I actually did this. I have two Olympus-S so I sacrificed one of them. Thank you for including instructions in the video. The lens is amazingly good for its age. Cannot be compared to a new lens, but this is just for fun.
So helpful, thanks a ton! Great videos....your presentation style is perfect.........no yelling or goofy histrionics.....just great information! Regards, Jimp
Good you described "Sanding" finally. I was to use my home grinder instead. It's a lot faster but guess not as well controllable as this way and one can easily end up with a uneven surface ring, if not super careful.
I had other people ask me about it and so I decided to show how it's done in a controllable way. Super simple and efficient manual style. No machines necessary :)
Wonderfull video ! You do it with style each time ! Instructive & fun :) I need to try your hack to revive oldies gems and i am also impatient to sand down to reach infinity 😁 Thanks for sharing !
Hi. Someone on DPReview put me on to your channel and I was thrilled to see this setup because I managed to pick up a mint lens for cheap. The vendor had spelled "Olympus" wrong so I guess it went under people's radar! I particularly appreciate the listing of tools/parts required in the video description, that's super helpful. Anyway, have subbed and followed you on Insta under my photography account. Keep up the great work.
Hi and thanks for reaching out! That's great that you found this Olympus camera for cheap! I absolutely love this Zuiko lens! It's really special and I am excited for you to try it out! Thank you so much for subscribing to the channel. I appreciate it. Btw, what is your photography account on Insta?
I really like you re channel. One thing to add to the "how to" part is to thoroughly blow/clean the step up ring after each grinding (i am sure it s something you did). We really don t want any tiny metal parts going onto the camera sensor. Another useful thing would be to use a digital caliper to measure the difference between each grinding, i would suggest 0,1 mm steps and to check that the ring is grind evenly. Perhaps on you re next project you can measure the ring before and after the process and tell in the video how much it needs to be filed.
Thank you! Yes, cleaning the step up ring after each sanding is essential. We absolutely want to keep that sensor as clean as possible. :) I am already constantly using a dust blower with all my never-ending lens changing and testing. :) Yeah, next time I can definitely show how much I've filed away and do before and after measurement. Thanks for the suggestion.
@@VintageOptiks also, i got a chance to buy a taron rangefinder but its not the same model as yours. Its a taron auto EE. Kind of on the fence since the results are unknown. Its got a 50 1.8
I'm a bit behind on my viewing, only just got round to watching this - that's a really nice lens and a really handy focal length - all the benefits of a fast fifty but slightly shorter. Great stuff.
I completely agree - the slightly wider than normal focal length is very handy but it's also coupled with a super compact design and great overall IQ. It's a stellar Zuiko! These 60's rangefinder lenses continue to surprise me!
@@VintageOptiks Good point about the compact design - it looks small on the camera even after you've fitted the aftermarket helicoid - my fast fifties don't look so compact once I've fitted the obligatory M42 to Micro 4/3 adapter.
I know that camera, but I haven't tried the lens yet. It's suppose to be another great Zuiko optic! I'm just not sure if you can remove the lens in the same way as the one I showed in the video. Not all rangefinder lenses are as easy to remove.
Great channel, especially the DIY add-on, which is sooooo helpful. Question: Why use a small helicoid (13-17mm) rather than a longer one? What difference does the range of the helicoid make?
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoy the DIY videos. The reason for the slim helicoid is so the lens can reach infinity focus. These are rangefinder lenses that were designed to sit close to the film plane since there was no mirror in the camera. The lower number of the helicoid needs to be 13mm in order for the lens to focus to infinity on a Sony mirrorless camera. The upper limit is not an issue. The helicoid can be 13-25mm, or 13-45mm, or whatever. It doesn't really matter. But the the lower number needs to be 13mm with this set-up for infinity focus. Of course if you don't care about infinity focus you can use longer helicoids, and just use the lens for close-ups and macro work. Hope this explains it all. Cheers.
This one looks almost identical to the lens from Olympus 35 SP. The only difference is that the SP lens is marked F1.7. I have the SP one, and I can agree that it's one of the best adapted lenses I have.
Yeah it's very similar to the Olympus SP. This one is thankfully cheaper as a rangefinder than the SP, but its a bit harder to find. But the lens is equally as good! Top notch optics.
