Lens adaptor help
Discussion
I recently bought an Olympus E520 with a 14-42 kit lens. I do intend to buy additional lenses, but for now I was thinking of buying an adaptor so I could use the old zoom lens from my 35mm SLR. The lens is a Sigma 4.5 f 70-210 that I used with my OM77. The lens is manual focus only so I wouldn't be losing any functionality as I understand adaptors don't allow auto focus functions.
What is the collective thought on using adaptors?. Would it be worth spending a few quid on one to get some use out of the Sigma zoom, if so, which one would I need as there are some confusing options available. On the other hand, is the lens not worth spending money on and I would better off putting the money towards a new one designed for my new camera?.
What is the collective thought on using adaptors?. Would it be worth spending a few quid on one to get some use out of the Sigma zoom, if so, which one would I need as there are some confusing options available. On the other hand, is the lens not worth spending money on and I would better off putting the money towards a new one designed for my new camera?.
redtwin said:
On the other hand, is the lens not worth spending money on and I would better off putting the money towards a new one designed for my new camera?.
I'd say so. I don't know Olympi but there may be more than just AF going on through the lens/body connection. It's also much harder to focus manually through a crop sensor viewfinder than it was through a 35mm SLR VF which was designed for MF.I bought one to use my Olympus lenses with a Canon D450. It just a machined ally part that adapts the bayonet fitting, theres no autofocus confirm chip and no optics. It works fine but focussing is a real fiddle, though it's a bit easier now that I've discovered the diopter adjustment on the viewfinder!
You have to set the aperture manually and of course its easier to focus with it wide open but then you have to stop down, the camera takes care of the shutter speed. I've got best results with a tripod and using the screen to focus, not much help with moving targets though. It only cost a tenner so it was worth it just to have a play.
K
You have to set the aperture manually and of course its easier to focus with it wide open but then you have to stop down, the camera takes care of the shutter speed. I've got best results with a tripod and using the screen to focus, not much help with moving targets though. It only cost a tenner so it was worth it just to have a play.
K
I have a e510 and an e1.
I have adapters to OM, M42, AD2. I would say dont buy an aluminium adapter, buy one made of brass or other harder metal - I've seen people have problems with softer ones.
Focusing is more difficult but you can buy an adapter with an auto-focus chip. You still focus manually but the in focus light and beep work. Depending on what sort of stuff you are doing that may or may not be useful.
edit: your sigma isnt anything to get excited about but lenses like that are dirt cheap. I would be looking for a nice cheap olympus 50mm or 28mm prime. Can be picked up for a couple of quid and are very good lenses. Lots of very good cheap primes in legacy land. Gets towards expensive for very fast ones (1.2 50mm) but the 1.8 50 or 2.5 135 are dirt cheap and good.
I have adapters to OM, M42, AD2. I would say dont buy an aluminium adapter, buy one made of brass or other harder metal - I've seen people have problems with softer ones.
Focusing is more difficult but you can buy an adapter with an auto-focus chip. You still focus manually but the in focus light and beep work. Depending on what sort of stuff you are doing that may or may not be useful.
edit: your sigma isnt anything to get excited about but lenses like that are dirt cheap. I would be looking for a nice cheap olympus 50mm or 28mm prime. Can be picked up for a couple of quid and are very good lenses. Lots of very good cheap primes in legacy land. Gets towards expensive for very fast ones (1.2 50mm) but the 1.8 50 or 2.5 135 are dirt cheap and good.
Edited by TooLateForAName on Monday 21st December 17:43
Thanks for the replies, the Sigma is manual focus only, even when I use it with my OM autofocus camera so no loss of function there if used with an adaptor. The bit about it being harder to focus when used with an adaptor is concerning though.
" I would be looking for a nice cheap olympus 50mm or 28mm prime. Can be picked up for a couple of quid and are very good lenses. Lots of very good cheap primes in legacy land. Gets towards expensive for very fast ones (1.2 50mm) but the 1.8 50 or 2.5 135 are dirt cheap and good."
