Panasonic 12-32mm vs Small Primes

bs1946 wrote:

papillon_65 wrote:

bs1946 wrote:

I don't like zooms and the 12-32mm that came with my GM5 is on the shelf. One problem is that if you are set to shot at any moment, the lens is extended to about three times it's stored length. The minute you point it in someone's direction, it's almost like putting a sign on you chest that says hey, look at me, I'm a photographer and I'm taking your picture. You either wind up with a lot of canned poses or a lot of mean looks.

Seriously? the 12-32mm extended is still smaller than most m4/3's primes, pancakes apart.

Yes seriously. As you can see, the 12-32mm is about three times longer when extended and longer than my five primes, even if it's not much. But, it's not as much about the size, as it is that thanks to all those point and shoots with lenses that extend out, that the moment people see a camera with an extended zoom, no matter how small, they assume the camera is on and you are photographing them, even if you're not.

Tallest to Shortest, Starting on the left, 12-32mm extended, 45mm f/1.8, 12mm f/2.0, 25mm f/1.8, 15mm f/1.7 and 17mm f/1.8. The only prime I have and did not include in the photo is the Rokinon 7.5mm f/3.5 FE. It is slightly taller that the 12-32mm because of the non-removable petal hood. If the hood was removable it would be between the 25mm and 15mm.

Sorry, I'm not buying that, most people wouldn't know a prime lens from a zoom if it smacked them in the eye. They don't magically ignore a prime lens which is virtually the same size and then get a dose of extreme paranoia over the 12-32mm.