Olympus Zuiko Digital 35-100 mm f/2.0
11. Summary
- high build quality and solid casing,
- excellent image quality in the frame centre at all focal lengths and apertures
- very good image quality at the frame edge,
- well-corrected chromatic aberration,
- low distortion,
- well-corrected coma,
- low vignetting,
- effective autofocus.
Cons:
- weak performance against bright light,
- lack of SWD motor.
Let’s start with the disadvantages. A weak work against bright light was quite unexpected. We don’t deal here with wide angles of view, the optics is of the highest quality and the small 4/3 sensor was supposed to help in damping down unwanted flares. In the case of the ZD 35-100 mm it simply didn’t work as it was intended. Light artifacts are noticeable and not difficult to get. On the other hand, though, we should honestly remind ourselves that the Canons 70–200 mm f/2.8 or the Nikkor 70–200 f/2.8 VR fared badly in this category too.
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We are very surprised by the lack of an SWD autofocus motor. In this equipment class it is rather something obligatory – especially that a ZD 14-35 f/2.0 model, which complements the journalistic range, features such a motor.
The shortcomings end here and the advantages are to be found in the most important categories. The lens provides an excellent image quality both in the centre and at the edge of the frame and practically in the whole range of focal lengths and apertures. No other 70-200 mm f/2.8 device tested by us could boast such a performance. If we add low vignetting and good correction of main off-axis aberrations it will be difficult not to consider the Olympus ZD 35-100 mm f/2.0 to be a brilliant and very well-done instrument.
Sample shots
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Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 66 mm, f/2.0, exp. 1/49 sec., ISO 400 File: JPEG, 3648×2736 pix, 4.51 MB |
Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 100 mm, f/2.0, exp. 1/60 sec., ISO 400 File: JPEG, 3648×2736 pix, 4.53 MB |
Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 35 mm, f/2.2, exp. 1/30 sec., ISO 200 File: JPEG, 3648×2736 pix, 4.45 MB |
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Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 45 mm, f/2.2, exp. 1/30 sec., ISO 200 File: JPEG, 3648×2736 pix, 4.53 MB |
Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 57 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/160 sec., ISO 100 File: JPEG, 3648×2736 pix, 3.91 MB |
Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 100 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/160 sec., ISO 100 File: JPEG, 3648×2736 pix, 3.97 MB |
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Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 73 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/160 sec., ISO 100 File: JPEG, 3648×2736 pix, 4.56 MB |
Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 35 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/160 sec., ISO 100 File: JPEG, 3648×2736 pix, 4.28 MB |
Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 66 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/160 sec., ISO 200 File: JPEG, 3648×2736 pix, 4.29 MB |
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Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 35 mm, f/2.0, exp. 1/8000 sec., ISO 100 File: JPEG, 3648×2736 pix, 4.15 MB |
Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 62 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/5000 sec., ISO 100 File: JPEG, 3648×2736 pix, 4.27 MB |
Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 100 mm, f/2.0, exp. 1/8000 sec., ISO 100 File: JPEG, 3648×2736 pix, 4.09 MB |
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Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 35 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/1250 sec., ISO 100 File: JPEG, 3648×2736 pix, 4.23 MB |
Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 62 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/1250 sec., ISO 100 File: JPEG, 3648×2736 pix, 4.3 MB |
Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 100 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/1000 sec., ISO 100 File: JPEG, 3648×2736 pix, 4.32 MB |
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Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 100 mm, f/2.0, exp. 1/800 sec., ISO 200 File: JPEG, 3648×2736 pix, 3.93 MB |
Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 76 mm, f/2.0, exp. 1/1000 sec., ISO 200 File: JPEG, 3648×2736 pix, 4.03 MB |
Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 35 mm, f/2.0, exp. 1/800 sec., ISO 200 File: JPEG, 3648×2736 pix, 4.07 MB |
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Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 90 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/125 sec., ISO 400 File: JPEG, 3648×2736 pix, 4.64 MB |
Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 64 mm, f/2.0, exp. 1/2000 sec., ISO 100 File: JPEG, 3648×2736 pix, 4.48 MB |
Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 52 mm, f/2.0, exp. 1/1250 sec., ISO 100 File: JPEG, 3648×2736 pix, 2.91 MB |
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Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 62 mm, f/3.5, exp. 1/1600 sec., ISO 100 File: JPEG, 3648×2736 pix, 4.1 MB |
Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 35 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/1600 sec., ISO 100 File: JPEG, 3648×2736 pix, 4.07 MB |
Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 57 mm, f/2.0, exp. 1/4000 sec., ISO 100 File: JPEG, 3648×2736 pix, 3.82 MB |
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Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 83 mm, f/2.0, exp. 1/4000 sec., ISO 100 File: JPEG, 3648×2736 pix, 3.65 MB |
Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 50 mm, f/2.5, exp. 1/2000 sec., ISO 100 File: JPEG, 3648×2736 pix, 4.08 MB |
Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 45 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/500 sec., ISO 100 File: JPEG, 3648×2736 pix, 4.84 MB |
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Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 35 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/800 sec., ISO 100 File: JPEG, 3648×2736 pix, 4.86 MB |
Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 64 mm, f/6.3, exp. 1/800 sec., ISO 100 File: JPEG, 3648×2736 pix, 4.44 MB |
Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 62 mm, f/3.5, exp. 1/2500 sec., ISO 100 File: JPEG, 3648×2736 pix, 4.25 MB |
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Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 100 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/1250 sec., ISO 100 File: JPEG, 3648×2736 pix, 4.38 MB |
Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 83 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/2000 sec., ISO 100 File: JPEG, 3648×2736 pix, 4.09 MB |
Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 57 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/160 sec., ISO 200 File: JPEG, 3648×2736 pix, 4.41 MB |
