Showcase Olympus 38mm f/1.8 Pen FT

[phigmov]

Starter for ten - surprisingly there didn't seem to be any Pen F Image threads -

 

[krysdafur]

This is a nice little lens. With adapter it is about 40mm in length. Focuses down to about 12 inches. It's a bit on the heavy side and has 5 aperture blades along with some swirly bokeh. Usable wide open and quite sharp when stopped down.

Some OOC jpegs from an Olympus EPL2 on iEnhance (normal).

1.8 - swirly bokeh
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/krysdafur/5958651142/" title="f1.8 - swirly bokeh by krysdafur, on Flickr"> View attachment 170523 "640" height="480" alt="f1.8 - swirly bokeh"></a>

2.8 - you can see the aperture blades starting to show
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/krysdafur/5958091017/" title="f2.8 - 5 aperture blades starting to show by krysdafur, on Flickr"> View attachment 170524 "640" height="480" alt="f2.8 - 5 aperture blades starting to show"></a>

5.6 - sharp with good contrast but pentagon bokeh
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/krysdafur/5958090773/" title="f5.6 - pentagon bokeh by krysdafur, on Flickr"> View attachment 170525 "640" height="480" alt="f5.6 - pentagon bokeh"></a>

another at 5.6
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/krysdafur/5958650422/" title="f5.6 by krysdafur, on Flickr"> View attachment 170526 "480" height="640" alt="f5.6"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/krysdafur/5954981859/" title="Olympus Pen F 38mm f1.8 by krysdafur, on Flickr">

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"640" height="480" alt="Olympus Pen F 38mm f1.8"></a>

 

[nsd20463]

Pen F 38mm f/1.8 reversed and used for macro

I've found that the lens + its original hood work well for quick & dirty macro work. The hood seals against the camera flange, and keeps the lens the right distance for good magnification.

Here's an example, with minimal cropping and maybe too much (now that I look at it again) sharpening.

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And one with no post-processing except 66% cropping and resizing for the forum.

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Baby praying mantises only hours old. View the rest of the gallery for addition photos of this sort.




GF1 + reversed Pen F 38mm f/1.8

 

[kevinparis]

A couple from recently...the lens belonged to my father, who sadly passed away this summer...

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across the years #2 by kevinparis, on Flickr

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across the years by kevinparis, on Flickr

K

 

[penfan2010]

Glad to see this post

Agree, surprised we haven't had one of these posts. :thumb up:
The Zuiko 38 was the first MF lens I used on my E-P1, and it continues to be a favorite on the PL1 and the G1. I love its size, speed, color and sharpness.

With the E-P1 and the Leica 35mm accessory finder:

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Photos with the E-PL1:

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Maybe we broaden this to a Pen F lens thread? I've been having lots of fun with the 70mm F2 as well.

 

[penfan2010]

Lamps and Blue Sky

38mm F1.8 Zuiko Pen With E-PL1; some PP with Color FX

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[penfan2010]

The Zuiko 38 F1.8 - good GAS preventer

Shooting with the Zuiko 38mm F 1.8 from my film Pen F has always been a joy. I love the field of view of this short tele (on M43 sensor), as well as its sharpness and contrast. Helps to keep me from buying the Panasonic Leica 25mm F1.4. All shot with the E-P2.

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[rparmar]

Hundreds of my favourite shots have been taken with this lens. It is a joy to use!

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blue window

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water tower

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gull observes the collapse of capital

 

[nianys]

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[madogvelkor]

A few shots with mine on a GX1. Focus was a little off, but I was taking them quickly.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45634447@N00/10600372295/" title="P1090444 by aggray, on Flickr">

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"640" height="481" alt="P1090444"></a>


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45634447@N00/10600373845/" title="P1090442 by aggray, on Flickr">

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"640" height="481" alt="P1090442"></a>


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45634447@N00/10600343826/" title="Door Hinge by aggray, on Flickr">

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"640" height="481" alt="Door Hinge"></a>

 

[Azon]

One of my favorite lenses ever.

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every time I put it on a camera I have an images impossible to get with my other lenses... It has it's own unique and special character.

 

[madogvelkor]

I realized that my lens had an old skylight filter on it when I first tried it out, which seems to have degraded the quality of the images some. I'm much happier now:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45634447@N00/10618327614/" title="Old leaf by aggray, on Flickr">

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"481" height="640" alt="Old leaf"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45634447@N00/10618330504/" title="Red oak leaves by aggray, on Flickr">

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"481" height="640" alt="Red oak leaves"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45634447@N00/10618338086/" title="Sweetgum Tree seed by aggray, on Flickr">

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"640" height="481" alt="Sweetgum Tree seed"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45634447@N00/10618341056/" title="Ivy and brick by aggray, on Flickr">

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"481" height="640" alt="Ivy and brick"></a>

I quite like the lens, though focusing is still a bit tricky compared to some other lenses. I like that it can focus as close as a foot, and infinity focus is everything from about four feet out. Bokeh is interesting, but a bit busy for some uses. I don't think I'd use it as a portrait lens.

 

[penfan2010]

Really love the way the lens renders shallow depth-of-field; great shot of the old door.

 

[AdamSF]

I really like this lens. Small, light, fast, produces beautiful images, close focussing.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50689195@N02/11022193115/" title="Floral detail #1 by aweiss.sf, on Flickr">

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"1000" height="804" alt="Floral detail #1"></a>


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50689195@N02/10657229525/" title="Rabbit on the sidewalk by aweiss.sf, on Flickr">

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"1000" height="750" alt="Rabbit on the sidewalk"></a>



<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50689195@N02/10657267894/" title="Marshmallows and thread, 14th Street by aweiss.sf, on Flickr">

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"1000" height="750" alt="Marshmallows and thread, 14th Street"></a>



<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50689195@N02/10657231775/" title="Rite Spot Cafe sign detail by aweiss.sf, on Flickr">

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"1000" height="750" alt="Rite Spot Cafe sign detail"></a>

 

[AdamSF]

With the Olympus Pen F 38mm f/1.8:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50689195@N02/11022353704/" title="PB230258 by aweiss.sf, on Flickr">

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[AdamSF]

OM-D E-M5 and Pen F 38mm f/1.8

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50689195@N02/11022407793/" title="PB230260 by aweiss.sf, on Flickr">

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"1000" height="750" alt="PB230260"></a>

 

[AdamSF]

OM-D E-M5 and Pen F 38mm f/1.8


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50689195@N02/11022355024/" title="PB230262 by aweiss.sf, on Flickr">

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"773" height="1000" alt="PB230262"></a>

 

[AdamSF]

OM-D E-M5 and Pen F 38mm f/1.8

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50689195@N02/11022409053/" title="PB230267 by aweiss.sf, on Flickr">

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"1000" height="554" alt="PB230267"></a>

 

[rbelyell]

wonderful work here. i just purchased a pen f 60/1.5. what adapter are most people using?

 

[penfan2010]

Wow, you got a very rare Pen F lens indeed! Congrats. Fotodiox works very well for my Pen F lenses on m43.