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Best quality m4/3 lenses?
- Thread starter dgrogers
- Start date
Day Hiker
Veteran Member
Quality of image?
Quality of build?
Zuiko 12mm f/2, Leica 25mm f/1.4, Zuiko 45mm f/1.8 give away nothing to image quality. You can include a few other lenses in this list if you wish. If you are looking for SHG build quality or even HG build quality, µ4/3 generally lacks.
Me? I prefer image quality most of the time. µ4/3 is doing it for me. The Leica 25mm f/1.4 is possibly the best lens I've ever owned.
Jim Pilcher
Summit County, Colorado, USA
Anders W
Veteran Member
What have you seen indicating that MFT lenses sacrifice quality for size? Certainly not the reviews.
The following MFT lenses, among others (I make no claim of being exhaustive), have nothing to be ashamed of in comparison with their FT counterparts (where counterparts exist; the fisheye aside, there aren't any WA primes for FT):
Samyang/Rokinon 7.5/3.5 (fisheye)
Panasonic 7-14/4
Olympus 12/2
Panasonic 14/2.5
Panasonic 14-45/3.5-5.6
Panasonic X 14-42/3.5-5.6
Panasonic 20/1.7
Panasonic 25/1.4
Olympus 45/1.8
Panasonic 45/2.8 macro
Panasonic 100-300/4-5.6
Then we have upcoming lenses like the following, which most likely will perform very well and be nicely built (although noone knows for sure yet):
Panasonic X 12-35/2.8
Panasonic X 35-100/2.8
Olympus 75/1.8
Uncle Frank
Veteran Member
From what I've read and seen, the standout lenses for MFT are the Panasonic 20/1.7 and the Olympus 45/1.8. I've owned the 20/1.7 for 2 weeks, and it's as good as any fulll frame Nikkor lens in my kit. I'll probably pick up the 45/1.8 down the road, but for the time being the e-pl2 + 20/1.7 rig is keeping me happy.
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Warm regards, Frank
Galleries at fdrphoto.smugmug.com
All of the Lumix lenses, most of the Olympus Zuiko lenses and especially the two Pana/Leica lenses are all excellent. You really cannot go wrong here, so if you had a specific focal length or speed in mind that may narrow down the suggestions.
Of course there are the Cosina Nokton line. The 25mm and Now the 17.5mm both at F0.95...and somewhat expensive, and quite capable from what I've read. There seem to be a lot of pretty high quality native M43 lenses. Maybe not the biggest lenses, but then again the lenses aren't having to be designed for full frame cameras.
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http://www.pbase.com/madlights
http://barriolson.aminus3.com/
Like the Joker said: Why so serious?
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http://www.pbase.com/madlights
http://barriolson.aminus3.com/
Like the Joker said: Why so serious?
Oly f3.5-5.6 14-42 II R
Oly f4-45.6 9-18
Panasonic f4-f5.6 45-200
Oh -- and the new Oly 60mm macro will, I'm sure, hit a sweet spot for many.
And I have a sneaking suspicion that the Tokina f8 300 reflex lens is going to be a smash!
If you are thinking about aperture being sacrificed, then yes, until now aperture has been sacrificed by and large, in the interests of compactness. In particular, Oly has been looking on m43 as something for the lower end of the market while 43 was the premium end.
I think the advent of the OM-D (much as it doesn't actually thrill me with its nonfunctional retro styling) marks the end of that school of thought within Oly so I expect we'll see a bunch of premium lenses coming forth mounted specifically for m43. Hopefully, we will also see a really superior adapter for 43 lenses so we can all enjoy some of that marvelous 43 glass without losing functionality -- and will be easy for 43 system holders to switch.
Cheers, geoff
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Geoffrey Heard
http://pngtimetraveller.blogspot.com/2011/10/return-to-karai-komana_31.html
Oly f4-45.6 9-18
Panasonic f4-f5.6 45-200
Oh -- and the new Oly 60mm macro will, I'm sure, hit a sweet spot for many.
And I have a sneaking suspicion that the Tokina f8 300 reflex lens is going to be a smash!
If you are thinking about aperture being sacrificed, then yes, until now aperture has been sacrificed by and large, in the interests of compactness. In particular, Oly has been looking on m43 as something for the lower end of the market while 43 was the premium end.
I think the advent of the OM-D (much as it doesn't actually thrill me with its nonfunctional retro styling) marks the end of that school of thought within Oly so I expect we'll see a bunch of premium lenses coming forth mounted specifically for m43. Hopefully, we will also see a really superior adapter for 43 lenses so we can all enjoy some of that marvelous 43 glass without losing functionality -- and will be easy for 43 system holders to switch.
Cheers, geoff
--
Geoffrey Heard
http://pngtimetraveller.blogspot.com/2011/10/return-to-karai-komana_31.html
Louis_Dobson
Veteran Member
To get the FT HG lens quality and have the MFT size advantage you need:
Pan 7-14. This is right up there with the Oly 7-14 but half the size, thanks to the register reduction.
Oly 12mm f2. Not optically stellar, but still very, very good.
Panny 25mm f1.4. Best lens I have ever owned, bar none.
Oly 45 mm f1.8. Built down to a price, but still seriously good. Cheap too!
Oly 70mm f1.8. No one has shot with this yet, but it looks like a serious effort.
