Olympus 75mm f/1.8 Lens Review

[Andrew L (gryphon1911)]

 

Background
This is one of those GOAT lenses. You’d be hard pressed to find a lens like this on another system. This fast, sharp prime lens is a stellar performer. When I sold off all my m43 gear years ago (yes, I did buy some more later), I went Fuji and this wass one lens I thought of keeping and buying a less expensive OMD body just to use this lens with.

 

Ultimately, I did not do that – but this is one of those lenses that you some times think about.

 

Disclosure – images were post processed to my liking and in various styles. Some were processed from RAW and others may be custom film simulations that were run in camera.

 

Handling/Size/Weight/Build
Compared to the other m43 f/1.8 prime lenses – this is a big one. It falls in line with the larger Pro primes that run f/1.2.

 

Side by side with the Fuji 90mm f/2 – this lens is still small. Looking at say a Nikon 85mm f/1.8, this lens is about as long, but less round in diameter.

 

It is a hefty chunk of metal and glass and feels well balanced on an OM-D body that has a grip. A little less so on other bodies, but

nothing that goes too far out of balance.

 

The manual focus ring is large and well dampened.

 

 

Weather Sealed
The Olympus f/1.8 primes are not weather sealed, but I doubt that a small sprinkling or the cold would bother it. It never bothered my copy when I had it.

 

 

Image Quality
Sharpness, contrast, colors and all top notch on this lens. I’d put this lens up against the best of the best of any system and it would be able to hold it’s own.

 

One of the sharpest lenses that I’ve ever had the pleasure to use or own.

 

Focusing
Focus is more than competent on this lens. It is accurate, blazing fast, even for it to have to spin around all that glass. You can shoot sports with this lens if you wanted and not have to worry about missing focus and not being able to track. You’d have to deal more with the camera AF than the speed of the lens elements.

 

 

OIS (Optical Image Stabilization)
This lens has no VR built into it. If that is a need , then pair this lens with an IBIS m43 body.

 

 

Bottom Line
This is one of the best lenses that you’ll ever use for any system. If this prime focal length is something that interests you, for portraits, street, sports or general shooting – you really cannot do much better. This is one of those lenses that once you use it, you’ll want to buy one and if you already own it, you’ll have a hard time getting rid of it!

Bottom Line = Super Highly Recommend!

 

[Dallas]

It's a staggeringly good lens for the MFT system. I had this one with me on the 2013 Namibia safari where I did those photos of the Himba tribe. I was the only one able to shoot anything inside the hut and one of the images I took made it to the Photokina gallery the following year (or might have been the same year?). 

 

Sadly another one I had to let go to try and survive the lockdowns...  I would definitely buy it again if the opportunity presents itself. 

[Andrew L (gryphon1911)]

The first time I left m43 for Fuji, this was the last lens I was afraid may not have an equal in x-mount.  In image quality - the Fuji 90mm f/2 has the goods, but in size, overall sharpness and contrast - the Olympus 75/1.8 is still tops!

 

I would definitely get that again.