March 4, 2021

Go Wider, Old Man! covid-19: day 346 | US: GA | info | act

Go wider, or go home. I remember getting my first real wide-angle lens, a Canon 16–35mm f/2.8, and it went wide. My latest lens is not quite that wide, but fits in between my Ultron and my Zuiko 2.8/28: it’s a near-mint Zuiko 2.8/24 that I actually won in a last-minute auction dash. It even came with a hood, UV filter, and pouch.

I thought it fitting to post a photo from the 28 and one from the 24 for a side-by-side:

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  Zuiko 2.8/28

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  Zuiko 2.8/24

Four millimeters makes a difference. The camera was on a tripod, and the Rotolight Neo was camera right.

I think what makes this a fun lens is the 25mm close-focus distance. Close-up, this lens produces a lovely bokeh, but still renders the subject tack-sharp, like these two samples.

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The colors are bright and bold, and the bokeh is nice. It even works well with the close-focus adapter on the Buddha photo below.

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  With the close-focus adapter.

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In all, this is a great purchase. It might not be too different from the 28mm (or the Ultron 1.8/21 for that matter), but I couldn’t pass it up. On the plus side: it does focus 5 millimeters closer then the 24 and 25 millimeters closer than the Ultron!

My second Zuiko is a good one, and it will not be my last. I’m looking at you, 50mm f/1.4!