I also have a 1.8 50mm lens for the OM, but never gave it much thought as that one is AF and I didn't think it would offer anything significantly better than the newer e520 14-42 kit lens, but it would be one more lens to play with and yet more reason to try an adaptor. Thanks also for the tip on brass v aluminium, I saw various offerings, but had no clue which was better or why.
I got both OM lenses and the OM77AF camera for less than £50 over 15 years ago so I am under no illusion that they are anything special. I just figured an adaptor would give them a new lease of life as I can't bear to throw them out and can't imagine ever using them with the 35mm camera again.
" I would be looking for a nice cheap olympus 50mm or 28mm prime. Can be picked up for a couple of quid and are very good lenses. Lots of very good cheap primes in legacy land. Gets towards expensive for very fast ones (1.2 50mm) but the 1.8 50 or 2.5 135 are dirt cheap and good."
I also have a 1.8 50mm lens for the OM, but never gave it much thought as that one is AF and I didn't think it would offer anything significantly better than the newer e520 14-42 kit lens, but it would be one more lens to play with and yet more reason to try an adaptor. Thanks also for the tip on brass v aluminium, I saw various offerings, but had no clue which was better or why.
I got both OM lenses and the OM77AF camera for less than £50 over 15 years ago so I am under no illusion that they are anything special. I just figured an adaptor would give them a new lease of life as I can't bear to throw them out and can't imagine ever using them with the 35mm camera again.
redtwin said:
I just figured an adaptor would give them a new lease of life as I can't bear to throw them out and can't imagine ever using them with the 35mm camera again.
You can have it both ways - keep your old kit in a trunk and buy new 
(Well it works for me and my Ricoh XR7, Vivitar Series 1 70-210 f3.5, Olympus XA2 etc etc)
I've never used the OM AF lenses, mine are pure manual. But the old olympus lenses are very high quality. The one thing you do get over newer lenses is speed - as in wide aperture. The 1.8 or 2.8 lenses are great in low light.
Remember though that the crop factor of the sensor means that the field of view that you will get on the e-series body will be less than you got on the OM body. So you'll get a 100mm equiv field of view ffrom the 50 mm and 56mm equiv from the 28mm.
As to trunks get originals. I recently bought a pair of zeiss bodies that came in a nice little suitcase with selection of lenses.
Remember though that the crop factor of the sensor means that the field of view that you will get on the e-series body will be less than you got on the OM body. So you'll get a 100mm equiv field of view ffrom the 50 mm and 56mm equiv from the 28mm.
As to trunks get originals. I recently bought a pair of zeiss bodies that came in a nice little suitcase with selection of lenses.
Just a quick update. Got my adaptor today and gave them a quick trial. I wasn't expecting much, but considering how little effort I put into the trial I am quite pleased with it as I can now use my previously "worthless" 70-210 Sigma zoom lens.
Just a quick shot out the front door, handheld. I didn't mess about with any camera settings (mainly because I don't know enough about them yet). I just left it on auto, picked out something in the distance and fired one off. I then put it through a photo viewer autofix for light and colour balance.
With the kit 14-42 Olympus AF lens:
And just out of curiosity, the 50mm AF lens. No manual adjustments at all on this one, so I had to fiddle with the shutter speed (set it on 2.5?) as it was just too dark otherwise.
Doubt I will be using the 50mm again, but if nothing else I satisfied my curiosity.
Thanks again for the advice.
Just a quick shot out the front door, handheld. I didn't mess about with any camera settings (mainly because I don't know enough about them yet). I just left it on auto, picked out something in the distance and fired one off. I then put it through a photo viewer autofix for light and colour balance.
With the kit 14-42 Olympus AF lens:
And just out of curiosity, the 50mm AF lens. No manual adjustments at all on this one, so I had to fiddle with the shutter speed (set it on 2.5?) as it was just too dark otherwise.
Doubt I will be using the 50mm again, but if nothing else I satisfied my curiosity.
Thanks again for the advice.
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