I am thrilled! Can this technique be applied to all Rangefinder cameras? Or are there only certain types where you can remove the lenses so easily and continue to use them? Is there anything I need to be aware of if I want to try this out myself?
Unfortunately this technique can't be applied to all rangefinder cameras. Some rangefinders have lenses that are really difficult to remove and adapting them is a lot more complicated. I try to feature lenses that are simple and easy to adapt but also excellent performers on digital. I personally love adapting these fixed lenses! So far I've adapted 6 of them here on the channel and they have all been excellent! I can highly recommend this Olympus lens! It is super easy to adapt and it produces superb images. Also Konica rangefinder lenses are another gem!
Unfortunately I haven’t tried the 35LC and I don’t know if it’s just as easy to adapt. From my experience even cameras from the same manufacturer can be vastly different when it comes to removing the lens and adapting it.
@@VintageOptiks I did end up buying ($40 after s&h) the Olympus 35 LC w/ G. Zuiko 42mm f1.7 and it did require a bit of hacking (cutting) of a cover to get my spanner tool on the retaining ring slots but was able to get it off without any damage to the lense. To get the most focal range, I used a 12-19mm helicoid (m42-m42 which barely fit after cutting and sanding around the rear lens and sanding the helicoid and down) and then an m42 to fx adapter. Really enjoying the lens on my fuji aps-c. Great sharpness and focal length for pictures of the family around the house.
That sounds great! I’m glad you were able to remove the lens and adapt it!! That lens has a great reputation and I can’t wait to try it! Enjoy it and thank you for sharing your experience. It’s always nice to hear from people who enjoy these DIY projects.
Thank you!! I personally never tried the Zuiko 40mm f2 (since it's price is absolutely ridiculous), but this lens is almost the same focal length, it's actually faster and it's way cheaper! And it's still a Zuiko :)
I’ve not tried the OM 40mm however I have owned an Olympus S and many Zuiko OM lenses. This rangefinder lens gives superb results but the lack of coatings produce subtle shades and colours that are definitely different from my multi coated OM glass (and all modern lenses). I love the high resolution, low contrast look and it’s not easy to find in new lenses.
I used the Olympus SC for this project so I’m not sure if the 35-S will be the exact same procedure. Even though the lenses look like they are the same, sometimes they are attached to the body differently and they might have a mechanism on the back. And since I haven’t used the 35-S model I can’t say for sure if there will be any differences. But if you get one for cheap it’s worth to try.
Bro, your short, concise vids are AWESOME!! Thank you so much!!
Thank you!!! I appreciate it!
I actually did this. I have two Olympus-S so I sacrificed one of them. Thank you for including instructions in the video. The lens is amazingly good for its age. Cannot be compared to a new lens, but this is just for fun.
Awesome!! I’m always happy to hear from people who try these DIY projects! It’s a great little lens that is really fun to use. Enjoy it!
As always I am amazed how much time you have spent explaining the complete process. Thank you!!
Thank you! I want the videos to be as informative and as helpful as possible.
He does it with such clarity
Just excellent. Glad I found you. I might be tempted to use a bit of rubber instead of paper.
Thank you!! You can use whatever material you prefer to open the leaf shutter.
Great video, thanks for the step by step instructions. I'll be giving this a go very soon.
Thanks again.
You are welcome. I hope you’ll enjoy it! It’s a great lens!
So helpful, thanks a ton! Great videos....your presentation style is perfect.........no yelling or goofy histrionics.....just great information! Regards, Jimp
Thank you so much!! I appreciate the feedback. Glad to hear you are enjoying the presentation of the videos. Best regards, V.O.
Great project and video - thanks for talking us through all the steps. Makes me appreciate your final product more!
Thank you! I want to make it as clear as possible for other people who would like to try these fantastic lenses. Gotta share the magic! :)
Thank you!
You are welcome.
I may never D.I.Y. a lens, but if I ever do, I have you to thank for it - great vid!
Thank you! If you ever decide to try it, there a lot of great rangefinder lenses out there. It's a bit addictive :)
Good you described "Sanding" finally.
I was to use my home grinder instead. It's a lot faster but guess not as well controllable as this way and one can easily end up with a uneven surface ring, if not super careful.
