Additional Information on Olympus Zuiko lenses
Zuiko Telephoto lenses - 180mm telephoto lenses - Part Two

 
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Zuiko-T AUTO MC 180mm f/2.8 telephoto lense

While not everyone can afford to invest into a USD3,000 Zuiko (Approx. list price) optic just to take a few weekend pictures and in fact the entry price for the exotic ZUIKO MC AUTO-T 180mm f/2.0 ED-IF can be quite stressful even for any full time professionals. Well, for those who has a little extra to spare on leisure photography but still wishes to own some of the best in ZUIKO, Olympus has another lovely alternative telephoto lense at this focal length to fulfill requirement of OMers. I would not like to label it as an economical alternative to the high speed f/2.0 ED-IF ZUIKO but rather, this is another excellent telephoto lense on it own. The Zuiko MC 180mm f/2.8 was believed to have been introduced during the early '80 (probably in 1981/82) as the telephoto range at popular 200mm focal length, Zuiko has only some lenses with moderate lense speed which can be quite restrictive in many photographic situations and there was a need to call for such a high speed telephoto lense type to serve the meet such demand.

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<< --- Credit: A good view of this Zuiko 180mm f/2.8 lense courtesy of Mr. Mike Puchreite <mpuch@sanbrunocable.com>. Image copyright © 2002 All rights reserved.
However, it is NOT entirely a cheap lense to own, with a list price approx. at USD1,000-00, which may put off a lot of burning desire in any photographer's mind to think of such a possible investment (It used to sell at an more affordable USD380-00 10 years ago). Frankly, for that asking price for a new lense, there have many other third party equivalent optic which you can check and see if they fit your needs too, some examples are Angenieux 's 180mm f/2.3 APO and also a 200mm f/2.8 ED in OM mount. So, can I conclude Olympus has not been very smart to evade themselves with possible competitions? Anyway, a more logical mean is to source at used equipment market where such a lense may have a more sensible price of around USD250.00-300.00 a piece


The ZUIKO MC AUTO-T 180mm f/2.8 combines a popular telephoto focal length and a moderately fast maximum lense speed. Its fine performance derives from advanced computerized design techniques, special optical glasses and multicoated for maximum, accurate transmission of light to the film plane while minimize any possible flares for faithful, high contrast images, frames after frames. The maximum aperture also enables the use of the multicoated
1.4X-A teleconverter where the lense can be transformed into an equally high performance 252mm f/4.0 super telephoto lense.

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EAST ORANGE

OM4 w/ZUIKO Auto-T 180mm f/2.8

<<< -- Credit: Image courtesy of Mr JOEL Wilcox® <jowilcox@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu>. Joel has an excellent landscape photographic website on his own. Image Copyright © 2003. All rights reserved. Please respect the visual property of the contributing photographer.

This lense was probably introduced in 1982 and it was born with a native MC Zuiko lense. This lense combines a few good factors in excellent lense handling, high portability, top rated optical performance and a modest entry price, this ZUIKO telephoto lense is a more practical choice than the ZUIKO AUTO-T 180mm f/2.0 for any serious photographer, which includes the professionals. It provides a minimum aperture of f/32 which is useful for extended depth of field control. The lense weighs considerably at 700g but way lighter than when compared to the 1.9kg white-bodied, high speed ZUIKO 180mm f/2.0.

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The filter attachment size of this lense uses a larger 72mm diameter and can be considered quite unusual for standard size used in other normal OM Zuiko lenses. But since 72mm is still considered as a popular filter size for high speed lenses and they are readily available and this is not seriously a big concern, except filters with 72mm usually are more expensive.

<<< --- Credit: This image was specially taken by Mr. Jone Quinn <yahuhai@yahoo.com> for this OM project. Jone Quinn runs a popular Ebay Store and he specializes in selling OM photo gears. Image copyright © 2003 All rights reserved.

With a diagonal picture angle at 14°, the natural perspective yields makes it an ideal lense for portraiture even if it has to work at close range without having too much of any apparent noticeable distortion. This ZUIKO telephoto is an extremely well made lense with quality feel all over. It has a great weight distribution and various control well placed and allocated for easy, positive lense handling even during a handheld, low light shooting situation. The focusing grip is generously extended and the aperture ring is spaced for easy access and operate while a considerate built-in retractable lense hood with a long extension provides excellent lense shade under backlit shooting.

