A standard zoom lens, one that can be used in place of popular primes with focal lengths of a moderate wide-angle, a standard, and a short telephoto is one of the regulars that one can find in a photo enthusiast's camera bag. Often bundled as a kit lens with an SLR camera, these lenses are usually of the 35-70mm focal length category.
One can look back and say that the trend was pioneered by Canon with the Canon T50 and the plastic-bodied FD 35-70mm F3.5-4.5 bundle introduced in 1983.
Olympus, in their effort to match the interest and popularity of the lens, and in a move probably to offset the large numbers of lower-priced versions produced by third-party lens manufacturers, produced a series of five models of this lens:
- Zuiko OM Auto-Zoom 35-70mm F3.6
- S Zuiko OM Auto-Zoom 35-70mm F4.0
- Zuiko AF OM Auto-Zoom 35-70mm F4.0
- S Zuiko OM Auto-Zoom 35-70mm F3.5~4.5 Macro
- S Zuiko OM Auto-Zoom 35-70mm F3.5~4.8
The Zuiko OM Auto-Zoom 35-70mm F3.6 copy, acknowledged as the sharpest from the list, is priced much higher than its second iteration, the OM S Zuiko Auto-Zoom 25-70mm F4. The 'S' designation is an indication that the lens, which was in parallel production, is more for the consumer market.
Oly35mm Overview - Zuiko OM Series - Short Zooms
Olympus produced seven short zooms during the OM Series run (not including the Cosina built 35-70mm for the OM-2000; or the zooms produced for the OM-707/77 ...
The S Zuiko AUTO-Zoom 35-70mm F3.5~4.5 was probably the first Zuiko zoom that carries a variable aperture design and macro shooting mode with the closest focusing distance of 0.45 meters.
The S Zuiko OM Auto-Zoom 35-70mm F3.5~4.8 was the new standard introduced with the (Cosina-built) Olympus OM2000.
S Zuiko OM Auto-Zoom 35-70mm F4.0
Though light and compact in its origin as a lens for the OM-System cameras, the S-Zuiko OM MC Auto-Zoom 35-70mm F4.0 does impose its weight bulk when fitted on the E-P5.
The lens weighs 380 grams, and added to the 30mm length of the lens adapter, its protrusion from the P5's body is a total of 101mm (71 + 30mm).
Lens construction comprises 7 elements in 7 groups, a 6-blade diaphragm, and is designed for automatic full aperture metering operation.
Walking the Zoom
On the Pen E-P5
Mounted on the Olympus Pen E-P5, though with the bulk, the lens is easy to handle. The lens is designed with its form factor the opposite of a normal Olympus prime.
On the zoom, the three independent segments, each for focusing, zooming, and aperture setting are placed front to back with the aperture control ring nearest to the lens mount.
This makes way for easy manipulation, with the body of the camera placed in the palm of your hand, manipulating the focus and zoom rings is very convenient with the thumb and index finger, whilst adjusting the aperture ring, is equally easy with the thumb and middle finger combination.
In the E-P5, however, where I practiced a pre-set option for aperture setting, using the thumb and middle finger for aperture adjustment is hardly a necessity.
Focal lengths on the 2x crop-sensor E-P5 range from 70 to 140mm, making the lens equivalent to a short to a medium telephoto lens, a convenient and handholdable setup.
Images remain clear and sharp throughout the parfocal range if you can look through the reflection, and I have mentioned in other posts and articles, what I like most about these Olympuses are the 'neutral Olympus colors' which are of inherently moderate contrast, a characteristic fairly consistent across the Olympus OM range of lenses. Images, though, may come with a tint of blue.
The original S-Zuiko OM Auto-Zoom 35-70mm series is one of the few standard Olympus OM lenses that take 55mm screw-in type filters, while the (Cosina built) S-Zuiko OM Auto-Zoom 35-70mm F3.5~4.8 is retrofitted to take 52mm screw-in filters.
The OM S Zuiko Auto-Zoom 75-150mm F4 is easily available on auction sites at fairly low to moderate comparative prices. Should you be interested in one, go ahead, don't hesitate.
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