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12-60mm f/4.0-5.6 would be ideal for M4/3

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FrankParis

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I have the Olympus EM-5 and the Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-f/5.6 and have taken thousands of shots with it, and it's a tad bit too narrow a range. So often I want to put on my 7-14 or 45-200 Panasonic for a shot just outside the 14-45 range. For most quick work, with a 12-60mm I could just leave the other two lenses home.

So what do you think the chances are that Panasonic or Olympus will come out with a 12-60mm any time soon? Ideal would be that range with f/4.0-f/5.6 aperture. The Olympus would probably be weather-sealed and more expensive than a Panasonic but probably wouldn't be any better in IQ. What do you think the price would be for each of these lenses?

P.S.: I've read that the Olympus Zuiko 12-60mm f/2.8-4.0 with adapter ring for M4/3 doesn't balance well with the EM-5: it's too large for M4/3 and weighs a ton besides.

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Frank Paris
 
Personally I'd like to see Olympus continue their recent trend of making fast primes, and there is a gap in the 17mm to 25mm range they could fill. I really believe F4.0 is too slow for such a lens you propose, given there is already a 12mm and 14-150mm option available. I'd like to see the 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 regardless of size, but this may come in the form of future PDAF capability in some form or another. I use the 14-54mm MkII on my E-PL1 from time to time, it's manageable, you just need to left hand grip the lens.
 
It's by far my most used lens on my E5. On my Gh2 I don't enjoy it so much. Not having the snap-to focusing takes some of the pleasure out. If Olympus ever does come out with an m43 12-60 that's a higher grade than the 12-50, it would be with a "pro" m43 body, I suspect.

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John Krumm
Juneau, AK
 
FrankParis said:
P.S.: I've read that the Olympus Zuiko 12-60mm f/2.8-4.0 with adapter ring for M4/3 doesn't balance well with the EM-5: it's too large for M4/3 and weighs a ton besides.

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Hello Frank

this is true and this is the case for most 4/3lenses except the smallest ones. this is why I think the m4/3rds could use some of the existing 4/3 designs in a m4/3 versions such as:

weather sealed 2.8/3.5 11-22 mm , 50-200mm swd and also should a 2x weather sealed converter

Harold

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The 12-50 isn't f/4-5.6 but f/3.5-6.3 but that's very close to what you ask for, and so is 50 versus 60mm. As a result the lens you describe will not be introduced.

We are all waiting for Olympus to come out with a 12-60 f/2.8-4 for m43 as that would be a real improvement over the 12-50 f/3.5-6.3. The most recent announcements do not really make it sound like this is coming soon (Olympus seems to be working on a new body that will get faster AF from 4/3 lenses). But I keep hoping as I don't really want the limited range of the Panasonic 12-35 in order to get a faster zoom lens.

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Slowly learning to use the Olympus OM-D E-M5.
Public pictures at http://debra.zenfolio.com/ .
 
no text.
 
I have seen rumors of a native m43 12-60 f2.8-f4.0 coming from Oly. Perhaps that's just folks dreaming based on the extant 43 version. I have to think we'll see a few faster aperture weather sealed zooms from Olympus. How soon and exactly what configuration?
 
Very close to the 12-50 especially when considering lens speed. The 12-50 is a nice lens but I would jump on something like a 12-60 f2.8-4.0. Anything slower I will just stay with the 12-50.

Dave
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Jake21 said:
I rather a 12-60 f4 constant; I think they could do that and keep the lens a decent size; (maybe?)
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More chance of a lens such as this, no chance of a 12-60mm F2.8-F4, the size of the 12-35mm is a big clue on that one. It's fairly large and heavy by m4/3's standards, there's only so far you can go in terms of miniaturising lenses. Even if they could make one smaller it would involve some optical compromises and then there would be a huge wailing and gnashing of teeth. A 12-60mm F2.8-F4 like the 4/3's version will never happen and I'd eat my hat if it did, same with the 50-200mm. As it stands the 12-35mm is a very good compromise for me and I used to have the 12-60mm.
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Any problem on earth can be solved by a well aimed Pomegranate...
Tony
http://the-random-photographer.blogspot.com/
 
Gavin Stapleton said:
there is a gap in the 17mm to 25mm range
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Doesn't fit the bill?

Among primes, I'm looking for a pancake 12mm. f2.8 or even f3.3 would be fine.

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'If you can imagine sharing a waterbed with a baboon that's just been doused in itching powder.' J.C. reg. the suspension of the Lincoln Town Car '82
 
papillon_65 said:
More chance of a lens such as this, no chance of a 12-60mm F2.8-F4, the size of the 12-35mm is a big clue on that one.
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The entrance pupil of a 60/f4 is 15mm vs. 12.5mm of the 35/f2.8. That is not a bridge too far, considering the 14-140mm with 24.1mm.

Looking at SLRgear's test of the 12-35mm, it's clear Panasonic could have extended the rage with decent center sharpness, but probably chose not to do so to keep it a constant f2.8
papillon_65 said:
It's fairly large and heavy by m4/3's standards, there's only so far you can go in terms of miniaturising lenses. Even if they could make one smaller it would involve some optical compromises and then there would be a huge wailing and gnashing of teeth. A 12-60mm F2.8-F4 like the 4/3's version will never happen and I'd eat my hat if it did, same with the 50-200mm.
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On the latter one, I agree. Lens designs beyond the normal range don't benefit at all from a shorter register. The 12-60mm however, would benefit from a m43, making it smaller, lighter, cheaper (to produce) everything else being equal.
papillon_65 said:
As it stands the 12-35mm is a very good compromise for me and I used to have the 12-60mm.
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It's too short for me unfortunately.
papillon_65 said:
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Any problem on earth can be solved by a well aimed Pomegranate...
Tony
http://the-random-photographer.blogspot.com/
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'If you can imagine sharing a waterbed with a baboon that's just been doused in itching powder.' J.C. reg. the suspension of the Lincoln Town Car '82
 
I could possibly see it if they want to replace the E5 with a "pro" m43 body that's large enough to handle both the older 4/3 lenses and a new set of high-grade m43 zooms. Pure speculation.

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John Krumm
Juneau, AK
 
A 12-60 straight f4.0 would be really nice. I would guess if Olympus does come out with the OMD-Pro at CP+ that it will have a new "pro" kit lens.

I really don't know if the size will be much larger if any. I am guessing since the grip and battery has just OMD on the box that the OMD-Pro will take the same accessories. I am guessing the big "pro" things will be on sensor PDAF and peak focusing. If you want to use the excellent FT lenses from OLympus will will need the adaptor and to improve handling the grip.

Anyhow, just a guess for what is coming early next year.

Dave
jkrumm said:
I could possibly see it if they want to replace the E5 with a "pro" m43 body that's large enough to handle both the older 4/3 lenses and a new set of high-grade m43 zooms. Pure speculation.

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John Krumm
Juneau, AK
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No more slow !@#$ing kit zooms. We've already got too many. I don't need a shoddy 12-60 4-5.6. Sorry if you really enjoy using these cheap second class lenses, but it's time for Oly to produce some serious zooms instead.
 
Olympus should know very well that a high performance general purpose zoom like the 43 12-60mm would boost sales of its cameras immensely and hence its market share, since numerous people, especially the potential new M43 camera buyers, want something that is very versatile but also has high IQ.

If nothing else, a version of the 12-50mm with better IQ should be available, as people rush into M43. It should be possible to improve this lens optically I think.
 
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