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Olympus 50mm f/2.0 Telephoto Macro ED Lens for Olympus Digital SLR Cameras

by Olympus
4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (75 customer reviews)

Price: $499.99 & FREE Shipping. Details
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  • Specially treated to shed water droplets, and engineered to withstand the rigorous demands of professional use
  • Designed to capitalize on the design advantages of the OLYMPUS Four Thirds System
  • Large f/2.0 aperture, with minimum weight and bulk
  • 50mm range -- equivalent to 100mm in conventional 35mm photography
  • For use with the OLYMPUS E-1 and other Four Thirds Series Digital SLR Cameras, as specified
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Olympus 50mm f/2.0 Telephoto Macro ED Lens for Olympus Digital SLR Cameras + Tiffen 52mm UV Protection Filter
Price for both: $504.94

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Technical Details

  • Brand Name: Olympus
  • Model: 261003
  • Lens Type: normal
  • Minimum focal length: 50 millimeters
  • Maximum focal length: 50 millimeters
  See more technical details

Olympus Zuiko Digital 50mm F2.0 macro lens: Review from dpreview.com
Read the full Olympus Zuiko Digital 50mm F2.0 macro lens review at dpreview.com
The Olympus Zuiko Digital 50mm F2.0 Macro is a lens which we've held in high regard ever since we started using it for our reviews of Four Thirds camera bodies, and subjecting it to our full optical test suite shows precisely why. Certainly in terms of the studio results, it's the nearest we've yet found to a technically perfect lens (although it's important to appreciate that we haven't yet tested any comparable short tele macros for other formats). It's impressively sharp right across the frame even wide open, shows no significant lateral chromatic aberration or vignetting, and is near-perfectly corrected for distortion.

Read the full Olympus Zuiko Digital 50mm F2.0 macro lens review at dpreview.com


Product Details

  • Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 5.1 x 5.1 inches ; 10.6 ounces
  • Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
  • ASIN: B0000TU7I6
  • California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
  • Item model number: 261003
  • Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (75 customer reviews)
  • Date first available at Amazon.com: June 17, 2003

Product Description

Amazon.com

One of the brightest Zuiko digital lenses is the Olympus 50mm f/2.0 medium macro lens. Offering an equivalent to 100mm on a 35mm camera, the lens boasts a maximum magnification ratio of 0.52x along with a minimum focusing distance of 9.45 inches, letting you get nice and close to your subject. The extra-low-dispersion (ED) glass element, meanwhile, reduces chromatic aberrations to deliver superior image quality with high resolution and good contrast. Add an EX-25 extension tube and you can focus to approximately 1x, equivalent to 2x on a 35mm camera. All Olympus lenses carry a one-year warranty.

Specifications

  • Focal length: 50mm
  • Maximum aperture: f/2.0
  • Lens construction: 11 elements in 10 groups, including 1 ED glass element
  • Angle of view: 24 degrees
  • Closest focusing distance: 9.45 inches
  • Maximum image magnification: 0.52x
  • Minimum field size: 33.3 x 25mm
  • Number of blades: 7
  • Minimum aperture: f/22
  • Filter size: 52mm
  • Tele converter: EC-14
  • Extension tube: EX-25
  • Lens hood: LH-55
  • Lens cap: LC-52
  • Lens case: LSC-0814
  • Dimensions: 2.8 inches in diameter and 2.4 inches long
  • Weight: 10.6 ounces
  • Warranty: 1 year

Product Description


This compact and affordable medium telephoto Zuiko Digital Lens is ideal for not only macro photography but also as a portrait lens. The high performance digital specific design includes an ED glass element for impressive color accuracy and offers a magnification of 1:2 (half life size), which has an image magnification size equivalent to life size (1:1) in a 35mm film photo. A large 2.0 maximum aperture makes it excellent for lower-light photography as well.

The 50mm f/2.0 Macro Zuiko Digital Lens features 11 elements in 10 groups, including an Extraordinary Dispersion glass element to minimize aberration and ensure sharp and accurate edge-to-edge detail.

