNURKonesur, the 55 f1.2 is a bit of a dream lens, if I ever see one cheap enough I'll add it to the collection. I have a bit of a nostalgic soft spot for the old Olympus gear - it looked so cool when I was a kid, and didn't seem quite so out of reach as stuff like Nikon and so on. I've recently got myself an OM-20, which now has film in it - must remember to try the 50 f1.4 on it rather than the 1.8 that was attached when I bought it.

[@hugomartinsphoto]

This was a really nice review, Tim! thank you!

[@GrumpyTim]

Thanks Hugo, I'm very fond of this lens, not least of all because, as a kid, the Olympus stuff always seemed really cool compared to whatever I had myself. Plus, I really like the images that come out of it. I just had a look at your stuff - I absolutely love your style, I'll be watching more from your channel.

[@hugomartinsphoto]

@@GrumpyTim Hi! Yeah, i must say i really like the Olympus cameras as well. If it was all looks I would probably have one too. Love that proper vintage style. And thank you very much for your look and support. I am really glad to hear you enjoyed the content! Wishing you a great week!😉🍻

[@DavidFlowerOfficial]

Looks like a nice lens, Tim. I don't have a 50 1.4 at this point so this is another one to look into. That Castrol sign looked ace btw, cracking job on that. Great video mate 🖖😁

[@GrumpyTim]

Cheers David, I'm chuffed to bits with how the Castrol sign turned out, I think I'll be making more stuff like that soon. The f1.4 lenses are a bit of an unnecessary indulgence, f1.8 will do the job really well too - I'd kind of like to try an f1.2 but I'm way too tight to pay for one of those, unless I get really lucky one day.

[@DavidFlowerOfficial]

@@GrumpyTim Yeah I've found that 1.8 is enough for my night shoots even on apsc, but every bit helps to keep that noise in check. I'm also too tight to be dropping 1.2 money so we're in agreement there😁

[@ohjajohh]

A Zuiko is still on my wish-list! I've only heard great things about it, but unfortunately never used one myself.

[@GrumpyTim]

Cheers ohjajohh, I'm really impressed with the Zuiko lenses that I've already got (the 50mm f1.4 and 1.8) and quite fancy adding more to the collection - I should be able to get a 28mm f2.8 easy enough but I'm unlikely to find a 21mm f3.5 at a price I'm happy to pay!!! Cheers for watching.

[@ArminHirmer]

nice video

[@GrumpyTim]

Cheers Armin, having taken a bit of a turn back in time I'm now mostly shooting old film cameras again, and that lens now sits happily on my OM-20

[@radiogagag9352]

Again great shots, they are a pleasure to watch! A while ago I bought an OM 40 with the standard 50 mm 2.8 for a few bugs in a second hand photo shop. And there was also laying around a 50mm 1.4 for only 19 Euro because the rubber focus ring was missing and I bought it. I replaced the ring with self adhesive foam rubber and otherwise it is in perfect conditions. Recently I made a few first shots on a b&w film, but I didn't find the time to develop it yet. But your video of course motivated me now to do that as soon as possible. I'm looking forward for the results. And I think I'll also have a look for an suitable adapter for my Fuji X-T20. So thanks for your inspiring content!

[@GrumpyTim]

I definitely want to add an Olympus camera body to my collection - OM10, OM20, OM2 or whatever, I just love how they look. Your 50mm f1.4 was a bit of a bargain, well done for spotting that. I've had a film in my Zeiss Ikon Contaflex for a couple of years and I'm trying to finish it at the moment so I can get it processed - unlike digital, I tend to be reluctant to waste shots and therefore never take any at all. I used to rattle off film without a care back before digital but now it seems really weird not to be able to review your shots as soon as you take them. Once I've finished the film in the Contaflex I'll pop a film in one of my other cameras, maybe a Pentax Spotmatic or Chinon CX. Thanks for watching - I have watched your latest video but I want to watch it again and then I'll comment - that's just such an amazing machine - really impressive.

[@radiogagag9352]

@@GrumpyTim That sounds great. I am not a specialist in old cameras, but I have a week spot for Olympus cameras since my father had a Olympus 35 RC (which is still alive) when I was a child and I took my first photographs with. My second inherited camera is a Zeiss Super Nettel, which my grandfather bought in 1935. A few years ago I found a guy who changed the silk ribbon shutter strips. So the camera is still usable today since it uses regular 35 mm films. It is very interesting for me to see how you are comparing similar lenses from different manufacturers. It is really astonishing how visible the differences are.

[@GrumpyTim]

Hi Radio GaGag, I do rather love the old cameras - I don't have a huge collection, but it's fun to find the odd one at a bargain price now and then - some brands like Olympus and Nikon seem to hold their value so I don't have any of them yet. Great that you had the silk ribbon shutter strips replaced - there's at least one camera in my collection where those have rotted - I might get round to fixing and using them all one day........ It's so easy to compare these lenses using digital - you get instant results and can learn lots about the lenses characteristics - I don't tend to get too excited about "which lens is best" I just enjoy them as they come.

[@tez803]

@@GrumpyTim Hi Tim have you done anything with Canon cameras and FD lens range.

[@GrumpyTim]

I have a couple of third party Canon FD lenses, a 28mm Super Ozeck II and a 135mm Tamron Adaptall, both of which I use on my Micro 4/3 cameras using an adapter. I did a video showing the Super Ozeck here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKvdk2Z7lNmLg5o I haven't used any Canon FD bodies though.

[@michaelschnittker7388]

Very fun video! Thank you!

[@GrumpyTim]

Thanks Michael, I'm really fond of the old Olympus gear like this - it always had a distinctive look, which still looks good to this day.

[@stevocem]

Nice video, thanks! There is also one more thing: The newest version of the Zuiko 50 1.4 seems to be the sharpest one, according to some reviews. However, it is increasingly difficult to find it.

[@GrumpyTim]

Hi Stefan, I'd heard about the newest ones apparently being sharper, but I wasn't sure when that change happened - maybe it was when they swapped from the silver nose to black, or maybe you can only tell from the serial numbers. I'd hazard a guess that even the earlier ones are still pretty nice to use. One day I'll get one of the 28mm Zuiko lenses - I'd like the 21mm as well, but that's not about to happen unless I get VERY lucky at a boot sale or something!!!!!!

[@stevocem]

@@GrumpyTim Yes, the entire Olympus lineup is interesting. However, the prices became stratospheric, sadly…. I am looking at the wide angles and at the 50 1.2, but… Expensive… The Olympus 50 1.4 over serial number 1.1 Mio. is the one to find… Cheers

[@GrumpyTim]

Awesome, thanks for the info Stefan. Yep, I'm with you about the prices of the f1.2 - I don't technically need a 50 f1.2 but I'd definitely like to try one, guess I'll keep searching at the boot markets, just in case.......

[@BensWorkshop]

Interesting. For some reason I missed the notification for this. I do like the Castrol sign.

[@GrumpyTim]

Cheers Ben, I think the KZbin notifications sometimes don't happen for whatever reason. Ta for watching. I'm well chuffed with the Castrol sign - I'll be doing more in a similar theme soon.....

[@BensWorkshop]

@@GrumpyTim I noticed it via another channel. It's possible that I got it on this one but it got buried. The signs are good. 👍