Popular Photography Zuiko Lens Tests

Sun Apr  5 22:45:40 EDT 1998 version

I.  Fixed Lenses

24/2 MC (7/84 p. 65): 
Actual: 24.73/2.06, Distortion: above average barrel
Centering: near-perfect, Flare: 0.6%, Transmission: 94%
Percent contrast of 0.01mm slit image:
		2	2.8	4	5.6	8
Center          51  	76      82  	83      83
1/3rd out       50  	67      68  	67      66
2/3rds out      44  	51      55  	50      55
Far edge        40  	41      55	70      69


35/2.8 SC (??/?? pp. XXX-XXX): 
Actual: 35.51/2.73, Distortion: slight barrel
Centering: perfect, Flare: 1.0%, Transmission: 93%
Percent contrast of 0.01mm slit image:
		2.8	4	5.6	8
Center          70      80  	85      80
1/3rd out       63      69  	79      80
2/3rds out      45      49  	50      60
Far edge        49      50  	60      62


40/2 MC (7/84 pp. 65): 
Actual: 41.85/2.09, Distortion: moderate barrel
Centering: near-perfect, Flare: 1.0%, Transmission: 95%
Percent contrast of 0.01mm slit image:
		2	2.8	4	5.6	8
Center          56  	71      80  	79      78
1/3rd out       55  	64      74  	81      82
2/3rds out      52  	57      67  	71      75
Far edge        45  	47      65  	75      82


50/1.8 MC (5/91 p. 47):


100/2 MC (7/84 pp. 65):
Actual: 100.83/2.1, Distortion: none
Centering: perfect, Flare: 0.65%, Transmission: 95%
Percent contrast of 0.01mm slit image:
		2	2.8	4	5.6	8
Center          68  	73      77  	80      79
1/3rd out       69  	70      75  	78      79
2/3rds out      66  	69      71  	75      75
Far edge        69  	71      70 	69      70


100/2.8 SC (??/?? pp. XXX-XXX):
Actual: 101.46/2.89, Distortion: none
Centering: near perfect, Flare: 1.55%, Transmission: 95%
Percent contrast of 0.01mm slit image:
		2.8	4	5.6	8
Center          70      74  	78      79
1/3rd out       65      70  	75      79
2/3rds out      60      61  	67      69
Far edge        58      59  	60      60

II.  Zoom Lenses

35-70/3.6 MC (8/95 pp. 77, 98 (w/OM-2S test/stripdown, pp. 63-7, 98, 100)):


35-70/3.5-4.5 MC AF (4/87 pp. 38-39 (w/OM-77AF test, pp. 44-9)):


35-80/2.8 MC (8/95 p. 62):


35-105/3.5-4.5 MC (??/?? pp. XXX-XXX):
35: Actual: 36.15/3.29, Distortion: very slight barrel
Centering: Perfect, Flare: 1.55%, Transmission: 87% 
Vignetting: None beyond f/8
                3.5     5.6     8
Center          52      70      73
1/3rd out       55      69      71
2/3rds out      45      49      51
Far edge        30      31      42

70: Actual 69.12/4.06, Distortion: Moderate pincushion
Centering: Perfect, Flare: 1.45%, Transmission: 87%
Vignetting: None beyond f/5.6
                3.5     5.6     8
Center          60      82      82
1/3rd out       59      70      75
2/3rds out      35      38      49
Far edge        24      30      37

105: Actual 102.74/4.67, Distortion: moderate pincushion
Centering: Unknown, Flare: 1.6%, Transmission: 87% 
Vignetting: None beyond f/5.6
                3.5     5.6     8
Center          70      72      75
1/3rd out       69      75      75
2/3rds out      40      52      60
Far edge        30      41      51

35 close focus limit: Actual 36.15, Distortion: None
Centering: Unknown, Flare: 1.35%, Transmission: 94%
Vignetting: None beyond f/6.3
                3.5     5.6     8
Center          55      69      70
1/3rd out       50      62      69
2/3rds out      25      34      45
Far edge        14      15      16

III.  Macro Lenses

50/2.0 MC (4/86 p. 106 (w/OM-3 test, pp. 30-3)):

Finally, here are the folks that helped with the list:

	PCA Cala <PCACala@aol.com>

Thanks, everyone!