A Bell & Howell-branded Olympus 28mm — rebranded OM Zuiko sold through Bell & Howell distribution.
The Olympus 28mm f/2.8 branded as Bell & Howell is a rebranded version of the Olympus Zuiko MC Auto-W 28mm f/2.8, sold through Bell & Howell's distribution network. Bell & Howell was an American company that distributed Olympus cameras and lenses under their own branding in certain markets. The lens is optically identical to the standard Olympus Zuiko 28mm f/2.8.
Optical performance is identical to the standard Zuiko MC Auto-W 28mm f/2.8 — very good sharpness in the centre from f/2.8, becoming excellent across the frame by f/5.6. Multi-coating provides good flare resistance. Colour rendition has the warm, pleasant character typical of Zuiko lenses. The rebranding has no effect on optical quality whatsoever.
Olympus OM mount, manual focus. Filter thread is 49mm. Weight is approximately 170 grams — remarkably compact. Build quality is the same excellent Olympus metal construction with smooth focus ring. The Bell & Howell branding appears on the lens barrel but the optics and mechanics are pure Olympus. All Olympus OM-mount accessories and adapters work identically.
Often cheaper than identically-branded Olympus versions on the used market, as the Bell & Howell name is less recognised by collectors. Check for haze, fungus, and smooth focus. A smart buy for photographers who want Zuiko optical quality at a discount — the Bell & Howell branding is purely cosmetic and has no impact on performance.