I had other people ask me about it and so I decided to show how it's done in a controllable way. Super simple and efficient manual style. No machines necessary :)
@@VintageOptiks 🙏👌
Wonderfull video ! You do it with style each time ! Instructive & fun :) I need to try your hack to revive oldies gems and i am also impatient to sand down to reach infinity 😁 Thanks for sharing !
Thank you so much! :) Adapting these rangefinder lenses is so much fun!! And also quite addictive :) Enjoy and let me know if you try it out.
Hi. Someone on DPReview put me on to your channel and I was thrilled to see this setup because I managed to pick up a mint lens for cheap. The vendor had spelled "Olympus" wrong so I guess it went under people's radar! I particularly appreciate the listing of tools/parts required in the video description, that's super helpful. Anyway, have subbed and followed you on Insta under my photography account. Keep up the great work.
Hi and thanks for reaching out! That's great that you found this Olympus camera for cheap! I absolutely love this Zuiko lens! It's really special and I am excited for you to try it out! Thank you so much for subscribing to the channel. I appreciate it. Btw, what is your photography account on Insta?
Really appreciate the explanations and your videos are awesome 👏 👏👏!!!!
Thank you so much!!
I really like you re channel. One thing to add to the "how to" part is to thoroughly blow/clean the step up ring after each grinding (i am sure it s something you did). We really don t want any tiny metal parts going onto the camera sensor. Another useful thing would be to use a digital caliper to measure the difference between each grinding, i would suggest 0,1 mm steps and to check that the ring is grind evenly. Perhaps on you re next project you can measure the ring before and after the process and tell in the video how much it needs to be filed.
Thank you! Yes, cleaning the step up ring after each sanding is essential. We absolutely want to keep that sensor as clean as possible. :) I am already constantly using a dust blower with all my never-ending lens changing and testing. :)
Yeah, next time I can definitely show how much I've filed away and do before and after measurement. Thanks for the suggestion.
Excellent intro!!!
Thank you!!
@@VintageOptiks I think this is the best so far...would you say?
Do you mean the best adapted rangefinder lens?
@@VintageOptiks yes 😊
@@VintageOptiks also, i got a chance to buy a taron rangefinder but its not the same model as yours. Its a taron auto EE. Kind of on the fence since the results are unknown. Its got a 50 1.8
I'm a bit behind on my viewing, only just got round to watching this - that's a really nice lens and a really handy focal length - all the benefits of a fast fifty but slightly shorter. Great stuff.
I completely agree - the slightly wider than normal focal length is very handy but it's also coupled with a super compact design and great overall IQ. It's a stellar Zuiko! These 60's rangefinder lenses continue to surprise me!
@@VintageOptiks Good point about the compact design - it looks small on the camera even after you've fitted the aftermarket helicoid - my fast fifties don't look so compact once I've fitted the obligatory M42 to Micro 4/3 adapter.
nice!exccelent review and music
Thanks so much!
Thx for the videos for old goody lenses you tested, do you maintain the same focal length with the adaptation?
You are welcome! Yes, the focal length stays the same after adaptation.
Thanks for your awesome videos. Do you know if this can be done with the Olympus 35 RD or DC rangefinders as well?
You are welcome! I have haven’t tried the RD or DC yet, but I would like to test them in the future. So many lenses, so little time :)
👏👏Super video
Thank you!
Do you have any knowledge on the 42mm f1.7 that came with the Olympus 35 UC Silver camera?
I know that camera, but I haven't tried the lens yet. It's suppose to be another great Zuiko optic! I'm just not sure if you can remove the lens in the same way as the one I showed in the video. Not all rangefinder lenses are as easy to remove.
Great channel, especially the DIY add-on, which is sooooo helpful. Question: Why use a small helicoid (13-17mm) rather than a longer one? What difference does the range of the helicoid make?
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoy the DIY videos. The reason for the slim helicoid is so the lens can reach infinity focus. These are rangefinder lenses that were designed to sit close to the film plane since there was no mirror in the camera.
