[Leica] OM lenses on 4/3 cameras

[lrzeitlin at gmail.com (Lawrence Zeitlin)]

It is amazing how many people have OM lenses in their closets. I have half a
dozen, ranging from a 28 mm to a 200 mm, all dating from the days when the
OM2 was the most technically advanced camera on the market. All seemed to be
uniformly excellent. Now for the practical aspects. The Chinese OM to 4/3s
adapters are of variable quality. Some are very good, others so so. But at
approximately $20 each, most of us can afford a couple. A few drops of epoxy
works wonders in rigidifying them. The Oly E-Volt bodies (430, 500, 510)
require that the wide open focus, stop down for shooting method be used.
Unfortunately the early E-Volts have a small viewing screen which makes
precise focusing difficult. It can be done but it is not a quick way to
shoot. Better to prefocus and trust to depth of field for quick shots. In
effect, using OM film lenses on an E-Volt turns a highly sophisticated
camera into the equivalent of a pre-WW2 Kine Exacta.

I've been tempted to get a micro 4/3 to use the older lenses. Standard 4/3
to micro 4/3 lens adapters are easily available. Couple one to an OM to 4/3
adapter and just about any old OM lens cna be used. Micro 4/3 adapters are
also available for many other legacy lenses. All of the old lenses in my
closed will have a new lease on life.

Larry Z


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Anyone know about the Olympus e510?


looking for something to strap some OM lenses to for telephoto work.


There's one locally i may look at.


I know there are better options, but I've got another kid starting college.


Ric Carter