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deadwolfbones · 08-13-2009, 11:12 AM

Lately I've been pondering buying an Olympus dSLR to take advantage of all the great orphan glass out there... FD and MD, etc etc. Has anyone here done this and have any tips for me? I don't know much about 4/3 bodies... the E-420 and E-520 look pretty good, and can be had pretty cheaply (a new 520 body-only is $310 from Beach Camera after cashback).

The adapters range wildly in price from $175 from Cameraquest to $5 from HK on eBay (anyone used these?)

Gooshin · 08-13-2009, 11:17 AM

forget orphan glass, get the F2.0 zoom!

emr · 08-13-2009, 11:29 AM

Originally posted by deadwolfbones

...Olympus dSLR...FD...

Sorry for being ignorant, but is there an adapter for a 4/3 body and an FD lens? I thought it is only possible with micro 4/3 bodies where the registration length is smaller.

deadwolfbones · 08-13-2009, 11:39 AM

Originally posted by emr

Sorry for being ignorant, but is there an adapter for a 4/3 body and an FD lens? I thought it is only possible with micro 4/3 bodies where the registration length is smaller.

Sorry, you're right. FD is only possible with micro 4/3.

Regular 4/3 still allows quite a number of other lenses to mount, though:

Adapters: Olympus E-1

emr · 08-13-2009, 11:42 AM

Well, at least with minor lens surgery it seems possible. Although I personally would not want to modify even an old lens.

joeyc · 08-13-2009, 11:49 AM

Until recently, I've been using Olympus gear almost exclusively. Probably had about 10 bodies, but currently only have my original - E-1 (still the best). I've used OM, K mount and Nikon mount lenses on the bodies with good success. To be honest, I find the legacy glass experience much more enjoyable on my K200D than I ever did on any Olympus body - including a Katz Eye equipped E-420. The focus confirm and bright viewfinder at all apertures make the Pentax experienc much better.

Not worth it in my opinion. If you want to grab a hold of some of the amazing digital Zuiko zooms, that's another story. Boy I miss those.

deadwolfbones · 08-13-2009, 11:54 AM

Originally posted by joeyc

Until recently, I've been using Olympus gear almost exclusively. Probably had about 10 bodies, but currently only have my original - E-1 (still the best). I've used OM, K mount and Nikon mount lenses on the bodies with good success. To be honest, I find the legacy glass experience much more enjoyable on my K200D than I ever did on any Olympus body - including a Katz Eye equipped E-420. The focus confirm and bright viewfinder at all apertures make the Pentax experienc much better.

Not worth it in my opinion. If you want to grab a hold of some of the amazing digital Zuiko zooms, that's another story. Boy I miss those.

Thanks for the input.

and · 08-13-2009, 01:43 PM

Ive seen 4/3 bodies sold very cheap, especially used ones. I think the 420 is a nice little camera for instance and Ive seen second hand ones sold for a song. However the lenses seem very expensive (and insanely huge, their constant f4 zoom is gigantic. compare it to the new m43 lenses).

But for cheap leagacy it could be good. Cheap body and cheap lenses.

joeyc · 08-13-2009, 01:48 PM

Originally posted by and

Ive seen 4/3 bodies sold very cheap, especially used ones. I think the 420 is a nice little camera for instance and Ive seen second hand ones sold for a song. However the lenses seem very expensive (and insanely huge, their constant f4 zoom is gigantic. compare it to the new m43 lenses).

But for cheap leagacy it could be good. Cheap body and cheap lenses.

the e-420 is a fantastic camera, but the tiny viewfinder would not be fun with a manual focus lens.

jct us101 · 08-13-2009, 06:59 PM

Have you considered the new E-P1 that I just happen to have a forum for?

Spock · 08-13-2009, 09:04 PM

Juts curious, I've seen the adverts for the new Olympus PEN E-P1. Do the lenses for Olympus SLRs fit on this and vice versa?

jct us101 · 08-13-2009, 10:08 PM

They do with an adapter. They even autofocus!

Spock · 08-13-2009, 11:48 PM

Originally posted by Spock

Juts curious, I've seen the adverts for the new Olympus PEN E-P1. Do the lenses for Olympus SLRs fit on this and vice versa?

Originally posted by jct us101

They do with an adapter. They even autofocus!

So they are not the same mount/system?

deadwolfbones · 08-14-2009, 11:42 AM

Won't be considering the PEN series till/unless it has an OVF.

er1kksen · 08-15-2009, 08:30 AM

I started with Oly before being seduced by the K20D, and I'd just like to input that the Oly 40-150 is a fantastic little optic that can be had for cheap and is insanely tiny. Same functionality as the Pentax 50-200, but likely sharper.

If you want to play with legacy glass I'd recommend the E-620 rather than the 420 or 520, just on the basis of its larger viewfinder and superior live view. A lot of people do use legacy glass on the older small bodies and love it, however, so it may work just fine for you. It's interesting to note that (I believe it's Konica Hexanon) lenses can be mounted directly to 4/3 with just minor external modification of some pin. The very small, sharp, and easily available 40mm f1.8 has a bit of a following.

08-13-2009, 11:12 AM	#1
deadwolfbones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Santa Fe, NM Posts: 7,451	Buying into a 4/3 system (for lens variety) Lately I've been pondering buying an Olympus dSLR to take advantage of all the great orphan glass out there... FD and MD, etc etc. Has anyone here done this and have any tips for me? I don't know much about 4/3 bodies... the E-420 and E-520 look pretty good, and can be had pretty cheaply (a new 520 body-only is $310 from Beach Camera after cashback). The adapters range wildly in price from $175 from Cameraquest to $5 from HK on eBay (anyone used these?)

