Would it be the best all-round prime, for the landscape/street grapher combine?
I find Oly 12mm f2.0 rather expensive and oly 17mm f1.7 was also a bit more in to street side, not so much into landscape... And all the others further than that (such as sigma 19mm and panasonic 20mm). So I am looking between 10-16mm, a lens whic can accept a filter tread (not a fish eyes..)
and there isn't else than current oly 9-18mm zoom is coming, should I go for 15mm ?
share your opinions to guide me folks. Thank you
Ben
It depends on what you are looking for. I am kind of interested in it, but it depends on the price. I have the 12/2, and it is a wonderful lens. Yes, I feel it is a little too expensive, but I managed to get mine for a smidge over $600, used in flawless condition, so I can't complain. Its about the price I think it should be new.
I would generally not consider a 12mm a street lens. A traditional 35mm is what I'd consider a street lens. 28-30mm equivelent I think is too wide, but I guess could work. That range could also work as a landscape lens. Then again, a 200mm equivelent can also work as a landscape lens, just depends on what you are shooting.
I think a lot depends on price. I have the 12mm and the 25mm, so a 17mm is the perfect fit in between. However, if the price is right and the optical quality is awesome, the 15mm might just work for me over the 17/1.8.
However, if the price is the same or more, I think I'd rather the 17/1.8, even if the optical quality is better on the 15mm. Slightly better focal length on the 17mm for me, I could careless about the 1/6th of a stop faster on the 15mm, the 15mm looks like it'll probably be a hair larger and heavier than the 17mm and the 17mm has good enough optical quality for me (IE I could print to 13x19 shooting wide open and it'll be fine. I can't really say that with my current 17mm f/2.8 though, which is one of the few m4/3 I can say that about. It'll make a fine 8x10, but just isn't good enough for larger images).
Personally, especially after the price of the 42.5mm f/1.2 was just announced and how expensive the 25mm f/1.4 is, I suspect that Panasonic is probably going to price the 15mm f/1.7 around $600. Maybe somewhat more, possibly less, but I doubt it. That puts it firmly in the "not a chance Panny" pricing for me considering the alternatives. If it comes in at the same price or less than the Olympus, it'll take a lot of thinking (though Olympus now seems to be discounting the 17/1.8 with sales, which they do a few times a year, and Panasonic almost never has sales on their lenses).
If it forces Olympus to reduce the price of the 12/17, maybe to the good. If it means they are on sale for a little cheaper than they often are on sale, great. The 17mm f/1.8 is looking more and more attractive though, It was just on sale for $399 from the regular $499 price. If I can snag it for $100, I can also sell my 17/2.8 for probably at least $100, maybe a little more. That brings the cost to me down to basically $300, which is within my camera discretionary budget (though not right now, maybe in a few months). My brother-in-laws wedding is coming up this October, so maybe I can grab one at a mother's day, father's day, memorial day or labor day sale.
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Many things dealing with Olympus and their OM and Pen cameras, plus my general photography and musings
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