It's a PITA.

I bought a dslr body, the Olympus E-420, a used 50mm OM Zuiko, a mechanical OM-4/3 adapter and a split screen with prism to replace the AF-confirm screen of the camera and expected to call it a day.

I really like focusing by hand. The quality of the old Zuiko lenses is superb. The aperture ring is smooth and the ergonomics are ideal.

But the damn thing, the damn crop factor of 2 really kills the whole experience.

And it's not the equivalent focal length of 100mm that troubles me (though I miss shooting wide angle), nor the slightly off colors or the problematic light metering at the widest aperture.

The crop factor is the ultimate aperture killer.

You can't use have of those little numbers on the ring. My 50mm has the following aperture values: 1.8 - 2.8 - 4 - 5.6 - 8 - 11 - 16 and no half stops.

The crop factor affects the aperture at which diffraction kicks in. And for the 50mm Zuiko that happens at aperture 16 for film cameras. But the crop factor of 2 brings that down to 16 / 2 = 8. I've done some tests and the apertures 11 and 16 present less detailed images. So off they go.

The crop factor also affects the DOF. The new DOF on the cropped body is film camera DOF / 2. So shooting at aperture 4 roughly gives you the DOF of aperture 1.8. Shooting at 1.8 gives you a great blur whatever you do. And the hyperfocal? It's affected as well. So you have to select an aperture of 8 and use the DOF marks of aperture 4. Bye bye cool street photography.

Of course there is absolutely no source on the internet atm that sums all this points up. Actually I am not sure if there is any article that explains the DOF issue (which is imho the most important problem) - I couldn't understand why all my pics looked so blurry and had a DOF that contradicted my film experience, then somebody suggested the dofmaster.

So what is one to do?

a) Get real and buy a digital Zuiko, the hell with the money and the inferior build quality (plastic - ugh), the lack of DOF and distance marks on the lens etc. And hey, that AF confirm might be useful.

b) Save up for a FF camera, a Canon 5D (the only realistic choice atm). It costs like a new Olympus E-30, has worse dynamic range than this camera but probably equivalent high ISO capabilities. Oh, and you can only find it used, of course, so when you buy it off the internet you also get the excitement of waiting for an 800 euro used camera some weirdo just sold you on ebay to arrive by snail mail. It can make your hair go gray before the age of 25.

c) Use a film camera when you really need the DOF. Keep the digital for general shooting purposes and situations where small DOF is actually useful. Of course that also means b&w film only, to keep the developing costs down. But you also have to buy the film and get it scanned. Or pay the price of a second E-420 body for a scanner - a wise choice!

d) Live with it - maybe in 10 years blurry pictures will come in fashion!

For the time being I am waiting for an OM Zuiko 28/3.5 to arrive. And we'll see.

BTW, most of the info on the E-420 is true. The AA filter is really high and can't be turned off and the grip is really insufficient - the E-520 is really better in these departments but I didn't want to spend the extra money. Other than that it's a FANTASTIC camera for the price.