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08-13-2009, 11:17 AM	#2
Gooshin Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, the one in Canada. Posts: 5,610	forget orphan glass, get the F2.0 zoom!

08-13-2009, 11:29 AM	#3
emr Guest	Originally posted by deadwolfbones ...Olympus dSLR...FD... Sorry for being ignorant, but is there an adapter for a 4/3 body and an FD lens? I thought it is only possible with micro 4/3 bodies where the registration length is smaller.

08-13-2009, 11:39 AM	#4
deadwolfbones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Santa Fe, NM Posts: 7,451 Original Poster	Originally posted by emr Sorry for being ignorant, but is there an adapter for a 4/3 body and an FD lens? I thought it is only possible with micro 4/3 bodies where the registration length is smaller. Sorry, you're right. FD is only possible with micro 4/3. Regular 4/3 still allows quite a number of other lenses to mount, though: Adapters: Olympus E-1

08-13-2009, 11:42 AM	#5
emr Guest	Well, at least with minor lens surgery it seems possible. Although I personally would not want to modify even an old lens.

08-13-2009, 11:49 AM	#6
joeyc Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 478	Until recently, I've been using Olympus gear almost exclusively. Probably had about 10 bodies, but currently only have my original - E-1 (still the best). I've used OM, K mount and Nikon mount lenses on the bodies with good success. To be honest, I find the legacy glass experience much more enjoyable on my K200D than I ever did on any Olympus body - including a Katz Eye equipped E-420. The focus confirm and bright viewfinder at all apertures make the Pentax experienc much better. Not worth it in my opinion. If you want to grab a hold of some of the amazing digital Zuiko zooms, that's another story. Boy I miss those.

08-13-2009, 11:54 AM	#7
deadwolfbones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Santa Fe, NM Posts: 7,451 Original Poster	Originally posted by joeyc Until recently, I've been using Olympus gear almost exclusively. Probably had about 10 bodies, but currently only have my original - E-1 (still the best). I've used OM, K mount and Nikon mount lenses on the bodies with good success. To be honest, I find the legacy glass experience much more enjoyable on my K200D than I ever did on any Olympus body - including a Katz Eye equipped E-420. The focus confirm and bright viewfinder at all apertures make the Pentax experienc much better. Not worth it in my opinion. If you want to grab a hold of some of the amazing digital Zuiko zooms, that's another story. Boy I miss those. Thanks for the input.

08-13-2009, 01:43 PM	#8
and Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,476	Ive seen 4/3 bodies sold very cheap, especially used ones. I think the 420 is a nice little camera for instance and Ive seen second hand ones sold for a song. However the lenses seem very expensive (and insanely huge, their constant f4 zoom is gigantic. compare it to the new m43 lenses). But for cheap leagacy it could be good. Cheap body and cheap lenses.

08-13-2009, 01:48 PM	#9
joeyc Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 478	Originally posted by and Ive seen 4/3 bodies sold very cheap, especially used ones. I think the 420 is a nice little camera for instance and Ive seen second hand ones sold for a song. However the lenses seem very expensive (and insanely huge, their constant f4 zoom is gigantic. compare it to the new m43 lenses). But for cheap leagacy it could be good. Cheap body and cheap lenses. the e-420 is a fantastic camera, but the tiny viewfinder would not be fun with a manual focus lens.

08-13-2009, 06:59 PM	#10
jct us101 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Rohnert Park, CA Posts: 3,793	Have you considered the new E-P1 that I just happen to have a forum for?

08-13-2009, 09:04 PM	#11
Spock Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 674	Juts curious, I've seen the adverts for the new Olympus PEN E-P1. Do the lenses for Olympus SLRs fit on this and vice versa?

08-13-2009, 10:08 PM	#12
jct us101 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Rohnert Park, CA Posts: 3,793	They do with an adapter. They even autofocus!

08-13-2009, 11:48 PM	#13
Spock Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 674	Originally posted by Spock Juts curious, I've seen the adverts for the new Olympus PEN E-P1. Do the lenses for Olympus SLRs fit on this and vice versa? Originally posted by jct us101 They do with an adapter. They even autofocus! So they are not the same mount/system?

08-14-2009, 11:42 AM	#14
deadwolfbones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Santa Fe, NM Posts: 7,451 Original Poster	Won't be considering the PEN series till/unless it has an OVF.

08-15-2009, 08:30 AM	#15
er1kksen Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Forestville, NY Photos: Albums Posts: 1,801	I started with Oly before being seduced by the K20D, and I'd just like to input that the Oly 40-150 is a fantastic little optic that can be had for cheap and is insanely tiny. Same functionality as the Pentax 50-200, but likely sharper. If you want to play with legacy glass I'd recommend the E-620 rather than the 420 or 520, just on the basis of its larger viewfinder and superior live view. A lot of people do use legacy glass on the older small bodies and love it, however, so it may work just fine for you. It's interesting to note that (I believe it's Konica Hexanon) lenses can be mounted directly to 4/3 with just minor external modification of some pin. The very small, sharp, and easily available 40mm f1.8 has a bit of a following.

Buying into a 4/3 system (for lens variety)

Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!