Compact lens choices for E-PM2

zuikowesty wrote:

I'm looking for a compact lens for my wife's E-PM2, preferably a zoom. The choices I have found are:

Oly 14-42 EZ (new)

Oly 17/2.8

Lumix 12-32

Lumix 14/2.5

Lumix 20/1.7

The Oly 14-42EZ sounds like it may be a bit soft, at best probably matching the 14-42 IIR. For $350 I'd like a step up in quality. Likewise for the Oly 17/2.8.

Forget the 17/2.8 - you're better of with the II R zoom.  The 14-42 EZ may be a step up in quality, it's hard to say since nobody's actually shot them outside of a few chosen previewers.

The Lumix 12-32 gives me 12mm, and seems pretty sharp by test results, but lacks MF ring. (can any Oly bodies focus this lens manually? How does it perform on an Oly body?)

No, but why would you want to?  These are grab and go lenses.  If you're on a tripod, you'd use something else.

Both Lumix primes seem pretty decent, and can be found for a good price.

The 14/2.5 is cute and small, but it's not notably better than the II R.  The 20/1.7 has banding issues.

I may get a zoom and a prime, so I have a compact lens for both MFT bodies.

If you live with banding at high ISOs, the 20/1.7 is still the best compact option.  If not, the 17/1.8 isn't as good a lens and is more expensive, but it has no banding and AFs quickly.

For the zoom, I'd stick with the II R kit zoom for now.  The Panasonic 14-42 II is a decent step up (and is smaller, despite ditching the collapsing mechanism), but at $50 (in the kit) vs. $150 (secondhand) it may not be worth the modest improvement.  The 12-32 looks like the best bet of the lot for image quality, but the price is steep and the range may feel a bit limiting.