Image courtesy: Quesabesde.
Quesabesde (translation here) tested the Olympus 75mm f/1.8 lens. Like any other review we have seen before Quesabesde likes the lens a lot. The optical quality is impressive. But when looking at the camera and lens pictures posted by Quesabesde I simply can’t get it why Olympus didn’t make a Black version of the lens. And if they plan to do it please don’t make it “Limited edition” like the expensive 12mm Black lens! No need to extra charge $300 for this đ
Olympus 75mm price check at [shopcountry 31284].
Ming Thein also posted a short Olympus 15/8 Body Cap Lens review: “At just US$60, itâs a no-brainer recommendation for anybody who owns a M4/3 camera, especially if youâve got a older or spare one lying around.“. Also Digitfotopro tested the tiny lens.
Body Cap Lens preorders at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here) and in Europe at Amazon DE (Click here) and Amazon UK (Click here).
37 Responses
The black limited edition lenses are a cash cow. You gotta admit it’s pretty clever to release a black body which is in stock first and sold off first and not have any regular black lenses but only silver lenses. When the black edition comes with only 3000 or something made, it will sell like hot cakes. And the silver users are still being ripped off for buying the ridiculously expensive lens hoods and stuff from Olympus.
I actually pre-ordered the black 12mm, I already own the silver 45mm and it looks like shit on my black OM-D. I will either wait for the black 75mm or until Panasonic releases an equally good lens in this focal length (and they will). Since I already own the Panasonic 20mm and 25mm, Olympus cannot lure me with their upcoming 17mm.
I must admit the black camera / champagne lens combination looks – shall we say – peculiar. Never thought much of the whinging on silver lenses, but seeing this – well…
I agree…I don’t generally care about lens color…I care about how it performs….but I have to say that the silver 75mm looks odd on the black OM. I think it has to do with the size of the lens. Good thing I bought a silver OM! đ
My advice to those concerned that silver lenses wont match their black body is to buy a silver body. ;oD
Worked for me too.
Except the silver color of the high end lenses is not the same shade of silver as the OM-D body.
Are you saying that you can’t stand the different shade of silver? Or people around you look at your OMD combo disgusted? I used to have a black EPL2, and used the 12mm on it (as well as the 45mm) and the only thing people were asking me was: is it an old camera? Now I still have it but I use my silver OMD, and people who walk near me ask only the same question: is it an old camera? I never had problems in taking street pictures being unnoticed, be it a black camera (epl2) with a black lens (panaleica 25mm/noktor50/nokton17.5), or a silver combo (OMD+12/17/45/75). And I’m not a ninja.
I am mostly interested in street photography in 3rd world countries and silver lenses DO attract A LOT of attention. The fact that people come and ask about the camera IS the problem.
Also, it is completely idiotic to release a high grade lens lineup in a different shade of silver than the high end body. I mean, what the hell?
I’ve been asked not so often, and people who asked me were walking near me, one step away: it was hard not to notice any kind of camera, be it black or silver. I agree people not used to cameras can be more curious and “interested”. Bresson used to hide the red dot on his leica simply because cameras like that were rare and precious. Anyway, it’s the person that has to act stealthy, and going unnoticed. A silver lens cannot be a real problem. At least it hasn’t ever been to me. (This 75mm allows you to stay away from your subject too, I love it)
* facepalm *
This constant gnashing of teeth in regard to lens color is like worrying about getting a splotch of paint on a hammer.
It means a whole lot when shooting on the street, believe me.
That’s an ignorant comment. Ask a carpenter if he cares about a paint splotch on his hammer. They will tell you they do. They take pride in their tools condition, usefulness, durability and appearance.
Just because YOU don’t care what color your lens is doesn’t mean that it is not important to others. Much in the same manner that a black lens doesn’t take better pictures, you do not take better pictures because you don’t care about your lens color.