The lower number of the helicoid needs to be 13mm in order for the lens to focus to infinity on a Sony mirrorless camera. The upper limit is not an issue. The helicoid can be 13-25mm, or 13-45mm, or whatever. It doesn't really matter. But the the lower number needs to be 13mm with this set-up for infinity focus. Of course if you don't care about infinity focus you can use longer helicoids, and just use the lens for close-ups and macro work.
Hope this explains it all. Cheers.
@@VintageOptiks That explains it nicely. Thank you so much.
i experieced your videos for telophoto lenses, which would you recamend for canaon 5d2?
How long of a telephoto lens are you looking for? 200mm, 300mm, 400mm? Or perhaps longer?
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 Awesome!!!
Thank you!!!!
This one looks almost identical to the lens from Olympus 35 SP. The only difference is that the SP lens is marked F1.7. I have the SP one, and I can agree that it's one of the best adapted lenses I have.
Yeah it's very similar to the Olympus SP. This one is thankfully cheaper as a rangefinder than the SP, but its a bit harder to find. But the lens is equally as good! Top notch optics.
Awesome video my dude! Please do a series on the Olympus OM Zuiko range of lenses, more people should know how brilliant the Zuiko charm is!
Thank you so much my friend! I'll definitely have more Zuiko lenses in the future. Their optics are really special!
@@VintageOptiks I'm excited for it, so awesome!
I am thrilled! Can this technique be applied to all Rangefinder cameras? Or are there only certain types where you can remove the lenses so easily and continue to use them? Is there anything I need to be aware of if I want to try this out myself?
Unfortunately this technique can't be applied to all rangefinder cameras. Some rangefinders have lenses that are really difficult to remove and adapting them is a lot more complicated. I try to feature lenses that are simple and easy to adapt but also excellent performers on digital. I personally love adapting these fixed lenses! So far I've adapted 6 of them here on the channel and they have all been excellent! I can highly recommend this Olympus lens! It is super easy to adapt and it produces superb images. Also Konica rangefinder lenses are another gem!
Do you know if the Olympus 35 LC is just as easy to remove the lens?
Unfortunately I haven’t tried the 35LC and I don’t know if it’s just as easy to adapt. From my experience even cameras from the same manufacturer can be vastly different when it comes to removing the lens and adapting it.
@@VintageOptiks I did end up buying ($40 after s&h) the Olympus 35 LC w/ G. Zuiko 42mm f1.7 and it did require a bit of hacking (cutting) of a cover to get my spanner tool on the retaining ring slots but was able to get it off without any damage to the lense. To get the most focal range, I used a 12-19mm helicoid (m42-m42 which barely fit after cutting and sanding around the rear lens and sanding the helicoid and down) and then an m42 to fx adapter. Really enjoying the lens on my fuji aps-c. Great sharpness and focal length for pictures of the family around the house.
That sounds great! I’m glad you were able to remove the lens and adapt it!! That lens has a great reputation and I can’t wait to try it! Enjoy it and thank you for sharing your experience. It’s always nice to hear from people who enjoy these DIY projects.
Just fantastic as usual, do you think this could be a viable alternative to the over priced Zuiko 40mm f2
Thank you!! I personally never tried the Zuiko 40mm f2 (since it's price is absolutely ridiculous), but this lens is almost the same focal length, it's actually faster and it's way cheaper! And it's still a Zuiko :)
I’ve not tried the OM 40mm however I have owned an Olympus S and many Zuiko OM lenses. This rangefinder lens gives superb results but the lack of coatings produce subtle shades and colours that are definitely different from my multi coated OM glass (and all modern lenses). I love the high resolution, low contrast look and it’s not easy to find in new lenses.
Muito bom ❤️
Thank you 🙏
can you use the 35-s model
I used the Olympus SC for this project so I’m not sure if the 35-S will be the exact same procedure. Even though the lenses look like they are the same, sometimes they are attached to the body differently and they might have a mechanism on the back. And since I haven’t used the 35-S model I can’t say for sure if there will be any differences. But if you get one for cheap it’s worth to try.
@@VintageOptiks I really appreciate what you do, your work and videos are exceptional! Thank you.
Thank you so much!
How much did you sand of the step-up ring? 1mm, 2mm ?
1mm
@@VintageOptiks Perfect, thanks :)
@@LasseMalmgren Sure :)