How about this lens for my E520?

[Pugrpooh]

After reading posts here and on other boards about the "nifty fifty", it sounded like something I would want for my camera. However, I'm not ready to plunk down $400 for one just yet. On another forum someone mentioned the Oly OM mount lenses for film and how they can be bought pretty cheap. They won't "talk" to the E520 body and you have to manual focus and use only in manual and aperture priority modes, but they're pretty good lenses.

I just won one on Ebay for less than $20 including shipping. I know I'll also have to get a mount for it to fit my camera, but provided I have the lens and mount before we leave for WDW in 10 more days, would it be worth taking it with me? I'm thinking to use it in the Festival of the Lion King (where I've never gotten good pics) and indoor attractions. Would it also be good for Fantasmic?

I'm still pretty much of a novice, but things are starting to come together for me as far as getting an understanding of what aperture to use, shutter speed, etc. Is the learning curve so much steeper for a lens I will have to manually focus and use in manual mode (or hopefully aperture priority which I've started using more) that I won't be able to get good shots after a few days of practicing with it?

I figure for the price, I'm not out much if I'm not happy with it, but I figure I could get an idea whether I would like it or not and if it would be worth it to pay several hundred dollars for a new one.

Thanks for your help -- I've learned a lot from reading posts by all you experts out there!

Lynn

 

[ukcatfan]

The only problem I see is that a 50mm on a APS-C camera, the crop factor makes it 75mm, which is getting a little too tight for many situations at WDW. With your 2x factor, that is now 100mm and really tight. On the bright side, you do have a larger DOF at a given aperture than on a APS-C camera. I would go ahead and give it a try b/c you do not have anything else to try in low light anyway. A better focal length for you would be around 25-30mm.

 

[Pugrpooh]

The only problem I see is that a 50mm on a APS-C camera, the crop factor makes it 75mm, which is getting a little too tight for many situations at WDW. With your 2x factor, that is now 100mm and really tight. On the bright side, you do have a larger DOF at a given aperture than on a APS-C camera. I would go ahead and give it a try b/c you do not have anything else to try in low light anyway. A better focal length for you would be around 25-30mm.

So I was wondering about that because I knew my camera has the 2x crop factor, and in looking at the new lenses for digital cameras, Oly makes a
50mm and also a 25mm. Since my 40-150mm lens is the equivalent of 80-300mm in 35mm, I suppose the 25mm would really be a nifty fifty? And that's the one I will probably end up wanting to get? (I need to get my birthday list made up.)

Thanks!

Lynn

 

[ukcatfan]

So I was wondering about that because I knew my camera has the 2x crop factor, and in looking at the new lenses for digital cameras, Oly makes a
50mm and also a 25mm. Since my 40-150mm lens is the equivalent of 80-300mm in 35mm, I suppose the 25mm would really be a nifty fifty? And that's the one I will probably end up wanting to get? (I need to get my birthday list made up.)

Thanks!

Lynn

The 25mm would actually be a little wider than the 50mm on a APS-C. The 30mm on a APS-C would be closer b/c it ends up being 45mm where your 25mm is effectively 50mm.

The only problem I saw with the 25mm offered by Oly was that it is only f/2.8, which is not wide enough of an aperture for dark rides at WDW.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

How much does the adaptor cost?

I think you should consider giving the 25mm f/2.8 pancake a try. I am enjoying this lens a lot, though I haven't had it at WDW yet. Amazon has it in stock for a decent price right now - there are reviews at the bottom, also lots of info and sample photos from users at dpreview Oly forums. For certain shows, if you want close ups, you'd ideally need a fast zoom, ie longer focal length with wide aperture (than even the nifty fifty would give you, I believe).

 

[ukcatfan]

How much does the adaptor cost?

I think you should consider giving the 25mm f/2.8 pancake a try. I am enjoying this lens a lot, though I haven't had it at WDW yet. Amazon has it in stock for a decent price right now - there are reviews at the bottom, also lots of info and sample photos from users at dpreview Oly forums. For certain shows, if you want close ups, you'd ideally need a fast zoom, ie longer focal length with wide aperture (than even the nifty fifty would give you, I believe).

I am not just trying to criticize Oly, but f/2.8 is just not enough for dark rides at WDW like HM, POTC, SE, TGMR, SWSA, etc. I do not understand why they introduced a prime, that is obviously lined up against the 50mm of other brands, with that small of an aperture. If they could have even gone to f/2.0, it would made a big difference.

 

[Pugrpooh]

How much does the adaptor cost?

I can get an adapter for around $30, so the total cost of the lens would be about $50.

Have you tried the pancake lens in low light? The 50mm 2.0 macro lens looks nice too, but it's around $400. I'll play around with the one I'm getting from ebay, and I think for the price, I can live with the limitations for now.

I just got this camera less than a month ago with both the 14-42 and the 40-150 lenses and I thought at the time, I wouldn't need anything else. I've also got a circular polarizer coming to me that I hope gets here before we leave. The ETA is Nov. 12, but it's already been picked up by the USPS in Brooklyn so I'm hoping it won't take that long, because that's the day we leave.

Lynn

 

[Pea-n-Me]

f/2.8 is just not enough for dark rides at WDW like HM, POTC, SE, TGMR, SWSA, etc.

I dunno. I was able to get some decent shots on those rides using my Canon S3 IS, so I'm thinking I might also be able to with the f/2/8 using technique. I guess time will tell. It's possible you're right, but I won't be sure until I try it. In pug's case, I think she might have better luck with that than the OM lens, anyway, which she'd have to manually focus. For us, the 25mm is a nice lens to have for the cost. Colors are awesome with it.

There's also a Sigma 30mm f/1.8 that some Oly users like, but it's more than double the cost of the pancake. I guess a factor in buying it would be how often you'd use it. For myself, the pancake works well in most situations. I'm not sure I want to spend $500 just to get good shots on dark rides at WDW, but again, time will tell.

I do not understand why they introduced a prime, that is obviously lined up against the 50mm of other brands, with that small of an aperture. If they could have even gone to f/2.0, it would made a big difference.

It was introduced as the walkaround lens that comes with the E-420 (which makes it very portable). They both came out at the same time, but surprisingly, the lens, especially, really took off. You couldn't find one for a long time. I waited weeks for mine. Most users are pretty happy with them, from what I've read.