While I would not suggest purchasing an inferior product due to its appearance, the desire to obtain a product in a color that matches your kit is in no way makes you less of a photographer.
I bet you don’t care a whit how you dress either.
I NEVER had a single problem in taking a street photo using a silver lens. And I’m not a ninja.
I don’t understand why is everybody complaining about a silver lens on a black camera, i still have a Nikon FM3 and yeah a silver body….. with a black lens.
What is the difference? does it make lesser sharp pics?? no!.
I have a black OM-D and a silver 45, i don’t care, the same as i wouldn’t complain when i had a Leica M9 with a silver Summicron 90..
Stop whining, go shooting.
Greetz
I don’t understand either, but I think that it’s just a known fact, that chrome lenses are for sissys and a lot of people just refuse to be sissys. Even people that are sissys, don’t want others to know that they are sissys, so they refuse to buy chrome lenses too.
It also could be the fact that most people see through the Olympus strategy, to sucker it’s customers into paying more for a lens in the color they want or to even sucker them into buying two lenses of the same focal length, just to get the color they wanted in the first place.
So, in the end, I see Olympus having fewer and fewer customers to the point that all that are left, are the ones that are too stupid to know they are being screwed. Hopefully though, those few will catch on, with the help of some of more intelligent people around here and Olympus will either go out of business or get some sorely needed scruples and start treating people right again.
Luckily, I was smart enough to pay a bit extra for a BLACK Nikon FM2, back in the day, assuring camera body and lens color matching. The rare times I use it today, I avoid the embarrassment of everyone knowing that the carpet not the drapes don’t match⌠ooooops, wrong web site. đ
The 75mm is great lens, a bummer that Oly has their quirky color system. Oh well, at Olympus somebody is always right, but sure it ain’t the customer!
The “silver” FM3A is actually silver AND black, and therefore matches well with black lenses. Silver only lenses on black only bodies is however no match at all. Some will think they look good together anyway while others don’t.
That said I prefer my Zeiss ZM lenses in silver version whatever colour of the body as the black painted ones look like the Voigtländers!
I notice the 75mm f1.8 is on sale at SRS Microsystems for ÂŁ699. Not exactly cheap, but that is ÂŁ100 less than at some other dealers. It shows how much can be saved by shopping around.
I’ve also noticed the 60mm macro listed for ÂŁ429. The price is actually less than I feared and I’m beginning to be tempted.
Its been almost three months since i had my Olympus 75 and its really impressive me by result of sharpness ,color, clarity,and contrast,.and not to mention the beautiful bokeh at wide open,.
But the FL its not usual for most user,.i always had a limited space and need to learn the distance,.is really good for a portrait lens or indoor concert, but for a street photography i must admit this lens is something i need to learn for,
.in most situation i had to change the lens to do my street photography,.but ,i think its better for me right now to get a second body of Silver OM-D to pair with this lens,. and use the Black body .with other lenses,..12,25,45, or zoom,.
still waiting for a high quality zooms lens like 14-54 or 12-60 for mFT… Unbelievable that they can’t manage to bring out such a lens, they had enough time for that.
I would get a used 12-60 while they go for cheap. In six months Olympus will come up with a body that can properly focus it and their price, new or used, will soar. I don’t think Oly has any intentions to produce native m4/3 HG zooms.
+1 here
I continue to love my 75/1.8. Amazing piece of glass and, for me, a great focal length.
Why chrome? I think it’s a branding thing. Canon makes all its tele lenses white, so you can tell at a distance that a photographer is using Canon. And nobody seems to be complaining, even though Canon DSLR bodies are black. So I think Olympus has standardized on chrome barrels so their lenses will be distinguishable from Panasonic’s, Voigtlander’s, etc.