The optical construction consists of a simple, straight forward 5 groups, 5 elements composite design - which contributes greatly to its reputation in delivering consistently crisp, sharp and high contrast images (I am a firm believer of lesser is better concept, lenses with more than 10 elements may solve an optical designing problem but usually other optical problems may also prevail).

<<< --- Credit: Image of this Zuiko lense courtesy of Mr. Jone Quinn <yahuhai@yahoo.com>. Image copyright © 2003 All rights reserved.

With this lense, along with the faster 180mm f/2.0 ED-IF counterpart, Olympus has two superbly crafted high speed telephoto lenses that able to deliver top rated optical results at this popular focal length for OMers, regardless for personal leisure photography and/or to serve professional photographers and photojournalists.

Relative resources for comparison: Nikkor180mm f/2.8s, Angenieux 180mm f/2.3 APO

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Specifications:

Lense type: Zuiko AUTO-T 180mm f/2.8
Focal length
: 180mm
Lens construction: 5 groups, 5 elements
Angles of view: Diagonal: 14°

Distance scale: (m) 2.0m (6.6ft) to infinity (OO)
Focusing: Helicoid
Lens Hood: Built-in
Minimum and Maximum aperture: f/2.8 - f/32
Minimum Photographic range: 32cm x 21cm
Diaphragm: Automatic
Filter size
: 72mm Screw in
Maximum diameter: 81mm
Length: 125mm
Weight: 700g (24.7 oz)
***

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Compatible Teleconverter(s): 1.4X-A
Recommended Focusing Screens: 1:1*, 1:2*, 1:3*, 1:4n*, 1:6#, 1:7#, 1:10*, 1:13*, 1:14* *Compatible. Focusing and exposure accuracy remains # Can be used, they provide accurate focusing but exposure error may occur in manual mode for OM1 and OM2 series models. Compatible. Focusing and exposure accuracy remains. ** Compatible, Focusing and exposure accuracy remains intact but microprism, corners of the screen and split image may darken. # Compatible with OM-1(n) and OM-2(n), may be used on OM-3(ti) and OM-4(ti) or equivalent, they provide accurate focusing but exposure error may occur in manual mode.## More info on "Picture Angle" or make use of the Glossary section in PIM site.. *** Between new and old OM sales manuals,some inconsistent figures were presented.

<
<< --- Credit: Image of this Zuiko lense courtesy of Jone Quinn <yahuhai@yahoo.com> who also runs a popular Ebay Store where you can take a visit to scout for OM used items. Image copyright © 2002 All rights reserved.

| Previous | High speed ZUIKO MC 180mm f/2.0 ED-IF Lense
|
NEXT | Zuiko Lenses at 200mm focal length

ZUIKO Telephoto lenses | 85mm | 100mm | 135mm | 180mm | 200mm | 250mm | 300mm | 350mm | 400mm | 500mm REFLEX | 600mm | 1000mm

A Brief overview on Zuiko Optics
Zuiko Fisheye Lenses
8mm f/2.8 Circular Fisheye | 16mm f/3.5 Full Frame Fisheye
Zuiko Ultra-Wideangle Lenses
18mm f/3.5 | 21mm f/2.0 | 21mm f/3.5 | 24mm f/2.0 | 24mm f/2.8
Zuiko Wideangle Lenses
28mm f/2.0 | 28mm f/2.8 | 28mm f/3.5 | 35mm f/2 | 35mm f/2.8 |
Zuiko Standard Lenses
40mm f/2.0 | 55mm f/1.2 | 50mm f/1.2 | 50mm f/1.4 | 50mm f/1.8 | Zuiko 50mm f/2.0 PF
Zuiko Medium-Telephoto Lenses
85mm f/2.0 | 100mm f/2.0 | 100mm f/2.8 | 135mm f/2.8 | 135mm f/3.5
Zuiko Telephoto Lenses
180mm f/2.0 EDIF | 180mm f/2.8 | 200mm f/4.0 | 200mm f/5.0 Auto-T (brief)
Zuiko Super-Telephoto Lenses
250mm f/2.0 EDIF | 300mm f/4.5 | 350mm f/2.8 EDIF | 400mm f/6.3 | 500mm | 600mm f/6.5 |1000mm f/11.0
Special application Zuiko optics:
24mm f/3.5 Shift | 35mm f/2.8 Shift | 500mm f/8 Reflex | AF Zoom 35-70mm f/4.0 | Zuiko 50mm f/2.0 PF