There is no equivalent to either the 12-60 f2.8-f4, or the 50-200 f2.8-f3.5. Panny claim to have something faster but shorter coming. I cannot see how they can deliver the IQ without being too large for the cameras, but we shall see.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam
http://thegentlemansnapper.blogspot.com
Pan 7-14. This is right up there with the Oly 7-14 but half the size, thanks to the register reduction.
Oly 12mm f2. Not optically stellar, but still very, very good.
Panny 25mm f1.4. Best lens I have ever owned, bar none.
Oly 45 mm f1.8. Built down to a price, but still seriously good. Cheap too!
Oly 70mm f1.8. No one has shot with this yet, but it looks like a serious effort.
There is no equivalent to either the 12-60 f2.8-f4, or the 50-200 f2.8-f3.5. Panny claim to have something faster but shorter coming. I cannot see how they can deliver the IQ without being too large for the cameras, but we shall see.
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam
http://thegentlemansnapper.blogspot.com
The initial output played towards the cameras small size, by offering small lenses. As of late. there have come a few high quality lenses, and now, with the E-M5 more are coming..
Native AF lenses are the Olympus 12mm f2 lens, which is build for quality (and rival Leica lenses) and the new 75mm f1.8 which should share the same quality and be an expensive high quality portrait lens.
Native but non-AF lenses are the Voigtländer lenses (25mm and announced 17.5mm) high quality and expensive lenses with ultra wide aperture.
From the noises we have all heard from Olympus, I guess more high quality lenses will be produced. They have stated that the low-end range is all but filled now (With lenses ranging from 14mm equiv to 600mm equiv in zooms and a range of primes that fill "most used" spaces) and they will now move on to add more expensive lenses, which fits well with the E-M5 release, a camera that are begging for more high quality lenses.
Native AF lenses are the Olympus 12mm f2 lens, which is build for quality (and rival Leica lenses) and the new 75mm f1.8 which should share the same quality and be an expensive high quality portrait lens.
Native but non-AF lenses are the Voigtländer lenses (25mm and announced 17.5mm) high quality and expensive lenses with ultra wide aperture.
From the noises we have all heard from Olympus, I guess more high quality lenses will be produced. They have stated that the low-end range is all but filled now (With lenses ranging from 14mm equiv to 600mm equiv in zooms and a range of primes that fill "most used" spaces) and they will now move on to add more expensive lenses, which fits well with the E-M5 release, a camera that are begging for more high quality lenses.
TheoC
Leading Member
Well, I love the Panny fisheye, 8/3.5, that is.
Reviews for 4/3 lenses are almost always glowing (i.e. some of the zooms are as good as primes at any focal length and aperture). Doesn't seem to be the case for m4/3, which is why I'm asking.
yes, I hope there are lenses that can compete with the likes of the 50-200 SWD f/2.8-3.5 or even the 35-100 f/2.0. So far, the primes seem decent but all the zooms have drawbacks.
Anders W
Veteran Member
Did you check out the reviews for the lenses I listed at lens testing sites like SLRgear, Lenstip or Photozone? What examples have you found that these lenses get worse reviews than their closest FT counterparts?
There are a few MFT lenses that I wouldn't consider top notch. But to the extent that such is the case, you have no trouble finding suitable alternatives that do better.
Thomas Kachadurian
Veteran Member
TrapperJohn
Veteran Member
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As has already been mentioned, the Panny 7-14 and M43 PL25 are pretty close to their 4/3 big brothers. Cheaper and smaller, too, the ZD 7-14 always was a handful. There's the newly minted 60 F2.8 Macro, though I'm surprised Oly just didn't recreate the 50M, it wasn't that large a lens in 4/3 form.
Nothing like the 12-60 or 50-200, yet. Panny has two constant F2.8 zooms coming out that are fairly small. Whether they can match their SHG F2 counterparts in IQ remains to be seen... that's a tough act to follow.
The good news is - Oly is starting to produce something that the 4/3 crowd howled for: killer primes.
Nothing like the 12-60 or 50-200, yet. Panny has two constant F2.8 zooms coming out that are fairly small. Whether they can match their SHG F2 counterparts in IQ remains to be seen... that's a tough act to follow.
The good news is - Oly is starting to produce something that the 4/3 crowd howled for: killer primes.
Thank you. Unfortunately I was never one to holler about prime lenses on the 4/3 system since the zooms were generally very good quality.
Nice to know about the Panasonic lenses. Are they weather sealed?
Nice to know about the Panasonic lenses. Are they weather sealed?
Nakiphoto
Leading Member
The OMD is the first m43 camera that has truly sparked my interest (I have toyed with buying the E-PL1 for a tester). However I'm still a little confused about prime lens choices. I mostly use 35mm (90%) and 50mm equivalent lenses; but could get by with a 28mm.
I've looked at the Panasonic 14/2.5, Panasonic 17/2.8, Panasonic 20/1.7 and the Panasonic 25/1.4. The Panny 17 and 25; would be my preferred lengths; however the mixed reviews on the 14 and 17 leave me a bit confused too....
Mind you; when it comes down to it I could probably happily just settle on the 20mm!
I've looked at the Panasonic 14/2.5, Panasonic 17/2.8, Panasonic 20/1.7 and the Panasonic 25/1.4. The Panny 17 and 25; would be my preferred lengths; however the mixed reviews on the 14 and 17 leave me a bit confused too....
Mind you; when it comes down to it I could probably happily just settle on the 20mm!
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