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Query from possible new entrant to EM-5 world

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timo

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Hi all

I have a megatrip lined up for early next year, and am considering a lighter alternative to my (excellent) Pentax K5 plus assorted, mostly prime lenses - they can get a bit heavy on the spine after a day's walking around ... The EM-5 is obviously worth considering. A VF is essential for me.

Does there exist anywhere a comprehensive database of M43 lenses with reviews? (Something equivalent to the P*ntaxforum database).

I have read that the kit zoom that normally comes with the EM-5 is mediocre at best, and want to consider the options. And yes, I am looking at zooms - I know that primes generally give better edge-to-edge performance, as well as faster apertures - but I have in mind a straightforward zoom covering the 24-28mm-equivalent range upwards. Massive zoom range not all that crucial. Compactness and lightness are of the essence. Don't care about the brand.

I'm sure this question has been asked a zillion times, but new lenses become available.

(I am not convinced that the EM-1 is worth the extra money to me - I'd rather put a decent lens on the front of the camera.)

Thanks in advance to anyone who doesn't mind answering such a basic question.
 
The 12-50mm isn't a bad zoom given its price. One would have to stop down to f5.6-f8 to get good sharpness. Its corners would never get razor sharp, but a little PP can do wonders.

If you are gunning for best of the crop, you simply can't go wrong with the new Olympus 12-40mm:

http://slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/1641

The pictures it takes can rival the best of the primes at the short focal lengths, and it is still tack sharp with f5.6 at 40mm.

SLRGear is a good site with pretty much all m43 lens tested and reviewed, worth a look.
 
timo said:
Hi all

I have a megatrip lined up for early next year, and am considering a lighter alternative to my (excellent) Pentax K5 plus assorted, mostly prime lenses - they can get a bit heavy on the spine after a day's walking around ... The EM-5 is obviously worth considering. A VF is essential for me.

Does there exist anywhere a comprehensive database of M43 lenses with reviews? (Something equivalent to the P*ntaxforum database).

I have read that the kit zoom that normally comes with the EM-5 is mediocre at best, and want to consider the options. And yes, I am looking at zooms - I know that primes generally give better edge-to-edge performance, as well as faster apertures - but I have in mind a straightforward zoom covering the 24-28mm-equivalent range upwards. Massive zoom range not all that crucial. Compactness and lightness are of the essence. Don't care about the brand.

I'm sure this question has been asked a zillion times, but new lenses become available.

(I am not convinced that the EM-1 is worth the extra money to me - I'd rather put a decent lens on the front of the camera.)

Thanks in advance to anyone who doesn't mind answering such a basic question.

--
tim
Click to expand...
The only thing you can do is do this yourself and actually make a print no matter the system. One can only read so much.

Micro Four Thirds is not the only mirror less option.

Fuji, Canon and Sony have options. I shot micro four thirds for about four years with three Panasonic bodies as I upgraded or so but shot Nikon SLR and DSLR's for 20 plus years prior (combined) and now use Fuji XE-1 with Fuji glass and in many ways it gives MFT's a run for the money that is how amazing Fuji is, yet they do not have as many zoom lenses as MFT's has for now. Having the APC larger sensor is also a huge plus.

From first hand experience the Panasonic 7-14, 12-35, 35-100 are all fantastic lenses.

FYI for the Fuji lens roadmap, they have a new zoom sort of equivalent to the Panasonic 7-14 to be announced this week I think, 10-24 f 4, oh and conversion factor is 1.5x

http://www.fujifilm.com/products/digital_cameras/xf_lens/roadmap/index.html
 
Last edited:
wilsonc said:
The 12-50mm isn't a bad zoom given its price. One would have to stop down to f5.6-f8 to get good sharpness. Its corners would never get razor sharp, but a little PP can do wonders.

If you are gunning for best of the crop, you simply can't go wrong with the new Olympus 12-40mm:

http://slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/1641

The pictures it takes can rival the best of the primes at the short focal lengths, and it is still tack sharp with f5.6 at 40mm.

SLRGear is a good site with pretty much all m43 lens tested and reviewed, worth a look.
Click to expand...
Thanks - yes, i had forgotten about slrgear - a useful site. (A propos of nothing, I am always surprised by the degree of decentering often revealed by their widget!)
 
ryan2007 said:
From first hand experience the Panasonic 7-14, 12-35, 35-100 are all fantastic lenses.

FYI for the Fuji lens roadmap, they have a new zoom sort of equivalent to the Panasonic 7-14 to be announced this week I think, 10-24 f 4, oh and conversion factor is 1.5x

http://www.fujifilm.com/products/digital_cameras/xf_lens/roadmap/index.html
Click to expand...
Yes indeed. I should be considering Fuji, although the prices may be an issue. (I have an X10 which is not bad, but very wayward on the focusing front, and really only acceptable at wide open apertures - max 5.6 or even 4. The effect - presumably - of diffraction is really spectacular stopped down. And that leads to some major blown skies ...)
 
Photozone does quite good reviews, but mostly with lenses they get on a voluntary basis (so single copy which may or may not be representative for the model) and as a result some of the newer lenses are missing, e.g. the 12-40 is not in there.