Now that I have been able to buy a 75, I don’t worry anymore about the finish. If we’re going to complain about something on Olympus lens barrels, how about this: Why don’t they have a raised orienting dot, like the ones on Panasonic lenses? I often take pictures in dark theaters, and it’s very difficult to change Olympus lenses because I can’t tell by feel how they should be aligned. In fact, I’ve bought small half-sphere “craft beads” and glued one onto my 45/1.8 lens; it makes such a big difference that I’m going to have to do the same to the 75, even though it irritates me that I should have to do that to such an expensive, beautifully finished optic.
Hey, that is the best way to look at it, thanks! A branding thing. The silver are beautiful to behold but not very stealthy. As for Canon’s white lenses I believe that it because a lighter color, white, reflects sun thus the lens doesn’t get nearly as hot. All the white lenses are teles to super teles. When covering an NFL game or NASCAR race you are in the hot sun, at least in Florida, for hours. I’ve shot both Nikon and Canon big teles. But they also look nice and do stand out.
I like the look of Silver lenses on black bodies! Looks very classical!
I would like to use it for video on GH2, but it becomes too shaky without a tripod due to lack of stabilization.
I don’t understand why some people don’t understand that some people don’t like silver lenses. đ Peoples tastes vary. Some people don’t care, others do. That’s life.
I am in the latter category. And I vote with my wallet. Thus Olympus pushes me towards Panasonic lenses, the 25 f/1.4, the 12-35 f/2.8 and soon the 35-100 f/2.8. I want to support Oly, I want to buy their lenses, but I can’t. I can’t stand the various silver color schemes.
Why is Apple the most valuable company in the world? Partly because they understand design. They understand that people want to buy classy and good looking tools. Olympus is not getting it. I’m sure Panasonic is happy about this situation. I’m not.
+1
I was going to order the 12mm in black, until I saw the price.
I understand that they are in need of cash, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of their customers.
I like how Panasonic does businessâyou buy a premium lens, it’s black, it comes with the lens hoodâno hidden costs.
And of course, I won’t buy silver.
+1 : Pana studies how to address market expectations…
Where Olympus studies how to differentiate from it !
A pity since Olympus now masters everything needed !
Well, it depends…
The 12-35/2.8 is very darkish purple, not black.
Some lenses come in all black, some come in sortof black with Pana’s metalic ‘brown’
Most lenses come with hood, but not all, but all come with pouch.
So no, not all expensive Panasonic lenses come in black, in fact the most expensive one currently available doesn’t đ
Obviously, this doesn’t make Olympus’ color scheme anywhere sane.
I’m one of those who don’t care about the color of a lens, I care about the results it produces. I’m also not convinced a silvery lens draws more attention, experience tells me this is related to lens size, not color (for example, black the 25/1.4 with hood really gets more curious looks then the silver 45/1.8 with hood), but, if you make black and silver cameras, include ‘design’ as part of the package and as a selling point, then you better make sure you have matching ‘accessories’ or you look utterly clueless.
Panasonic doesn’t try to give this image of ‘design matters’, so even if their most expensive lens is sortof darkish purple, its way easier forgiven.
Personally, I can’t care enough, and will buy a silver or blue or yellow with purple lens, if it gets me the results I want. No, I’m not going to pay more to get the ‘right’ color, and yes, I’m going to order a cheap hood from China if you don’t include one, and besides argue that you obviously forgot your photography history, since hoods are kinda useful…. Hey Olympus, you listening?
I agree with all other users, a black lens would be great ! I had the chance to host a seminar with olympus EM5 cameras, which was highly appreciated. But the only lenses missing are a fast zoom lens like the panasonic 12 – 35, f 2,8 and a BLACK 75 version of the current telephoto lens !
I wish the 15mm f8 came in silver!
I agree in the black version. Thank you for writing this. Please apply pressure to Olympus. This is simply sick price gouging! I truly need black and so do many others simply because of the nature of our work.
Some people are more concerned how they photographs look and some how their gear look. I belong to the latter and simply I don´t want a silver lens with a black camera.
and it’s not possible to be concerned about looks and performance? There’s room for both. Especially when you pay premium prices.