Legacy lenses on M4/3

[melek]

I know that I'm really late to the party and that others have been doing this for years.

I took the plunge and stepped deeper into the dark side - or into the light, depending on how you look at it.

I bought a lens adapter for my little Olympus Pen E-PL1 that will allow me to use some of my Rolleiflex QBM lenses for digital.

This came from eBay - cost about $17 with free shipping. It arrived yesterday. It's black aluminum. Seems to be made decently. Came from China, of course. It allows the lens to reach infinity focus, which is very important.

I'm using the accessory electronic viewfinder VF-2 with the camera. I'm not able to hold the camera steady and focus at the same time, and I'm not sure anyone else can do that consistently. Holding it to my eye makes focusing much easier.

What's good about using the EVF and Live View cameras is that as you close the aperture, you can visually see the change in the depth of field, rather than having to use a depth of field feature.

The camera also adjusts the shutter speed dynamically as you change the aperture. You don't get a readout of the aperture, but I don't miss it. If you're an EXIF peeper, then you can manually record it and enter it later.

Of course, I have to keep in mind the m4/3 2x crop factor.

I'm really looking forward to trying this with a macro lens, some extenders and a set of bellows for some extreme closeups of some household items and things in the yard.

By the way, I've learned that you really have to have an almost windless day and sturdy tripod to do extreme macros outdoors. And even then, the slightest breeze will seem like a massive windstorm when peering through the viewfinder.

[PFMcFarland]

You can use clamps mounted to your bellows or focus rail to hold items still.

PF

[jamesmck]

Welcome to the dark (light) side, Mike. When I got my first Micro 4/3 cameras I immediately acquired adapters for Leica thread, Pentax bayonet, and Olympus OM, and had a ball messing with some legacy lenses. I found the inexpensive adapters to work just fine. I like your idea of experimenting with macros. I take it that you are able to magnify the view on the E-PL1 to assist in focusing.
--- James

[Philip]

Me too. It was buying an Olympus E-P2 (one of their first-wave M4/3 cameras) a few years ago that got me started on digital. I bought it (and an adaptor) because I could use my old Pen-F lenses on it, especially the 100mm f/3-or-so long lens. I bought (cheap but good) adaptors too for my OM and M42 lenses though I don't use them as much. I have an old OM close-focus bellows set that one day I will use . . . but not yet. I've also bought the 50mm and 75mm M-Zuiko Lenses.

"A fool and his money" my mother would sigh. But, like you, I really like being able to use manual lenses in the digital camera.

But, since then, I've discovered I do not like the handling of the E-P2 (primarily the viewing, even with the clip-on vfr, but also the intricate screen menus to do simple things like changing ISO). I fell in love with the fixed-lens Fujifilm X100 and it is great for everyday stuff. But now that I have a dozen or so usable lenses for the M4/3, I am weighing up whether or not to spring for one of the OM-D (M4/3) bodies. They've come way down in price.

The 100mm Pen-F lens is a beauty on the E-P2. I look forward to seeing your pictures with your combination.

[jamesmck]

But now that I have a dozen or so usable lenses for the M4/3, I am weighing up whether or not to spring for one of the OM-D (M4/3) bodies. They've come way down in price.

I got my OMD EM5 (foo-ey on the hyphens) right after introduction, and have been very pleased with it. Very configurable. You might also consider the E-PL5, which is somewhat more configurable. Both have the same excellent sensor. You could probably use the electronic viewfinder (EVF) that you already have (VF-2?). Priced somewhat under the EM5. I just got one as a backup camera, and got the VF-4 EVF for it.
--- James

[Philip]

I hadn't considered the E-PL5, simply because it looked like my E-P2. But I just spent a while reading reviews and it really is quite different. It is something like what I had hoped the E-P2 would be when I bought it originally. Hmmm. More thought needed , though I am still thinking of the SLR-styled OM-D bodies to supplement the E-P2.

.

[jamesmck]

I hadn't considered the E-PL5, simply because it looked like my E-P2. But I just spent a while reading reviews and it really is quite different. It is something like what I had hoped the E-P2 would be when I bought it originally. Hmmm. More thought needed , though I am still thinking of the SLR-styled OM-D bodies to supplement the E-P2. .

Have a look at Guy Parsons' website: http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~parsog/photo/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. That might hook you on the E-PL5. Hell, get an EM5 too .

[Philip]

Good link -- thanks.