Well, I'm a happy guy. As I mentioned early in the week, I traded my
vintage second camera, a Nikkormat FT, for an OM-2n...thanks largely to
advice I received from you guys. I raved about the Olympus' fit and finish
and handling (feeling as nice in the hands as my old Leica). But...I
said...the true test would be the images it renders.
I got my first batch of proofs this morning...ten shots at the end of a roll
of Kodak Portra 160VC I took out of my late Nikkormat. Now I could compare
directly the Nikkor and Zuiko optics, both 50mm f1.8 lenses...
The Zuiko lens outperforms the Nikkor! The difference is certainly not
dramatic and I surely wouldn't class the Nikon glass as "junk" in
comparison, but the Olympus lens does produce more pleasing results, in my
opinion.
One of the complaints I've had with Nikkor lenses is their relative
"harshness". They're a bit too contrasty and tend to handle flare
annoyingly. The flare doesn't fog a wide area of the image, but "blooms"
dramatically.
The Zuiko, on the other hand, renders a much "smoother" image with equal or
better sharpness. Shadow detail is MUCH better, the colors far more natural
and flare "blooming" is nonexistant.
Does the Zuiko compare favorably with a Leitz? Well, I don't know. Reports
that it's "Leica-like" are true. The pictures it makes are much more
natural and realistic looking than the Nikkor (or Canon) images I've taken
or seen. But, can it go head-to-head with a Summicron? I'll have to take
some Kodachromes to learn the answer to that.
In summary, though...fellow Olympians...I LOVE THIS CAMERA!!
Craig Roberts
Boston
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