Tele-Converters: 1.4X-A / 2X-A

Zuiko Macro/Close focus lenses: Zuiko AUTO MACRO 20mm f/3.5 | Zuiko AUTO MACRO 20mm f/2.0 | Zuiko AUTO MACRO 38mm f/3.5 | Zuiko AUTO MACRO 38mm f/2.8 | Zuiko AUTO MACRO 50mm f/3.5 | Zuiko AUTO MACRO 50mm f/2.0 | Zuiko AUTO MACRO 1:1 80mm f/4.0 | Zuiko AUTO MACRO 90mm f/2.0 | Zuiko AUTO MACRO 135mm f/4.5

Zuiko AUTO-Zoom Lenses - Main Index page
| S-Zuiko AUTO Zoom 28-48mm f/4.0 | Zuiko AUTO Zoom 35-70mm f/3.6 | S-Zuiko AUTO Zoom 35-70mm f/4.0 | Zuiko AF AUTO Zoom 35-70mm f/4.0 | S-Zuiko AUTO Zoom 35-70mm f/3.5 ~ f/4.5 | S-Zuiko AUTO Zoom 35-70mm f/3.5 ~ f/4.8 | Zuiko AUTO Zoom 35-80mm f/2.8 ED | Zuiko AUTO Zoom 35-105mm f/3.5 ~ f/4.5 | Zuiko AUTO zoom 50-250mm f/5.0 | Zuiko AUTO zoom 65-200mm f/4.0 | S-Zuiko AUTO zoom 70-210mm f/4.5 ~ f/5.6 | Zuiko AUTO Zoom 75-150mm f/4.0 | Zuiko AUTO Zoom 85-200mm f/4.0 | Zuiko AUTO Zoom 85-250mm f/5.0 | S-Zuiko AUTO Zoom 100-200mm f/5.0 |

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About this photographic site.

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Copyright © 2000. leofoo ®. MIR Web Development Team.

Maintainers for OM Zuiko Site & Message Board: Rick Oleson (Email: rick_oleson@yahoo.com Website: http://rick_oleson.tripod.com), Bruce Hamm (bhamm@magma.ca), John Orrell (john@orrellj.freeserve.co.uk), Simon Evans, (http://www.mawddwy.freeserve.co.uk); Shaun (shaun@noemail.com), Andy Radcliffe (AndyJRadcliffe@manx.net)

Special thanks to: Gregory P. Logiodice, Bob Gries, Erwin Voogt, Joel Wilcox, Rick Oleson, Simon Evan and many others for granting permissions to use their images of either lenses, cameras and own pictures appeared in this Zuiko website.

Credit: My old time buddy, Ahmad Ikram, Dr of Rubber Research Institute (RRI), Malaysia who shares the same passion with me and also lending his OM-1n, OM-4 and the Motor Drive 1 to me for preparing some images in this site; Mark Dapoz <md@dementia.org>for reminding some broken links; Mr Poon of Foto Poon, Ipoh, Mr Richard, Ampang Park, Mr Lim and Miss Jenny of Foto Edar for their generosity for their OM1(n), OM2n camera and some Zuiko lenses. Mr Hans van Veluwen for mistakenly using some content earlier from his OM website; J Sorensen for providing some useful images to rectify some technical "flaws"; Mr Gen Holst for helping during the early stages of development of this OM site; Mr KKLow for some of his earlier images on the OM-1appeared in this website; Miss Wati and Mirza for helping me to convert this Operation Manual into a HTML format. Mr MCLau for rectifying some mistakes made on the earlier preview sites. A personal tribute to the creator of the OM system and also a site dedicated to all the fans of Olympuses and Zuiko Optics worldwide. Some of the content and images appeared in this site were scanned from OM official marketing leaflets, brochures and instruction manual(s) for educational purposes. Olympus is a registered trade name of Olympus Optical Inc., Japan. Site created 'unfortunately again with an IMac.