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Panasonic 30mm f/2.8 Macro - any good?

Started Jun 5, 2015 | Questions thread
justgo99
OP justgo99 Regular Member • Posts: 495
Re: Panasonic 30mm f/2.8 Macro - any good?

tkbslc wrote:

The reviews are great for the lens. It should be very sharp.

Here's a quick list of Pros for each lens:

60mm Pros:

  • more working distance is better for insects
  • longer focal length means more blurred backgrounds in macros
  • Focus limiter makes AF quicker - especially for AF tracking
  • Doubles as a portrait and indoor sports lens (again, AF limiter handy)

30mm Pros:

  • Close to a normal focal length. Could be used a "standard" prime
  • Stabilization would be handy for cameras without IBIS - especially for video
  • About an inch (20mm) shorter than 60mm
  • Possibly cheaper - depending on sales.

I'd say if you want to shoot insects and portraits, go for the 60mm. If you want a more "all-around" prime, then get the 30mm. You might also decide by seeing what focal lengths you need to fill in your lens lineup. If your gear list is accurate, you already have 30mm f2.8 covered by your 12-35mm lens. But you don't have any m4/3 lenses in the short telephoto ranges around 60mm. I think 60mm would provide a nice progression from the 35mm f2.8 end of your zoom.

Thanks for the comparison. My only real concern about the Olympus 60mm is the lack of IS. Aside from that the longer focal length would be nicer to give a bit more distance between the camera and the subject, but I would only really be shooting still objects, so shading is my only real worry there.

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