First of all welcome to the forums GregSteer.

Here's a good pointer to the OM Zuiko Lineup:

http://forum.manualfocus.org/viewtopic.php?id=6068

Use the wayback machine for links that are old (http://www.archive.org/index.php)

As for my personal experiences with the 50mm and 28mm

The 28mm f3.5 is the more common 28mm FL. 
  - It's an OK performer doesn't get sharp until f8 onwards
  - I don't think the f3.5 was MC only SC so watchout for flare

The 50mm f1.8 has so many variations Single Coated, Multicoated etc   - I have one in the 1 million serial number like yours which is MC a good performer (you'll have to do some research as to which markings and which serial number ranges were MC/SC)

Cheers

[D]

Last edited by diesel604 (2009-09-16 18:11:55)

Warning: Zuiko lenses are addictive. "Zuikoholic" is a well established term...

And welcome to the forum.

/Erik

My 28/3.5 is the best 28mm landscape lens I have ever used. I tried two Contax 28/2.8 Distagons, and the Zuiko 28/3.5 make quick work of convincing me to sell the two Contax lenses.

BY FAR the best bargain lens I have ever purchased, and it will remain my main 28mm lens till I die.

It is sharp from corner to corner, and performs incredibly well close up, even wide open.

Here is a sample from mine at f11 on my 5D:

I can post some wide-open and close up samples later.

Last edited by cogitech (2009-09-18 19:00:53)

(damn! just when I get my 5DMkII I lose access to the zuiko 28/3.5 - I'd love to try it with my new camera! thanks for the samples)

How'd you lose access to it?

It's in the same bag than my Mamiya RB67 (plus 3 lenses, plus 3 backs), lightmeter, tons of film, OM-1, Eos 1n, macro bellows, 75-150, light stand plus umbrella, and one flash (and probably more things that I forgot about). I was being forced to move back to Spain, I sent almost all my gear back - and suddenly I got the chance to stay in the US, so I am stranded without my tools (well, I have the brand new 5DII plus Contax 28/2.8, 50/1.7, Tak 135/2.5 and Tokina 12-24 -and a Eos 50e - so I'm not exactly empty handed ).
I was looking for a replacement for the RB67 until I can recover it - maybe you saw the thread. And the Zuiko 28/3.5 was one of the things I wanted to try in the new camera; in the 350D the only things better in the zeiss were the flare resistance (much better in the zeiss), a bit more speed, and better colors for my taste (a bit cooler). But all in all, one of my favorite lenses - I just loved the field of view (using it with "full frame" film), the size and handling, the sharpness, and the convenience of the 49mm filter thread.
I just remembered that I still have a Zuiko 28/2 here that I haven't tried with the 5DII, because I am out of OM->EOS adapters. Time to fix that *big grin*

Edit: my copy is a early one iirc, so it is most definitely not mc. That would make an awesome lens!

Last edited by al (2009-09-18 19:21:15)

Thank you, as I said I have my photography kit (I love using a 28, 50 and 135, and having an UW backup for exceptional pictures, I don't need more lenses), but I am without my gearhead kit ;-) The thing I miss the most is the Mamiya plus the 127 and the umbrella (great portraits, printed in the darkroom).

@Greg:
sorry about the off topic rant! Going back to the point, regarding the

"Zuiko 50mm f/1.8 - Front Bezel reads: Olympus OM-System F.Zuiko Auto-s 1:1.8 f=50mm 1125357"

I have had two copies of the 50/1.8; the first one was noticeably softer than the SMC Takumar 50/1.4 and the Contax 50/1.7 (tested with a EOS 350D), so I got rid of it. This christmas I got another one with an OM-1, and I only tried it with film, so no pixel peeping, and all the lens failures were probably masked by either the scanning (used an Epson V500, not good for 35mm) or my lousy darkroom technique (started this year to make enlargements). One thing I can say is that is has very pleasant bokeh, I got a couple of very nice close portraits with this lens.
There is a lot of information in this forum about om lenses, with all the differences between versions. I recommend an evening of searching in past threads to have a general view of Zuiko OM lenses, there is really a lot of info here.