Generally I find their observations very useful in making buying decisions, perhaps not as a sole source of information but certainly as an additional one.
 
timo said:
Hi all

I have a megatrip lined up for early next year, and am considering a lighter alternative to my (excellent) Pentax K5 plus assorted, mostly prime lenses - they can get a bit heavy on the spine after a day's walking around ... The EM-5 is obviously worth considering. A VF is essential for me.

Does there exist anywhere a comprehensive database of M43 lenses with reviews? (Something equivalent to the P*ntaxforum database).

I have read that the kit zoom that normally comes with the EM-5 is mediocre at best, and want to consider the options. And yes, I am looking at zooms - I know that primes generally give better edge-to-edge performance, as well as faster apertures - but I have in mind a straightforward zoom covering the 24-28mm-equivalent range upwards. Massive zoom range not all that crucial. Compactness and lightness are of the essence. Don't care about the brand.

I'm sure this question has been asked a zillion times, but new lenses become available.

(I am not convinced that the EM-1 is worth the extra money to me - I'd rather put a decent lens on the front of the camera.)

Thanks in advance to anyone who doesn't mind answering such a basic question.
Click to expand...
 
timo said:
Hi all

I have a megatrip lined up for early next year, and am considering a lighter alternative to my (excellent) Pentax K5 plus assorted, mostly prime lenses - they can get a bit heavy on the spine after a day's walking around ... The EM-5 is obviously worth considering. A VF is essential for me.

Does there exist anywhere a comprehensive database of M43 lenses with reviews? (Something equivalent to the P*ntaxforum database).
Click to expand...
I believe this site is the official site of 43/M43 Consortium.

www.four-thirds.org

Find a Lens

www.four-thirds.org www.four-thirds.org

I think it lists most if not all curren M43 lenses including the very recently releases 12-40mm .
There is also a PDF with the info you can download which includes a big table with specs.

But no reviews.

Not exactly what you asked for, but maybe a bit useful.
timo said:
I have read that the kit zoom that normally comes with the EM-5 is mediocre at best, and want to consider the options.
Click to expand...
I actually like the 12-50, but I am not a pixel peeper.
Except for being slow as mud it is fairly versatile and splashproof.
 
Paulmorgan said:
None of the m4/3 lenses are that bad, there often better than those that get packaged with larger camera`s.

The 12-50mm can be a superb lens whens used correctly.
Click to expand...
Yes, I don't anticipate much low light or action stuff, and so I might be able to work within its limitations.
 
I just took this exact risk and left my Canon SLRs at home and took an E-M5 for a month in France, admittedly with quite a few lenses... however, most of the shots I used were with 2 lenses - Oly 9-18 and Pana 12-35. Moderate use with Pana 35-100 and a few shots with Oly 75-300 (a few birds). I couldn't have been happier as all this fits in a little bag which weighs very little. My back is very happy too... It's amazing how much easier it is with this kit. There are a few options for these out there now. I believe the new 12-40 Oly is very good with same IQ as the pana and a bit longer range. The 9-18 is tiny - very impressive little lens indeed.
 
jtan163 said:
I believe this site is the official site of 43/M43 Consortium.

http://www.four-thirds.org/en/microft/lense.html

I think it lists most if not all curren M43 lenses including the very recently releases 12-40mm .
There is also a PDF with the info you can download which includes a big table with specs.

But no reviews.

Not exactly what you asked for, but maybe a bit useful.
jtan163 said:
I have read that the kit zoom that normally comes with the EM-5 is mediocre at best, and want to consider the options.
Click to expand...
I actually like the 12-50, but I am not a pixel peeper.
Except for being slow as mud it is fairly versatile and splashproof.
Click to expand...
Thanks. A very useful checklist. Looking at the various options, and the prices, it becomes very obvious that you get what you pay for, basically. Although whatever the price, I would prefer a smaller lens to a larger one.
 
I have been in a similar situation and early in the year bought an EM-5 (I also have a Nikon DSLR). I have the 12-50 kit, Oly 45mm, Panasonic 14 & 20mm and the Oly 14-150mm. I take these in a small bag traveling. Since July they have been to Ljubljana, Bled, Split, Dubrovnik, Sarajevo, Zagreb, Venice, Changsha, Shanghai and Xi'an.

The 14-150mm is on the camera 90% of the time. The primes are sharper - but not by a lot. Here is a link to a set on Flickr - most taken with the 14-150mm.

Loading…

www.flickr.com
 
VinceC said:
The 14-150mm is on the camera 90% of the time. The primes are sharper - but not by a lot.
Click to expand...
I agree. I use my 14-150mm on the E-M5 a whole lot and have been happy with it. Here is a review:

http://www.ephotozine.com/article/olympus-m-zuiko-digital-ed-14-150mm-f-4-5-6-lens-review-22983

"Superzoom lenses are not usually known for delivering excellent quality images, and are instead, normally considered a bit of a compromise. This 14-150mm lens from Olympus bucks that trend, delivering excellent sharpness in the centre of the frame throughout the zoom range. This is achieved in a lightweight, compact design that doesn't compromise on convenience either."

