The Olympus 50mm F2.0 macro is a member of Olympus’s ‘Pro’ family of lenses, and is correspondingly well-built. Olympus 50mm F2.0 robustly constructed with a metal lens mount and plastic outer barrel, with the extending section also apparently constructed of metal. Olympus advertise this lens as ‘splashproof’, and Olympus 50mm F2.0 incorporates seals around the mount and extending focus unit to prevent dust and water ingress. Olympus 50mm F2.0 pretty compact for a macro lens, so this is one case where the Four Thirds system delivers on its promise of smaller, lighter lenses. The most striking aspect of the Olympus 50mm F2.0′s design is the substantial increase in length on focusing, which is far from unusual for a macro lens.
The Olympus 50mm F2.0 difference between Olympus Zuiko 12-60mm F2.8-4.0
Olympus continue to make best lens and the Olympus Zuiko 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 and Olympus 50mm F2.0 are out now in the market. The Olympus 50mm F2.0 main optical unit extends 34mm/1.3″ on focusing from infinity to 0.2m, and the rear lens group moves separately in a floating system to maximize image quality at all distances. Unusually for what is described as a dual-purpose lens, there’s no focus distance limiter switch for portrait work. On the other hand, Olympus Zuiko 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 causes problems with lighting of the subject when the front element is as little as 5cm away. The lens is also sufficiently bulky as to cause shadowing of the built-in flash with more compact DSLRs such as the E510 and E4x0 series. Also the distortion at wideangle is very pronounced, and unusually complex, which means users will have to reach for specialist software tools if they wish to correct it. Olympus Zuiko 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 allows fine manual focus adjustments at any time even with the camera set to autofocus mode. This lens features Olympus’s newly developed Supersonic Wave Drive autofocus motor. It is essentially much the same as the ultrasonic-type motors now used by almost all manufacturers. This digital camera performed extremely well in real-world use. While optimum performance is certainly attained using the E-3, Olympus Zuiko 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 will also benefit substantially from the new SWD system, which is noticeably faster and quieter than the micro motors used on lenses such as the 14-54mm. To get more of Olympus Zuiko 12-60mm F2.8-4.0, click here now.
The Olympus 50mm F2.0 was one of the very first Four Thirds system lenses, announced along with the launch of the E-1 back in June 2003. With an unusually fast maximum aperture for a macro lens, Olympus 50mm F2.0 described as a dual purpose optic also suitable for portraits; indeed it’s the closest to a classic portrait prime Olympus currently produces. The Olympus 50mm F2.0 optical design is suitably complex for a macro lens, with 11 elements in 10 groups including 1 ED glass element, and includes a floating focus system for optimum correction across the entire distance range. Olympus 50mm F2.0 enables a minimum focus distance of 0.2m, giving a 1:2 (0.5x) maximum magnification, which translates to an image area similar to that obtained using a 1:1 macro lens on the 35mm full-frame format. Click here for more Olympus 50mm F2.0 information and amazing features.
Here is a summary of Olympus 50mm F2.0 review from a satisfied customer:
Defines a near perfect MTF graph for lens quality
Update 10/2010 – I wrote this review a long time ago but it’s still true today. I moved my 50mm from my E300 to my E3 and still get great portraits from it. I bought the macro empty tube for real closeups and the teleconverter as adjuncts to make this more useful – I don’t recommend everyone buys those items unless you are taking forensic pictures in macro mode or want a 200mm 35mm equivalent lens. The tube is cheap because there is no glass inside – it moves the lens out for magnification w/o glass. I just wanted to point out that I’ve been following this lens price and this month its down lower than the past year (where it approached five bills) so now is a good time to buy at 438 usd. Review begins below.
The Olympus 50mm F2.0 lens incorporates Olympus’s ‘focus-by-wire’ system, whereby the manual focus ring is used to drive the lens’s AF motor electronically. The Olympus 50mm F2.0 is also designed for full integration with Olympus’s macro flash system, with both the RF11 ring flash and TF22 twin flash units attaching via the FS-FR1 adaptor ring to a bayonet mount at the front of the lens. Additionally, it can be used with the EX-25 extension tube to achieve 1:1 magnification, and with the EC-14 teleconverter to give a 70mm F 2.8 lens. All of this flexibility of Olympus 50mm F2.0 comes in a relatively compact and lightweight package, and the Olympus 50mm F2.0 is also one of the the cheapest options for Four Thirds users who require a fast short telephoto lens for portrait shooting and shallow depth of field effects.
The Olympus 50mm F2.0 has the following features and specifications:
- Filter size: 52mm
- Tele converter: EC-14
- Extension tube: EX-25
- Lens hood: LH-55
- Lens cap: LC-52
- Lens case: LSC-0814
- Dimensions: 2.8 inches in diameter and 2.4 inches long
- Weight: 10.6 ounces
- Warranty: 1 year
- Angle of view: 24 degrees
- Closest focusing distance: 9.45 inches
- Maximum image magnification: 0.52x
- Minimum field size: 33.3 x 25mm
- Number of blades: 7
- Minimum aperture: f/22
Click here to get to watch a video of Olympus 50mm F2.0 and get more of its excellent features
The Olympus 50mm F2.0 has the following Pros and cons:
Pros:
- Superb image quality even wide open
- Sharp and distortion-free
- No lateral CA
- Compact and lightweight
- Fast maximum aperture for a macro lens
cons:
- Unrefined autofocus motor and no focus range limiter switch
- Susceptible to flare with bright light sources in the frame
- Bokeh chromatic aberration at wider apertures
Conclusion:
One advantage of Olympus 50mm F2.0 system is that it does allow an extremely long focus travel, and consequently a high level of focus accuracy, which is essential for macro work. This isn’t really going to help manual focus using the viewfinder of any Four Thirds DSLR bar the E-3, but it does allow very precise manual focusing in live view mode on all current Olympus and Panasonic bodies. To experience more of Olympus 50mm F2.0 exciting features, click here.