 


Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars
(75)
4.9 out of 5 stars
It's a very sharp macro lens. -Ashi-  |  31 reviewers made a similar statement
If you love macro and portrait photography get this lens. F8/250  |  20 reviewers made a similar statement
A great bargain and should be the first lens you buy after the kit lenses. Howard F. Mandel  |  11 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
239 of 245 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Defines a near perfect MTF graph for lens quality October 29, 2006
Update 10/2010 - I wrote this review a long time ago but it's still true today. I moved my 50mm from my E300 to my E3 and still get great portraits from it. I bought the macro empty tube for real closeups and the teleconverter as adjuncts to make this more useful - I don't recommend everyone buys those items unless you are taking forensic pictures in macro mode or want a 200mm 35mm equivalent lens. The tube is cheap because there is no glass inside - it moves the lens out for magnification w/o glass. I just wanted to point out that I've been following this lens price and this month its down lower than the past year (where it approached five bills) so now is a good time to buy at 438 usd. Review begins below.

Before purchasing this lens you should read some literature. You don't need to be a lens expert - but know what "MTF" means. MTF is modulation transfer function. It is a qualty by which lenses are judged. The more linear the plot, the better the odds you've bought a winner. Olympus and Cannon both publish their MTF plots of their "BETTER" quality lenses. They don't publish the plots of the "included in the box" lenses. For good reason. You can analyze them on a machine if you have a lab and discover they resemble a rollercoaster and not a horizontal line like you would prefer.

Google MTF LENS modulation transfer function and you'll be on your way - then visit OLY's website and click on the MTF curves on this lens. You'll see why it is so well thought of.

Now let's talk Zoom. Remember your old 35mm camera. If you wanted a closeup, you walked towards the person. A wide angle meant walking backwards, mindful of the pool, traffic, etc. The zoom lens eliminated some of this to the extent of its focal length. This is not a zoom lens.
... Read more ›
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54 of 55 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Simply a perfect lens October 29, 2007
I don't know of any other way to say it. I cannot find any fault with this lens. It is tack sharp edge-to-edge, even in the far corners, even at f/2, especially close up. The bokeh is superb, it looks great and creamy smooth. It's also fast and just as good at f/2 as f/8 -- literally no difference in sharpness. Incredible.

It literally is a perfect lens.

Makes for great portraits (probably my favorite use for the lens) due to the 100mm equivalent focal length and the great depth-of-field control and appealing out-of-focus rendition.

Makes for great macros, for the same reasons but up close. Add the extension tube for true 1:1, otherwise 1:2 is great for most everything close other than "true macro."

My only complaint is that it's just a tad long for general use - 4/3 really needs a Zuiko 25mm normalish prime (as in, something cheaper than the Leica 25mm f/1.4, which is also an excellent lens) of the same quality as this lens.

But for what it is -- a 100mm-equivalent lens -- it is, without question, optically perfect. Don't even hesitate to buy it, you'll wish you had got it sooner.

(Edit: I know I have said nothing negative in this review, and that may lead you to think it's "unhelpful". So, for the record, the biggest problem with the lens is the focusing speed, which is a little sub-par, and makes a strange noise. It's not terrible, just sometimes gets in the way. Also, in low light, if you miss focus it can go all the way out to macro and back in before it finds it, as there is no focus limiter. Not a huge problem, just know how to focus on contrast or use MF in pitch black. That said, the most helpful thing I can say about the lens is that it's superb and a must-buy, sorry if that comes across as unhelpful ;-)
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57 of 62 people found the following review helpful
Among the finest lenses which Olympus produced for its OM manual focusing SLR system were its Zuiko 50mm f2 and 90mm f2 lenses. Both lenses earned lavish praise from critics and users, of whom many regarded these lenses as among the finest of their kind. Indeed, both lenses were compared favorably to the Leica R and Contax Zeiss 35mm SLR macro lenses. For example, in at least one review, I read that the 50mm lens was as fine a performer as the venerable Leica 50mm Summicron M lens, with excellent contrast and resolution at all apertures, especially wide open.

