Production
1973 – 2002
Country
Japan
Optical
7 elements in 6 groups (Double Gauss)
Updated
Feb 15, 2026
Olympus Zuiko 50mm f/1.4
Olympus OM
Overview
The Olympus Zuiko 50mm f/1.4 is the standard bearer for Olympus's compact OM system. Smaller than competitors from Canon and Nikon, it delivered excellent optics in a tiny package. The Zuiko lenses were known for their sharpness and the 50mm f/1.4 was no exception.
Verdict: Excellent in a small package. The Zuiko 50mm f/1.4 proves you don't need bulk for quality.
Optical Character
Bokeh
In general the Olympus OM 3.5/50 Macro has good bokeh. At f/3.5 background bokeh is smooth with minor cat's-eye effect. Stopped down to f/5.6 though the hexagonal shape of the aperture blades becomes quite obvious and it can be distracting for some images.
Sharpness wide open
The lens is sharpest at a reproduction ratio of around 1:10, with very good sharpness from wide open. At the largest magnification ratio of 1:2, it is somewhat soft at f/3.5 but shows a significant gain in sharpness when stopped down to f/5.6. At infinity, the center has decent resolution but the corners are rather soft, though sharpness improves when stopped down to f/8.
Flare resistance
The lens has good flare resistance in most situations, though a powerful light source just outside the frame can cause significant veiling flare.
Vignetting
Vignetting at f/3.5 is 1.4 stops, which can be noticeable, but from f/5.6 it is below 0.8 stops and hardly noticeable.
Community Insights
Summary: The community has positive overall sentiment towards the Olympus Zuiko 50mm f/1.4 and Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 lenses. Both are praised for their value, image quality, and suitability for use with modern cameras. However, the lenses exhibit some differences in contrast, sharpness, and bokeh that may appeal to different users. Sentiment: Positive Top Praised: - Great value for money - Excellent image quality, especially when used with compatible camera mounts - Suitable for use with both modern and vintage cameras Top Complaints: - Olympus Zuiko can exhibit lower contrast and softer images, especially when used alongside modern lenses - Canon FD can show some chromatic aberration around highlights when shooting into the light Use Cases: - General photography and videography - Low-light situations - Portraiture and skin-smoothing effects (Olympus Zuiko) - Use with modern camera bodies (Canon FD) Disagreements: - Some users prefer the lower-contrast look of the Olympus Zuiko, while others find the Canon FD's higher contrast more suitable for their needs. Confidence: 0.9 The sources provide a comprehensive and consistent overview of the community's experiences with these two lenses, with only minor disagreements.
What people love
- Compact size
- Excellent sharpness
- Quality build
- The OM system experience
- Well-balanced
What people dislike
- OM mount is less common
- Some find it boring
- Adapters can be tight
Sample Photos
Sources (3)
phillip_reeve-
https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-olympus-om-zuiko-auto-macro-50mm-13-5/
phillip_reeve-
https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-olympus-om-zuiko-auto-macro-50mm-13-5/
Lens Heritage 2nd JSONsecondary
The Olympus Zuiko 50mm f/1.4 is the standard bearer for Olympus's compact OM system. Smaller than competitors from Canon and Nikon, it delivered excellent optics in a tiny package. The Zuiko lenses were known for their sharpness and the 50mm f/1.4 was no exception.