{"id":3598,"date":"2016-10-16T15:16:32","date_gmt":"2016-10-16T14:16:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=3598"},"modified":"2026-01-14T09:05:56","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T08:05:56","slug":"olympus-om-100mm-12-0","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/olympus-om-100mm-12-0\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Olympus OM Zuiko Auto-T 100mm 1:2"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Olympus_Zuiko_100mmf2-1-7\"<\/h1>\n

The\u00a0Olympus OM 100mm 1:2 is by some margin the best manual portrait lens I have used on my Sony a7. Read on if you want to know why.<\/p>\n

Specifications<\/h1>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Diameter<\/td>\n72\u00a0mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Length<\/td>\n72\u00a0mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Filter Thread<\/td>\n55\u00a0mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight<\/td>\n520\u00a0g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Max. Magnification<\/td>\n0.2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Close Focusing Distance from the sensor<\/td>\n70\u00a0cm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Number of aperture blades<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elements\/ Groups<\/td>\n7\/6, floating elements<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/address>\n
The Olympus OM 2\/100\u00a0usually sells for around $750<\/strong>\u00a0used at ebay.com <\/a>(affiliate link).\u00a0<\/em>
\nIn Germany\u00a0you can buy it used for around 650<\/strong><\/em>\u20ac<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>at ebay.de<\/a> (affiliate link).\u00a0<\/em><\/address>\n
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Image Samples<\/h1>\n

\"olympus_om_zuiko_100mmf2-7\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"olympus_om_zuiko_100mmf2-48\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"olympus_om_zuiko_100mmf2-50\"<\/a><\/p>\n<\/address>\n

<\/p>\n

Versions<\/h1>\n<\/address>\n

As far as I know there was only one version of this lens introduced around 1980.<\/p>\n

Build quality and handling<\/h1>\n

\"Olympus_Zuiko_100mmf2-2\"
\nThe Olympus’ handling and build quality is pretty much perfect.<\/p>\n

The lens\u00a0is made from metal, glass and some rubber (which has aged very well). Everything moves smoothly without play and all the markings are engraved.<\/p>\n

Focusing Ring<\/strong><\/p>\n

The focusing ring\u00a0travels around 100\u00a0degrees\u00a0from 70cm \u00a0to 1m and a further 190\u00a0degrees to infinity which is a great transmission, the focusing is precise at any distance without being too indirect.<\/p>\n

The focusing ring is very\u00a0smooth,\u00a0it doesn’t get much better than this.<\/p>\n

Aperture<\/strong><\/p>\n

The aperture ring\u00a0has full\u00a0stops from f\/2.0 to f\/22 and those have a very distinctive click. Unlike with Canon FD<\/a> or Minolta FD<\/a> lenses the aperture ring sits at the front of the lens. I think it is pretty much perfect, only Zeiss C\/Y<\/a> lenses are a little bit nicer because it is easier to select half stops with them (which I hardly ever do).<\/p>\n

The Olympus OM 2\/100 has nine slightly rounded aperture blades.<\/p>\n

Hood<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Olympus OM 100mm 1:2 has a small extending hood which extends about 1 cm but it moves a bit too freely for my taste.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Size and Weight<\/strong><\/p>\n

At 520g the Olympus is light enough to not fall into my heavy category. That doesn’t mean that it is a light lens but handling is generally fine on the Sony a7ii.<\/p>\n

\"Olympus_Zuiko_100mmf2-3\"<\/p>\n

Recommended Repair Facility<\/h2>\n

My copy developed some issues with the focus, most probably because a previous owner had tinkered with it. After a recommendation of loyal reader Tim I sent it to OM-Lab\u00a0<\/a>and Gordon did a splendid job at repairing it and gave it a complete CLA for a more than fair price.<\/p>\n

We also had a longer conversation about OM lenses and he really knows his stuff.\u00a0So if you have any issues with an Olympus OM lens I can only recommend to give him a call or sent him a mail.<\/p>\n

Optical performance<\/h1>\n

These results are based on the use with a Sony Alpha 7.<\/p>\n

Flare Resistance<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Not the best\u00a0performance: You can’t shoot directly into the sun because you get ugly flares but with not that powerful light sources there is only a moderate\u00a0drop in contrast and little flare.<\/p>\n

\"olympus_om_zuiko_100mmf2-3\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"olympus_om_zuiko_100mmf2-25\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Bokeh<\/h2>\n

Bokeh is one of the biggest strengths of this lens, it is just always super smooth.<\/p>\n

\"olympus_om_zuiko_100mmf2-56\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"olympus_om_zuiko_100mmf2-11\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"olympus_om_zuiko_100mmf2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"olympus_om_zuiko_100mmf2-51\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"olympus_om_zuiko_100mmf2-53\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"olympus_om_zuiko_100mmf2-27\"<\/a><\/p>\n

As you stop down the aperture stays pretty round.<\/p>\n

\"olympus_om_zuiko_100mmf2-13\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"olympus_om_zuiko_100mmf2-54\"<\/a>
actually f\/2.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Chromatic Aberrations<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There is a moderate amount of lateral CA.<\/p>\n

\"lateraca\"
100% crop from the corner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Axial chromatic aberrations \u00a0can be\u00a0an issue with metallic objects, despite the ED glass. Compared to most other portrait lenses the performance in this aspect is quite decent actually, many lenses show worse CA.<\/p>\n

\"olympus_om_zuiko_100mmf2-45\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"ca\"
100% crop from the image above<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Vignetting<\/h1>\n

Vignetting at f\/2 is noticeable, from f\/2.8 on it is a no-issue.<\/p>\n

\"Olympus_Zuiko_100mmf2-infinity\"<\/p>\n

Distortion<\/h2>\n

A small amount of pincushion distortion.\"olympus_om_zuiko_100mmf2\"<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Sharpness<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"olympus_om_100mmf2\"<\/p>\n

f\/2:\u00a0<\/strong>The Olympus is very sharp in the center and\u00a0the corners are sharp as well!<\/p>\n

f\/2.8:<\/strong> The center\u00a0is excellent now with more contrast and less CA. Corners are sharp but don’t have the best micro-contrast.<\/p>\n

f\/4-5.6:\u00a0<\/strong>Not much of a change.<\/p>\n

f\/8:\u00a0<\/strong>A significant improvement in the corners which are quite good but still not great now.<\/p>\n

f\/11: <\/strong>Diffraction reduces image quality to very good levels, the corners gain a little though<\/p>\n

All in all a stellar performance, especially at f\/2.<\/p>\n

Photodo has a MTF graph for the Olympus 2\/100 <\/a>if you are interested.<\/p>\n

Applications<\/strong><\/h1>\n

The Olympus Om 2\/100 is the ideal portrait<\/strong> lens: I is sharp across the frame from f\/2 so you can place your subject anywhere in the frame, bokeh is among the best I have ever seen and the focusing ring is a pleasure to use. It is also fast enough to isolate your subject from the background completely.<\/p>\n

\"olympus_om_zuiko_100mmf2-15\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"olympus_om_zuiko_100mmf2-16\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The Olympus works well enough as a landscape<\/strong> lens but\u00a0not as well as say a Zeiss 3.5\/100<\/a>\u00a0which is lighter, has a little more contrast, more effective coatings and sharper\u00a0corners.<\/p>\n

\"olympus_om_zuiko_100mmf2-49\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The Olympus is great for nature<\/strong> images because you can get quite close thanks to it’s close focusing abilities, can play with shallow depth of field and have a very pleasant focus ring.<\/p>\n

\"olympus_om_zuiko_100mmf2-57\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0Alternatives<\/h1>\n