{"id":9767,"date":"2017-12-10T11:24:16","date_gmt":"2017-12-10T10:24:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=9767"},"modified":"2026-01-14T09:04:49","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T08:04:49","slug":"review-olympus-om-zuiko-28mm-12","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/review-olympus-om-zuiko-28mm-12\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Olympus OM Zuiko 28mm 1:2"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"The Olympus OM 2\/28 is the smallest manual 2\/28 mm lens you can buy and in this in-depth review on the Sony a7II I check if it is still relevant in 2017.<\/p>\n

Sample Images<\/h1>\n

You can find these images in full resolution in this Olympus OM 2\/28 flickr set<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"
not actually f\/2, most likely f\/11<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

\u00a0Specifications<\/h1>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Diameter<\/td>\n60 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Length<\/td>\n43 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Filter Thread<\/td>\n49 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight<\/td>\n248 g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Max. Magnification<\/td>\n1:8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Close Focusing Distance from the sensor<\/td>\n0.3 m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Number of aperture blades<\/td>\n8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elements\/ Groups<\/td>\n9\/8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

At the time of this review the Olympus OM Zuiko 2\/28 usually sells for around $170-250<\/strong>\u00a0at ebay.com <\/a>(affiliate link).\u00a0<\/em>
\nIn Germany\u00a0you can buy it for 130-200\u20ac<\/strong>\u00a0at ebay.de<\/a> (affiliate link).\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Versions<\/h1>\n
For practical purposes I see only one version of the Olympus OM 2\/28:<\/address>\n
    \n
  1. The\u00a0Olympus Zuiko MC Auto-W 1:2 f=28 mm<\/strong>\u00a0with “silver nose” is the oldest version.<\/li>\n
  2. The Olympus Zuiko MC Auto-W 1:2 f=28 mm<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>with a “black nose” is younger but apart from the cosmetic change it is the same for all practical purposes.<\/li>\n
  3. The last youngest version is the Olympus Zuiko Auto-W 1:2 28 mm<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/strong>The MC was dropped from the name but that is the only change. This is the version I own (don’t be confused by the wrong name in the exifs, would have been quite a hassle to change that after I noticed my mistake).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Data according to\u00a0Olypedia.de<\/a><\/p>\n

    Compatibility<\/b><\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    The Olympus Om 2\/28\u00a0 can of course be used on a wide range of Olympus OM film cameras<\/strong> but I know little about those so I can\u2019t tell you any details.<\/p>\n

    You can also buy adapters to\u00a0use it on Canon EOS<\/strong> cameras but in some cases the mirror will hit the back of the lens. Check out this site <\/a>for more information.<\/p>\n

    To use a OM lens on a\u00a0Nikon F-mount<\/strong> camera you need to replace\u00a0the mount of your OM lens. Check out Leitax <\/a>for more information. I can recommend their products, they are very well made.<\/p>\n

    The easiest way to use a C\/Y lens on a digital camera is to buy a mirrorless camera. I think the Olympus 2\/28 makes little sense on a crop sensor and I can only\u00a0recommen<\/strong>d to buy a full frame camera so the Sony Alpha 7 series<\/strong> cameras are your only choice (unless you have too much money and want a Leica SL). Check out this article for more information about how to use manual lenses on the Sony a7-series<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Build<\/strong> Quality and Handling<\/strong><\/h1>\n

    Olympus OM lenses usually combine very small size<\/strong> and great handling<\/strong>. The Olympus OM 2\/28 is no exception.<\/p>\n

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

    The focusing ring\u00a0travels around 80 degrees from 0.3 m to 1 m and a further 20 degrees to infinity. This is a little steep for a wide angle but not much of an issue.<\/p>\n

    The rubberized focusing ring offers good grip and a pleasant diameter. The resistance is very pleasant on my copy.<\/p>\n

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

    The aperture ring sits at the front of the lens and it has full stops from f\/2 to f\/16 which click into place very nicely.\u00a0I think this is\u00a0one of the best aperture ring designs I have come across.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

    I don\u2019t own a hood for it but it would make sense to get one since the front lens is quite exposed and flare an issue.<\/p>\n

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

    At 248 g and with a length of just 48 mm the Olympus is small but still large enough to be very pleasant to handle and very well balanced on the a7 series.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    Filters<\/h1>\n

    The 49 mm filter thread is made from metal<\/p>\n

    The front of the lens does not rotate so polarizers are easy to use.<\/p>\n

    Image Quality<\/h1>\n

    Vignetting<\/h3>\n

    At f\/2<\/strong> vignetting is very strong at 3 stops<\/strong>. At f\/2.8<\/strong> it is reduced a little to still significant 2.3 stops. <\/strong>By f\/4<\/strong>\u00a0vignetting is 1.7 stops<\/strong>\u00a0and at f\/5.6\u00a0<\/strong> it still measures 1.5 stops. These are really high figures but they are the price you pay for the small size of the Olympus OM lenses.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    Flare Resistance<\/h1>\n

    The flare resistance of the Olympus 2\/28 is quite good for a legacy lens but of course not perfect. Veiling flare is reasonably well controlled but it is quite easily to get a little ghosting.<\/p>\n

    \"\"
    wrong exif, taken probably at f\/11<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    The Olympus 2\/28 is not quite on the same level as the Pentax K 3.5\/28<\/a> or Zeiss Distagon 2.8\/28<\/a> but it is much better than most legacy 28 mm lenses in this regard.<\/p>\n

    Distortion<\/h3>\n

    The OM 2\/28 shows some\u00a0moustache distortion which you won’t be able to fully correct in your raw-converter of choice without creating a custom profile.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    Chromatic Aberrations<\/span><\/h3>\n

    There is a moderate degree of CA which should be corrected.<\/p>\n

    <\/div>
    \n100% crop from the extreme corner | f\/11 | Sony a7II<\/em><\/p>\n

    Axial CA and Bokeh fringing are not a big issue with the Olympus 2\/28.<\/p>\n

    Bokeh<\/h3>\n

    The Olympus OM 2\/28’s bokeh changes a lot through the apertures. Wide open bokeh is very busy with strong outlining. The only good thing I can say is that there is little bokeh fringing. I guess some people will like the effect like some people like the Trioplan 2.8\/100<\/a>\u00a0but for most applications it isn’t too useful.<\/p>\n

    Stop the lens down to f\/4 though and bokeh will be much smoother and the aperture shape not much of an issue so it is my go-to-aperture for closeups. f\/2.8 is still somewhat nervous but to a lesser degree.<\/p>\n