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Re: [OM] Speed of lenses

Subject: Re: [OM] Speed of lenses
From: "Tom Scales" <tscales@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2000 20:42:14 -0500
Cc: <dgaikins@xxxxxxxxxxx>
A 'fast' lens is one that works in lower light, meaning that it has a bigger
maximum lens opening, meaning that the maximum aperature is a lower number.

For example, a 35 f/2 is faster than a 35 f/2.8 by one stop (meaning twice
the light).  So, 1/60 at f/2 is the same at 1/30 at f/2.8.

In Olympus-land, most of the lenses were made in two 'speeds'.  The 'slower'
lenses were generally smaller (often with a 49mm filter size).  The 'faster'
lenses had/have a trade-off. They are generally a little bigger and often
have a 55mm filter size.  Bigger is relative, of course, as the 'bigger'
Olympus Zuiko lenses are still small compared to other camera lines.

I think you would find this site an incredible resource:

http://members.nbci.com/_XMCM/veluwen/om-sif.htm

Hans van Veluwen, the site creator, is a fellow list member and we are all
indebted to him for his efforts.

One risk of this list, though. <g>. We all have a disease called
Zuikoholism.  We're unable to stop buying all the OM equipment we can.  It's
catching and this list is a carrier.

Enjoy!

Tom Scales

> I am new to photography, and the list.  So far I have a OM-1 that was
> bought back in the 1970's for my daughter  who was taking a photography
> class in high school at the time.  My grandson and I found the camera in
>
> the basement in an old milk crate and resurrected it.  I took some very
> good pictures with it on my vacation this year, and have acquired an
> interest in photography.  So much so that I just bought an OM2S Program
> from eBay!
>
> I have four lenses.  Two 50mm 1.8 Zuiko, a Kitstar f135mm 1:2.8 and a
> Vivitor 28mm 1:2.8.  I have seen posts on the list (and adds on eBay)
> that talk about fast and slow lenses.  Could someone explain to me what
> a fast lens means?  What  slow lens is?
>
> I thought that the second number just meant the widest aperture that the
>
> lens could achieve.  What does that have with speed?
>
> Thanks
>
> --
> Don Gaikins
> W0VM
>
>
>
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>


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