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S-Zuiko AUTO-Zoom 28-48mm f/4.0 |
This lense was almost a replica of the Nikon wideangle-zoom 28-45mm f/4.5 AUTO-Nikkor introduced in 1975 but with a slightly variation in a different focal length and maximum lense speed. Although its basic lense specification may sound very normal to you if measures by today standard but it was a big event for OM photographers during those days as finally, there is a true OM quality reflects at this wideangle zoom as prior to availability of this lense, the ZUIKO lens group has only a Zuiko AUTO-Zoom 75-150mm f/4.0 offered to photographers. Although this Zuiko Auto-Zoom lense has an approx. 2X zoom ratio, but it has a very practical its zoom coverage ranging from 75° wideangle to 49° normal, this lense fulfills a long-waiting desire among OM photographers for a effective wideangle zoom lense that combines frequently-used focal lengths in the wideangle-to-normal range which offers infinite versatility in many photographic applications such as interior, landscape, travel, candid, portraiture, candids of people, weddings, portraits in the studio or on location, and lastly, zoom blurs effects. One interesting feature relating to this Zuiko wideangle zoom is, it has a "S" inscription on the lense data where some OM users interpreting it as one of the "economic" series* of Zuiko lenses that were produced to counter competitions while on the other hand, be more affordable for OM users. I am not sure what are the "shortcuts" it has built-into the lense construction to lead users categorized these lenses but since I am not an expert on OM system, I will leave it as general beliefs thought it was.
* Other Zuiko zooms that carry with similar designation are S-Zuiko AUTO zoom 35-70mm f/4.0, S-Zuiko AUTO zoom 35-70mm f/3.5 ~ f/4.5, S-Zuiko AUTO zoom 70-210mm f/4.5~f/5.6 and S-Zuiko AUTO zoom 100-200mm f/5.0.
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Field off Newport Road |
This retrofocus Zuiko has a very raw OM zoom design which inherited from the earlier Zuiko tele-zoom in a three rings design. The front focusing ring uses standard OM Zuiko slip-free grip with the center zoom ring in a broad ridged rubberized grip and the aperture ring at the rear positioned at section. It may takes a little orientation as the aperture ring of Zuiko zoom are located at an uncustomary position closer to the shutter speed ring near the lens mount. The lense uses separate dual rings design as opposed to mainstream single push/pull design (but these designs have respective strength and weaknesses). The two rings provide a separate zoom and focusing rings for independent control and although it is less responsive in lens handling but it does offers a more rigid design.
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An amazing feat on technical accomplishment for this highly portable Zuiko wideangle Zoom is, despite it has a rather complex optical system within, the lense only weighs 300g - lightweight to be easy carry around for general assignments. Besides, the lense is still compact enough to accept OM standard 49mm filters. With an aperture of f/4.0 which is relatively slow but still, it also ranks among the fastest in its class. This shows how difficult it was to design a high quality wideangle zoom lenses during those days. |
Generally, distortion and aberration are common issues when integrating retrofocus design with a zoom mechanism, to fulfill real objective of designing a wideangle zoom which capable of delivering excellent performance throughout its entire focal length while maintaining compactness and lightweight involves many technical difficulties. Olympus optical designers provided a solution with an ingenious optical formula of 8 elements in 8 groups design to ensure it meets all those optical objectives such as in controlling various common optical distortion to absolute minimal level while still able to deliver a top notch optical quality. The early version has not mentioned whether the lense was multicoated but most OM followers would believe it was and versions that shipped after 1984 carried with a more clearer definition of a "MC" indication in its lens data for verification. Whatever it is, this MF Zuiko wideangle zoom lense serves well in its basic objective and practical usage in providing OM photographers with a good zoom range that spans an all important focal length range from 28mm wideangle up to the focal length near standard lenses. It is a sad state to notice Olympus can only offer a single wideangle zoom lense in the Zuiko lens system, as most would firmly believe they have the resources, capacity and technical capabilities to provide more available options for OM photographers worldwide.
Technical Specification for S-Zuiko AUTO-Zoom 28-48mm
f/4.0
Lense type: two-touch wideangle-zoom design
Focal length: 28-48mm
Maximum aperture: 1:4.0
Lens construction: 8 elements in 8 groups
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Picture angle: 75° (f=28mm) - 49°(f=48mm) |
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Distance scale: Graduated in meters and feet from 0.65m (2.3 ft) to infinity (oo) |
Recommended Focusing Screens: 1-1*, 1-2*, 1-3*, 1-4*, 1-5#. 1-9*. 1-10*, 1-13* and 1-14*. * Compatible. #Can be used. They will provide for accurate and easy focusing but meter built into the OM-1 and OM-2 (on MANUAL) will not indicate correct light readings. With the OM-2 on AUTO, correct exposures are made on the film, but the meter needle does not give correct light readings.
<<< -- Credit: Image of this lens hood courtesy of Mr Alan House® <alan_house123@hotmail.com>. Image Copyright © 2003. All rights reserved.
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
| Back | Index Page of OM Zuiko lenses
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About this photographic site.
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Home - Photography in Malaysia |
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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.