What lens next?

dgbaldwin wrote:

I bought an Olympus PEN EPM2 last year with two kit lenses, the 14-42mm and the 40-150mm. My previous camera was a Canon G12. From the beginning I felt that my picture weren't as sharp as some of the ones I got with the G12. I spent a good amount of time learning to use the new camera and my pictures got better.

I just bought the 19mm Sigma prime and the difference in sharpness over the kit lenses is profound. Here's my question. I've seen the 12-50mm kit lens available on eBay for under $200. How does it compare with the kit lenses that came with my camera and how does it compare with the 19mm Sigma? I might get it even if it's not quite as good as the Sigma if it's a reasonable step up from the 14-42mm that came with my camera, especially since it has macro capability, which I miss.

Thanks in advance!

I now know the problem -- it was two fold:

1) Shutter shock in the range 1/60 - 1/160 pr 1/200. I learned to avoid these shutter speeds except for when I was using flash.

In addition, there was the horrible 2-way IBIS.

This IBIS was developed for the heavier, E-P1,2,3 cameras and worked all right with them but in the E-PM series it seems the camera is too light versus the weight and force of the IBIS movement. I learned to leave the IBIS off all the time except when I actually needed it -- for example, when I was shooting with e.g. the 14-42 at 1/15 or lower. In addition. In general I applied my old 35mm skills and my practices with my previous unstabilized cameras.

I got along fine -- and found both the 14-42 and the 40-150 to be excellent. I moved up to an E-PL3 and continued to apply the same techniques for excellent results for both professional and personal photography.

What should you get next? I don't think the 12-50 is a step up from the 14-42 in IQ, but it is an advance in terms of going wide -- the 12mm is quite a bit wider than 14mm -- longer, and it has the macro capability. Robin Wong (search for his blog) speaks well of the macro capability.