12-40 vs 12 f2

Just wondering if anybody out there has any opinions on the image quality of the 12mm oly f2 versus the 12mm end of the 12-40 oly f2.8.....

forgetting size differences and obvious flexibility of the zoom etc......i would like to know if anybody who owns both or has owned both thinks of the comparison

the price for the black 12mm f2 ( the one i'd want to match em1 ) is basically the same as the pro 2.8 12-40........so i am interested in the image quality at 12mm between the two

thanks

rich

I'm kind of wondering the same thing, since I'm interested in purchasing the silver OM-D E-M1 and the 12-40mm PRO lens initially.

I purchased the EM1 + 12-40mm when I already had the 12mm F2 so I had a chance to compare. The two obvious advantages of the 12mm F2 is the faster aperture and the smaller size, so I wont talk about them.

I would say the 12mm F2 is slightly sharper in the center from F2.8 onwards compared to the 12-40mm at 12mm, but not by much, and usually was very difficult to see from the tests I did. Corner sharpness was nearly identical (and excellent) between the 2 lenses at all apertures.

I ended up selling the 12mm F2 prime after my tests, as I decided the smaller size and extra speed wasn't worth it. Never found that I missed the prime.

Verbatimium said:

I purchased the EM1 + 12-40mm when I already had the 12mm F2 so I had a chance to compare. The two obvious advantages of the 12mm F2 is the faster aperture and the smaller size, so I wont talk about them.

I would say the 12mm F2 is slightly sharper in the center from F2.8 onwards compared to the 12-40mm at 12mm, but not by much, and usually was very difficult to see from the tests I did. Corner sharpness was nearly identical (and excellent) between the 2 lenses at all apertures.

I ended up selling the 12mm F2 prime after my tests, as I decided the smaller size and extra speed wasn't worth it. Never found that I missed the prime.

Click to expand...

I never owned the 12mm prime, but after buying the 12-40mm, seeing the performance at 12mm and looking at the DXO sharpness profiles for the two lenses, I couldn't see any reason to also buy the prime just for a one stop gain (especially since most of my 12mm shots are outdoors anyway and light isn't a problem). Similarly, you're usually not looking for shallow DOF at 12mm and the extra stop of the prime isn't going to gain you much in terms of shallow DOF.

Here's the DXO comparison that shows the 12-40mm is actually sharper across the frame (only marginally at the center and more so toward the borders).

http://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Compa...m-F20-on-Olympus-OM-D-E-M1___1233_909_531_909

(You meed tp click on the Measurements >Sharpness>Profiles)

I've owned the 12mm f2 since shortly after it came out, using it a lot with the E-P3 and E-M5. As soon as the 12-40 was available I bought it and the 12mm f2 hasn't seen the light of day. Still own it, but have not used it even once since the first day I mounted the 12-40 on the E-M5.

I have not tried any direct comparisons to see whatever tiny amount of image quality difference might possibly be there with the 12mm f2. The 12-40 is excellent and trumps the extra stop and smaller size of the 12mm f2, not to mention saving dozens of lens changes over a day between the 12mm f2, 25mm f1.4 and 45mm f1.8 trio of lenses I was using to cover the range.

--
"There's shadows in life, baby.." Jack Horner- Boogie Nights

Already had the 12 when I bought the zoom. They're quite close to my eye, but confess I've never "tested" them against one another. I doubt I'd buy the 12 if I already had the 12-40 but for no compelling reason I'm keeping mine, probably because it's a little gem of a lens and the zoom is pretty big.

Cheers,

Rick

--
Equivalence and diffraction-free since 2009.
You can be too; ask about our 12-step program.

Similar position to your good self.

I love shooting primes and have the 17mm f1.8 (it's my everyday lens on the E-M10), 45mm f1.8, 60mm f2.8 macro and 75mm f1.8. I got to try the 12mm at an Olympus event. It was lovely. Got some pleasing shots and it was a joy to shoot with. It was next on my list of primes to buy....

I then decided to sell all my Canon FF kit as it wasn't getting used. Bought the E-M1 with 12-40mm f2.8 Pro lens and have the new 40-150mm f2.8 on order.

The first impressions of the 12-40mm are its very good both in use from a handling perspective and the IQ. I'm very pleased with the image sharpness (remember I've recently ditched FF too so that may help put my expectations into perspective when I say I am very happy with the IQ I'm getting from this lens).

Just back from Venice and yet to download all the pictures I took. I shot with the E-M1 and 12-40mm and used the E-M10 with the 75mm fitted for closer detail and close-up candid street portraits. I still love shooting with a prime lens - I think it takes me back to when I satrted with 35mm film SLR and for a good three or four years could only afford the one lens (ubiquitous 50mm standard) and as much as I coveted more lens choice or a good zoom it served me well.

So back to your question....

