At 00:32 10/21/02, you wrote:
Would anyone be able to give me some advice on the differences between the
various 35-70 zoom zuikos. I see they come in f3.5, 3.6 & 4. Are their
others and is one "better" than the other?
Bob
The "high end" of these is the 35-70/3.6 which is bigger and heavier than
the rest. The "low end" (emphasis on *low*) is the f/3.5~4.8 which isn't a
"true" Zuiko, but was made by Cosina for Olympus when the OM-2000 was
released. The tell-tale is its 52mm filter ring. The true Zuiko's in this
length class have 49mm or 55mm filter rings. In the middle are the
35-70/3.5~4.5 and 35-70/4 which are smaller and lighter than the f/3.6
version. An "S Zuiko Zoom" marking means it was intended as an "economy"
lens with a low price point.
Also around which might be considered:
(a) The 35-80/2.8 at the super high end (very expensive). The 35-80
exhibits barrel distortion when used with subject material that has strong,
straight lines such as architectural objects. It has truly superb
characteristics otherwise.
(b) The 35-105/3.5~4.5 3X is in the same performance same class as the
35-70/3.6 2X zoom and is quite contrasty in spite of the number of elements
and groups. It also has a close-focus helical that works like a short,
adjustable extension tube just in front of its mounting flange.
See the zoom lens table on Paul Farrar's site here:
http://www.datasync.com/~farrar/zuiko.html#zoom
[S Zuiko Zoom = "economy" lens]
Also see Gary Reese's lens testing here:
http://members.aol.com/olympusom/lenstests/default.htm
Finally, there is Hans' "Sales Information File" on them here:
http://olympus.dementia.org/eSIF/om-sif/lensgroup.htm
My rating of them from high to low (not including the 35-80/2.8):
35-70/3.6, 35-70/3.5~4.5, 35-70/4, 35-70/3.5~4.8 (Cosina)
Other Olympus 35-70 lenses:
(a) The AF 35-70/4 was created for the OM-F (OM-30). Bulkier than the
others, it can be used on any of the single or double-digit bodies. Unless
you have an OM-F and want the motorized focusing, I don't recommend it.
(b) The 35-70/3.5~4.5 AF can **only** be used on the OM-77 (OM-707)
auto-focus body and OM-88 (OM-101) power-focus body, and the 35-70/3.5~4.5
PF lens can ***only*** be used on the OM-88 (OM-101) power-focus body.
(c) These three lenses look much different from the rest.
-- John
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