Hi Reuben,
Welcome to Zuikoholism! My name is John, and I'm a Zuikoholic too. :-)
I have both an 85/2 and 24/2, both in use, and both treasured. They are
sharp with excellent contrast; the exception might be the 85/2 wide open
which softens very slightly at f/2.
An example of the 24/2 is here:
http://members.xoom.com/_XMCM/johnlind/olympus/olympusgallery/om75.html
The one thing to be careful with in using the 24mm focal length is
perspective lines. Anything shorter than 28mm can get you into trouble if
you don't make a point of watching them. If you keep this in mind you can
create some great photos with it. The 24/2 has a floating element to help
keep a flatter field when focusing close that I believe the 24/2.8 didn't have.
Alas, I don't have anything from the 85/2 scanned yet. It is very compact,
about the same size and weight as a standard 50mm lens! I've found it easy
to work with and an excellent performer at the shorter end of portrait
lengths; ideal if you are doing a small group of people. The newer 85/2's
also have a floating element; it serves the same purpose as the one in the
24/2.
Hope they arrive safely and enjoy using them!
-- John
At 05:41 8/30/00 , you wrote:
>Cheers, lads and lassies ...
>
>Well, my 85mm f2 and 24mm f2 are winging their way to me as we speak from
>the other side of this great Southern land for a COMBINED price of $AUD470
>(300 US), and I am a happy happy (though credit-card enslaved) man.
>Somehting tells me I wont care once the first few rolls of Velvia and Delta
>come back ...
>
>Thanks for all your tips on the 85mm f2 - now does anyone have any "in use"
>reports on the 24mm f2? I used to love my 24mm f2.8
>but the wee bugger is now gone. How do they compare, anyone?
>
>Some may think me a little obsessive with my fast apertures etc but
>low-light (ie. band/concert/theatre) really necessitates the brightest
>finder image possible.
>
>BTW, I was completely aware of the existence of a second curtain - sorry, to
>whoever corrected me - i simply ommitted the word "synch" in my original
>post. It might seem a piffling matter to those not particularly familiar
>with - or interested in- this technique, but the impression of movement is
>really MUCH more natural with rear/second - a feature no OM series OLY body
>possesses. Sigh.
>
>I'm also curious re: peoples' opinion of the 180mm f2.8. I passed up a
>chance to pick one up for $AUD800 about a year ago (500 US); it was in great
>nick. But is this too high a price? And once you start springing for 72mm
>filters are we talking stupid investment when a 135mm f2.8 is an equally
>usable "stage lens"?
>
>Thoughts, please.
>Ta in advance, Reuben.
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