Here are some of my travel threads using the E-M5 + 14-150mm:

Nepal trip:

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/50662234

Bali trip:

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/51669818

Japan:

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/51632034
 
Henry Richardson said:
VinceC said:
The 14-150mm is on the camera 90% of the time. The primes are sharper - but not by a lot.
Click to expand...
I agree. I use my 14-150mm on the E-M5 a whole lot and have been happy with it. Here is a review:

http://www.ephotozine.com/article/olympus-m-zuiko-digital-ed-14-150mm-f-4-5-6-lens-review-22983

"Superzoom lenses are not usually known for delivering excellent quality images, and are instead, normally considered a bit of a compromise. This 14-150mm lens from Olympus bucks that trend, delivering excellent sharpness in the centre of the frame throughout the zoom range. This is achieved in a lightweight, compact design that doesn't compromise on convenience either."

Here are some of my travel threads using the E-M5 + 14-150mm:

Nepal trip:

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/50662234

Bali trip:

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/51669818

Japan:

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/51632034
Click to expand...
 
VinceC said:
I have been in a similar situation and early in the year bought an EM-5 (I also have a Nikon DSLR). I have the 12-50 kit, Oly 45mm, Panasonic 14 & 20mm and the Oly 14-150mm. I take these in a small bag traveling. Since July they have been to Ljubljana, Bled, Split, Dubrovnik, Sarajevo, Zagreb, Venice, Changsha, Shanghai and Xi'an.

The 14-150mm is on the camera 90% of the time. The primes are sharper - but not by a lot. Here is a link to a set on Flickr - most taken with the 14-150mm.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vincecunningham/sets/72157637767169846/
Click to expand...
 
garyjb said:
I just took this exact risk and left my Canon SLRs at home and took an E-M5 for a month in France, admittedly with quite a few lenses... however, most of the shots I used were with 2 lenses - Oly 9-18 and Pana 12-35. Moderate use with Pana 35-100 and a few shots with Oly 75-300 (a few birds). I couldn't have been happier as all this fits in a little bag which weighs very little. My back is very happy too... It's amazing how much easier it is with this kit. There are a few options for these out there now. I believe the new 12-40 Oly is very good with same IQ as the pana and a bit longer range. The 9-18 is tiny - very impressive little lens indeed.
Click to expand...
It's a bit of plunge, leaving all that DSLR stuff at home, considering how much you have invested in it ... thanks for this practical feedback.
 
Tim

I almost sold the 12-50, as I thought it was largely replaced by the 14-150. I didn't - and was glad for because:

It is weather sealed - an advantage over the other lenses.

It has a very good "semi macro" (about half life size). This is surprisingly useful.

It didn't cost much (as part of a kit) and wouldn't realise much as part of a sale.

The 12-50 doesn't live in the bag with the rest of the kit, but it does come our often enough to justify hanging on to it.
 
I backed out of a K5 system when the E-M5 came out, smaller, lighter, same IQ, similarly weather-proofed. Found it nailed focus better, less noise at high ISO, and better all-round quality control of gear. (Not so good on the ergonomics, though, and no control over the ramp up of auto ISO which I used continuously on the K5 to get the balance I wanted for particular situations.) Sadly, no equivalent of the excellent Pentax support Web sites in Oly land. Closest are

http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showcat.php/cat/2

http://www.lenstip.com/Main_page

I run the kit Oly 12-50 when its wet outdoors, gotta have it. Otherwise the 14-150 lives on the E-M5 95% of the time, plenty good enough for (diagonal) 50" canvas or 20" photo paper prints, instant focus, great flexibility in range.
 
timo said:
Hi all

I have a megatrip lined up for early next year, and am considering a lighter alternative to my (excellent) Pentax K5 plus assorted, mostly prime lenses - they can get a bit heavy on the spine after a day's walking around ... The EM-5 is obviously worth considering. A VF is essential for me.
Click to expand...
I'm also a Pentax K-5 user that bought an EM-5 to have as a light back-up camera for hikes and trips involving plane travel. I also primarily use zooms with EM-5. I initially got the Panasonic 14-45 as the standard zoom for the camera, but soon became disenchanted with it. It's susceptible to flare (low contrast) and I never found the color rendition to my liking. So I ended up getting the much maligned 12-50, and have found it to be much better than its reputation would suggest. Complaints about lack of sharpness with that lens are overblown. I have found it just as sharp as the Panny 14-45, the Oly 9-18, and the Oly 40-150. Indeed, I get just as sharp images out of it as I do out of my Pentax zooms on the K-5 (to be sure, I suspect Olympus adds a lot of sharpening to its raw files, and the K-5 has a stronger AA filter than the EM-5). In short, resolution is not a problem with the 12-50 (assuming you have a good copy). I suspect it's the best variable aperture standard zoom lens for m43. It has better color rendition and microcontrast than the Panny 14-45; it's a tad sharper than either of the Olympus 14-42s. Comparing it to Pentax glass, I would say it's about on par with the DA 16-45 and clearly better than either of the DA 18-55s.

Obviously the Oly 12-40 would be an even better choice, assuming you could afford it and didn't mind the extra weight.
 
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