Good handling, sharp and contrasty at all apertures,

None

I can echo the previous review. Opinions about this lens are mixed so I felt I was taking a bit of a chance when I purchased one. It's serial number is 159829 i.e. very close to the serial number of the previous reviewer's lens. My lens is an exceptionally good performer. I have many OM lenses (all primes). This lens is relatively sharp at all apertures but what you really notice is that it has high contrast and this increases further the impression of sharpness. It also gives the images 'punch'. The bokeh has a slight ring-like structure but not so much as to make the background 'busy'. The acid test for bokeh is foliage, in my view. A busy bokeh can 'mince' foliage but this lens produces OK out-of-focus foliage.

This lens is most similar to my Canon 50mm f1.5 Sonnar. The 35mm lens is sharper but both lenses are contrasty and produce punchy images. The Sonnar has a better bokeh but as I said the 35mm bokeh is OK.

Customer Service

None

Similar Products Used:

OM 35mm f2.8 which is a good lens but not in the same league. The bokeh tends to 'mince' foliage.

Sharp at all apertures. Gorgeous handling. Easy to focus.

None.

This lens gets such a mixed review with a lot of people giving it an average rating.

I thought I'd add some balance here. I think this lens for some reason is one that is subject to high sample variation. I eyed them up for a while on 'the bay' and just went with the highest serial number I could find which often doesn't mean much but in this case it paid off. It probably has the nicest handling of all the Zuikos I've used. The sample I got is fantastic wide open at f2. I love this lens to bits and it now lives in my camera bag with my other favourite lens the 28mm f2.

If you get a chance to try before you buy do but often that isn't the case. The serial umber on mine is 159101 if anyone is interested.

Similar Products Used:

Zuiko 100mm 2.8, 28mm f2, 50mm 1.4, 40mm f2, 24mm f2.8, 200mm f4.

Bright f2 aperture helps focusing.
Takes physical abuse well.

Sucks at f2.
Still sucks at f2.8, but not as much.

Pretty sharp at f4.
Very sharp at f5.6 & up.

Similar Products Used:

Other Zuiko lenses.

Easy to focus due to f2.0, well build. Very sharp and contrasty stopped down to f5.6 and more.

Unusable at f2 and f2.8. (OK for soft portraits). Stoped down to f4 still notably softer than Zuiko f3.5/28mm at f3.5.

Be careful about selecting this lens. Make test shots when possible. Mine was an MC version in good condition. The results were comparable to my friend''s older SC version.

Customer Service

Not needed

Similar Products Used:

Zuiko f3.5/28mm, f1.8/50mm, f1.4/50mm, f3.5/50mm Macro

Nice, compact lens with good sharpness for use as environmental portrait, landscape, general purpose lens.

N/A.

This lens serves as a great alternative to the standard lens when a wider angle of view is required.

Customer Service

N/A.

Similar Products Used:

N/A.

My preferred lens for "normal" use, and its fast f/2 speed. Sharpness is generally good, contrast and image quality excellent.

I suspect that the lens is a little soft in some instances (besides the obvious case of being wide-open.) But I haven't found it to be consistently true, and I love using it. (It's also a bit heavy, but there's no getting around that big hunk of glass on the front!)

I love this lens, it's generally a fine performer, and it's the lens I use when I have to choose only one to take with me. Images are great for the most part, but I sometimes find less than expected perfect sharpness at some apertures and focal distances.

Customer Service

No occasion to call.

Similar Products Used:

Nikkor non-AI 35/2 on old Nikons and Nikkormats

Oustanding lens. Gives much the same image as the Leica 35mm f2 M last pre-ASPH.

None.

Wonderful 35mm lens, good "character." Great value.

Customer Service

Not needed.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon, Zeiss, Leica, Canon f2s.