Now for its new digital E-series cameras, Olympus has introduced a 50mm f2 macro lens which follows in the wake of its legendary predecessors, offering this time ED glass for maximum contrast and resolution at all apertures. The June 2006 issue of Popular Photography has an exemplary review of this lens, noting that it is indeed a superlative performer, among the finest macro lenses currently available for digital SLRs. It also notes that the magnification ratio of this lens without an additional focusing tube is actually 1:1.6, NOT 1:2 as stated in the lens's manual. And since Olympus adheres to a 4:3 image ratio, then the equivalent focal length of this 50mm f2 lens for a 35mm film SLR camera is 90mm. Those interested in both macro photography and using a superb portrait lens for head-and-shoulder portraits, will find this 50mm lens an important addition to their Olympus E-series kit.
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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Worth the money July 20, 2007
By OJJ
I bought the E-Volt 500 kit with 2 lenses (medium and telephoto). I found that I'm mostly taking portrait photos, many indoors or in low light. The kit lenses are pretty good, but have a lowest aperture of f/3.5, and that's in their widest angle. Since you're usually going to want 40-50mm for people shots (especially if you want narrow depth of field - blurred background) you'll have to rely on a flash indoors. I also have the FL-36 flash, which is invaluable for those bar/restaurant parties, but you have to work hard to get a natural looking light (especially in a candle-light). The 50mm f/2 solves a lot of those problems, since shooting wide open (without flash) you'll get that natural looking light and a non-distracting background. If it's really dark, though, you'll still need the flash.
I think many people with the E-500 are in the same situation, they get the kit lenses, but grow out of them pretty fast. I find that the bigger aperture is worth the money. I find that I'm using the fixed focal length macro over my kit zoom lens. It's more work to frame, but the depth of field and sharpness are much better than the kit lens.
I was strongly considering the other 30mm (which is a lot cheaper), but I decided on the 50mm because (1) f/2 vs f/3.5 is a BIG difference and (2) 50mm gives you enough working room for most compositions. I highly recommend this lens, though it is pretty expensive for an amateur photographer, you're going to get a lot more out of it!!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars My new favorite lens!
I have to agree with other reviewers: It is really the most perfect lens. I can't add anything more than what the other positive reviewers have stated. Read more
Published 1 month ago by hobbit81
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Sharp
I bought this lens 1 month back.
It's wonderfully sharp and produces amazing result.
If you have any confusion just go and get it.
Published 15 months ago by Avisek
5.0 out of 5 stars What Else Can Be Said?
All the 5-star reviews for this sublime and near-technically-perfect lens hit it straight on: fantastic resolving power, tack-sharpness from edge to edge, Kodachrome-quality color... Read more
Published 16 months ago by James M. Bailey
5.0 out of 5 stars Sharp. Clear. Beautiful. Slow.
I love this lens.

I've sold most of my 4/3rds gear but this lens remains to be used on my Micro 4/3rds system.

It's just slow & hunts but when it finds... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Tram Truong
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing colors!!
This my Initial review of this lens.
I use this lens via an adapter with my new Olympus EPL1. If you love sharp pictures and true life like colors this lens is for you. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Ali Roustai
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb lens, fastest, very compact.
Macro:
Some say this lens focusses slowly. So what? Most macro lenses do.
For proper sharpness, you move the camera in small increments anyway as a millimetre can make... Read more
Published 18 months ago by photohounds
5.0 out of 5 stars Unbelievable lens made me pick up my DSLR again
This lens is simply amazing - unbelievable low-light photography and incredible sharpness. Bundled with my EVOLT 510 I have been able to snap some amazing pictures. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Vlad Grodzinskiy
5.0 out of 5 stars Works wonderfully with E-PL2!
The lens works very well with my Olympus E-PL2 via MMF-2 adapter. AF is fast enough in sufficient light and slightly slower in low light but still absolutely usable with no need to... Read more
Published on March 29, 2011 by Alex
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely top notch optic though focusing is a bit slow...
I've owned this for over four years now and this is STILL my favorite lens to be able to use. While I use various zooms more often due to field of view needs, I love when I get to... Read more
Published on February 23, 2011 by JAB
4.0 out of 5 stars Great portrait lens
Bought this lens to use with my "compact" E-620 as a "prime" lens to use for portraits and general medium tele work.
So far, it has performed as advertised. Read more
Published on December 31, 2010 by stanfish
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