For me I've decided not to buy the 12mm despite the lighter option, wider max aperture and the fact I still would really like it in my bag as an option. The 12mm end of the Pro zoom is so good. Equally with the next Pro Zoom to be released being the wider 7-14mm f2.8 then I am going to wait for it to arrive as that may be the way to go for the wider shooting option.

Just my thoughts.

richtea777 said:

Just wondering if anybody out there has any opinions on the image quality of the 12mm oly f2 versus the 12mm end of the 12-40 oly f2.8.....

forgetting size differences and obvious flexibility of the zoom etc......i would like to know if anybody who owns both or has owned both thinks of the comparison

the price for the black 12mm f2 ( the one i'd want to match em1 ) is basically the same as the pro 2.8 12-40........so i am interested in the image quality at 12mm between the two

thanks

rich

Click to expand...

You have enough owner feedback here. For precise details, just compare their Lenstip test results. The 12mm along with the 17mm f/2.8 can be safely ignored unless you have very special needs. The weight saving and cost savings are not worth the lens changing trouble and missed shots in most cases, now that we have the 12-40 PRO. It would be nice to have the weatherproof 12mm f/1.4 PRO, and the 17mm f/1.4 PRO though.

I was an early buyer of the 12/2.0 prime lens and really enjoyed using it. I was also an early buyer of the 12-40/2.8 and really love it. I have never done any direct comparison shots. My feeling is that the image quality is very close to being the same. The difference between f2.8 and 2.0 is not enough to get me to even carry the 12/2.0 prime lens any more. So it just sits at home most of the time until I get in an all prime lens mood.

richtea777 said:

Just wondering if anybody out there has any opinions on the image quality of the 12mm oly f2 versus the 12mm end of the 12-40 oly f2.8.....

forgetting size differences and obvious flexibility of the zoom etc......i would like to know if anybody who owns both or has owned both thinks of the comparison

the price for the black 12mm f2 ( the one i'd want to match em1 ) is basically the same as the pro 2.8 12-40........so i am interested in the image quality at 12mm between the two

Click to expand...

I have both, the 12/2 acquired a couple of years ago and the 12-40/2.8 only half a year ago. I have taken some test shots to compare them and at apertures they can both manage there isn't any difference in sharpness worth mentioning. So I'd say the possible reasons for still buying the 12/2 are as follows:

• Goes one stop wider
• Shows significantly less vignetting at f/2.8
• Is much smaller/lighter for when 12 mm is all you need
• Possibly runs less risk of generating troublesome reflections in difficult light

Only you can tell if that's sufficient to get one instead of, or in addition to, the 12-40/2.8.

richtea777 said:

Just wondering if anybody out there has any opinions on the image quality of the 12mm oly f2 versus the 12mm end of the 12-40 oly f2.8.....

forgetting size differences and obvious flexibility of the zoom etc......i would like to know if anybody who owns both or has owned both thinks of the comparison

the price for the black 12mm f2 ( the one i'd want to match em1 ) is basically the same as the pro 2.8 12-40........so i am interested in the image quality at 12mm between the two

thanks

rich

Click to expand...

I'm in my late sixties and I would estimate that I got my first ILC 45 years ago; so I am quite used to changing lenses on the fly and still prefer primes. The first lens I bought with my E-M10 was the 12mm f/2.0. It is the widest lens I ever had and to be honest, I bought it because of how beautiful it was more than anything else. Since then it has become my most used lens. I have a 17mm f/1.8 and I hardly use it anymore. I also think the sharpness and IQ of the 12mm is better. Besides the 12mm and 17mm, I also have the Sigma 30mm f/2.8 DN and 60mm f/2.8 DN. I had the loan of the 12-40mm f/2.8 pro to try it out and it also takes excellent images. But there is more to consider about using these two lenses besides the image quality.

I spent several days on Cape Cod at a Coast Guard reunion; people I haven't seen for almost 45 years. I started yesterday with a 3 hour tour of the Coast Guard Air Station where I took a pile of photos of aircraft and everyone on the tour. Then spent the afternoon at the Hyannis waterfront photographing people, every boat in sight along with the harbor, and finished up at the John F. Kennedy Memorial. I had my E-M10 with the 12mm on it, my 60mm Sigma in my jacket pocket, and a couple of extra batteries in another pocket; left my camera bag at the hotel. I used the 12mm all day until I saw a bunch of Seagulls and a couple of Canadian Geese on the beach by the memorial. I quickly swapped to the 60mm and got close enough to the birds to get some great shots I couldn't have gotten at 40mm.

The 12-40mm weighs almost 3 times as much as the 12mm and is about twice as long. The 12-40mm is a third longer than my 60mm, weighs 6 times as much, doesn't have the range of the 60mm, and won't fit in my jacket pocket. At my age, I'll take the primes.