LensCraze: Olympus Zuiko MC Auto-S 50 mm 1:1.8 [OM]

Olympus Zuiko 50/1.8 is one my favourite lenses. I used it with Olympus OM-10, then Olympus E-3 and now with Lumix G-2. Every time works great. It's not the fastest of Zuiko 50s , but a very common and useful one. Attached to M4/3 camera gives you a portrait or a close-up lens. During some tests I used it for nature close-ups, because what's most interesting is the bokeh!

Olympus used to manufacture a lot of great 50s. There's of course 50/1.4, but also a nice 55/1.2, which was slightly radioactive. Well, some of them, but those are highly collectible and therefore pricey right now.
However, I like my 50/1.8 and all the effects I can with it.

Taken from the same place, with same settings, but focused at different distance

Zuiko 50/1.8 is a compact, rather light lens. Significantly smaller than most of "digital" 50s designed for DSLRs. If you don't need an autofocus standard, this is a good choice to keep in your bag.

Olympus Zuiko MC 50 mm 1.8

Olympus Zuiko MC 50/1.8 compared to (left to right):
Meopta Openar 40/1.8 (C-mount)
Fujian 35/1.7
and Fujian 25/1.4

It's really sharp and it seems direct light doesn't affect it. You can take a closer look at some samples.
Camera: Lumix G2
Aperture: all photos were taken with aperture F1.8
Mount: M4/3 > 4/3 > OM
Edit: PS CS6 50% scaling

Olympus Zuiko 50/1.8 against the sun. Maybe a little less sharp then usually.

It is possible to isolate an object from its background.

Here you can see how easy it is to get out of focus. There's only a sweet spot focused properly @1.8.

I got into taking close-ups, so I forgot to take any distance shots. As usually - view from my window was perfect for that. I event captured a bit sunset.

Light on a tree comes from window reflection.

Lens flare! Not as pretty as in Vivitar 28/2.8 OM.

Finally aperture test. There are seven positions on aperture ring and no "halfs". Please, mind that it was a rather windy day, so F1.8 is a bit unfocused and F16 is slightly moved.