Olympus

Olympus (originally Takachiho Seisakusho) is a giant of the Japanese camera industry, famous for the Pen F, the OM system, and the legendary XA. However, in the Leica M-mount and LTM world, Olympus is a ghost.

Unlike Canon or Nikon, who produced thousands of lenses for the Leica screw mount, Olympus mostly ignored the interchangeable LTM market to focus on their own fixed-lens rangefinders (like the Olympus 35 and Olympus Wide) and their proprietary "Ace" system. As a result, the few Zuiko lenses that exist in native LTM are exceedingly rare, highly collectible, and prized for the unique "blue/gold" coating aesthetics that defined early Olympus glass.

History

Olympus's relationship with the Leica mount is brief and rooted in the early 1950s.

The Post-War Era (1950s)

In the early 1950s, almost every Japanese optical company tried to make a Leica clone. Olympus took a different path. They focused on high-quality fixed-lens cameras (which eventually led to the Pen and Trip series).

• The LTM Anomalies: For a very short window (roughly 1952–1955), Olympus released a handful of lenses in Leica Thread Mount, mostly intended to be sold as upgrades for other cameras or for their rare Olympus Six medium format users who also shot 35mm.
• The "Ace" Trap: In 1958, Olympus released the Olympus Ace, an interchangeable lens rangefinder. WARNING: These lenses use a proprietary bayonet mount, not LTM or M-mount. Collectors often buy them by mistake thinking they will fit a Leica. They will not.

Product Lines (LTM Native)

Native Olympus LTM lenses are identified by the "Zuiko" branding and usually the "C." (Coated) marking.

The Zuiko C. 4cm (40mm) f/2.8

The most famous and desirable Olympus LTM lens.

• The "Pancake" Pioneer: Long before the modern 40mm trend, Olympus released this tiny, flat lens. It is practically a body cap.
• Optics: A Tessar-type design. It is known for being incredibly sharp in the center with moderate contrast.
• The "Red C": Most copies feature a red "C" engraved on the front ring, indicating Olympus's early coating technology. The glass often has a distinct bluish-purple reflection.
• Rarity: These are extremely difficult to find and command high prices from collectors completing a "Japanese Pancake" set [[1]].

The Zuiko 5cm (50mm) f/1.5

The speed king.

• Design: A classic Sonnar derivative (7 elements in 3 groups).
• Performance: Like the Zeiss Sonnar or Canon 50mm f/1.5, it is soft and dreamy wide open but sharpens up beautifully by f/2.8.
• Aesthetics: It features a heavy chrome-on-brass barrel that is significantly denser than the later aluminum OM lenses.

The Zuiko 8cm (80mm) f/4

A rare short telephoto.

• Odd Focal Length: Olympus often used "centimeter" markings (8cm) and unusual focal lengths (80mm instead of 75mm or 90mm).
• Usage: It brings up 90mm framelines on Leica M bodies (with a standard adapter) but captures a slightly wider field of view.

Modern Conversions (MS-Optics)

Because native Olympus LTM lenses are so rare, many Leica users shoot Olympus glass via Miyazaki (MS-Optics) conversions. The lenses from the Olympus XA (35mm f/2.8) and Olympus Mju-II (35mm f/2.8) are frequently hacked and converted to M-mount by custom shops, as their optical quality is legendary.

Technical Specifications

Feature	Specification Details
Native Mount	LTM (Leica Thread Mount)
Focus Coupling	Coupled. (Standard rangefinder coupling).
Build Materials	Chrome over Brass. Very high density and build quality.
Markings	"Zuiko C." (Coated) and usually marked in cm (e.g., f=4cm).
Filter Thread	22.5mm (4cm f/2.8) or 40.5mm (5cm f/1.5). The 40mm filters are notoriously hard to find.
Compatibility Warning	Olympus Ace lenses (35mm f/2.8, 45mm f/2.8, 80mm f/5.6) are NOT compatible with Leica cameras.

Why Photographers Choose Olympus

• The "40mm" Field of View: The Zuiko 4cm f/2.8 is one of the few vintage choices for the 40mm focal length (which matches the natural diagonal of full-frame film). It pairs perfectly with the Leica CL or Minolta CLE.
• Collector Status: While everyone has a Canon 50mm f/1.8, almost nobody has a Zuiko LTM lens. It is a "deep cut" for collectors of Japanese industrial history.
• The "Zuiko" Color: Olympus coatings from the 1950s tend to render blue skies and warm skin tones in a very specific, nostalgic way that differs from the cooler look of Nikon or the neutral look of Canon.

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Sources

• [1] CameraQuest (Olympus LTM Rarities): https://cameraquest.com/classics.htm
• [2] 35mmc (Zuiko 40mm f/2.8 LTM Review): https://www.35mmc.com
• [3] Biofos (Olympus History & The Ace System): http://www.biofos.com/cornucop/ace.html