Oly 75mm 1.8

BigMacIain said:

Why do you consider it a specialty lens, Marty? What type of specialty?

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If I only had one lens, then it wouldn't be this lens. It just isn't versatile enough, being a telephoto prime lens.

I suppose the specialty would be "outdoor portraits" or "indoor sports, theater, and concerts."

This lens isn't very useful for street shooting, travel photography, event photography, or architectural photography, unless you want to photograph small details. However it is my first choice for those things I listed. It is fast enough to use in concert halls and night clubs. It is ideal for high school basketball games.

Once you own a normal zoom lens, a telephoto zoom lens, and a normal fast prime, everything else becomes a "specialty lens" of sorts. Because you really can't use those lenses most of the time. But when you need them, then nothing else will do.

The 75mm f/1.8 falls into that category. Panasonic had a 150mm f/2.8 lens on their roadmap that they took off. That's another lens I'd love to have. But I think it may never get made, expecially since the superb 40-150mm f/2.8 was released by Olympus. A 150mm f/2.8 would probably be pretty large and pretty expensive, so most people wouldm rather have the zoom lens.

addlightness said:

+1. The 1st pic is simply awesome! Did the other birds follow suit in the same take-off flight path?

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Thanks! The other birds stayed put. It would have been great if they had taken off one by one, but that didn't happen.

Best regards,
Jeff

Del Pierro said:

One of my favorite lenses, I often have two cameras with me, one with the PanaLeica 25mm F1.4 and the E-M1 with the 75mm F1.8.

I wrote a review about it a couple of months ago, maybe it helps:

M.Zuiko 75 -my favorite lens

--
Homepage: http://ultraweit-verwinkelt.de
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ultraweitverwinkelt
Patreon Support: https://www.patreon.com/pierreaden?ty=h

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I'm impressed by the photos on your blog/ website, many of which are the type of photos I'm looking at this lens for, e.g. candid street portraits and some of the details shots. Because of the way this lens renders and it's DoF characteristics it really does produce some lovely shots, that with another lens would like very, very different.

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Flickr stream at https://www.flickr.com/photos/126284142@N04/

Thanks Pepyn, I'm glad you like the photos. It's indeed a unique lens that is perfect for the uses you mentioned. It's nearly always in my bag and even though I it's not for every situation the photos I make with it are the ones I often like most.

Want to chime in that I've seen excellent cityscapes taken with the 75. The moderate distance compression, DOF isolation (as desired) and biting sharpness make it a nice creative tool for that use.

Cheers,

Rick

Bhima78 said:

I say this because, it might be a bit easier to capture random candid street shots with a zoom and the Panny 35-100 is really quite compact for what it is. It can also be found new for around $800. I like the Oly 75, but I think I'd be hard pressed to drop that kind of cash on such a narrow field of view prime for those kind of photos. The 75 feels more like a very deliberate lens, one where you set up your shots and framing... and get rewarded with the best results this format has to offer. Could be tricky getting candids though.

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Good call, Bhima, and choosing between the two is my dilemma. It is purely in my head at the moment, but it threatens to burst into the real world the moment I visit Australia next provided I have a lazy AU$1000 in hand.

Given the IQ posters on this forum attribute to the 35-100, it is clear it would deliver all the IQ I want over a range of focal lengths below and above the 75mm. It would be disadvantaged by one stop at widest aperture but I suspect I could live with that. The zoom has the advantage of OIS, useful at slightly slower shutter speeds.

One possible disadvantage is flare. The Oly f1.8 45mm does very well in adverse lighting conditions; the Panny f2.8 12-35 is not so good; flare shows up in some situations with lights in or near the frame and needs to be watched. I wonder whether the same comparison would hold true between the 75m and the 35-100.

Looking at your flickr stream, I think you would definitely get on with the 75/1.8. I do most urban and street photography, and the 75 was one of the main enablers for my move from DSLR to Olympus. I have not been disappointed in the least.

I've added a couple of lenses, so my core set for serious street photography are the 12/2, Panasonic/Leica 15/1.7, and 75/1.8 (with the 60/2.8 macro and 45/1.8 available in reserve). My first instinct is now to grab the 15/1.7 and the 75/1.8 since both lenses offer impeccable handling and produce stunning results.

Some 75/1.8 stuff that I have shared:


The long minimum focus distance is sometimes annoying, and it is not a good closeup lens, but it does work well with a diopter in a pinch for closeup. For nighttime street tele, I don't think there is anything like it on any camera system.

Excellent lens. I use mine a lot for indoor sport, and low light wildlife. It's the sort of lens, like the 12-40, and 60mm macro, that you chuck on the camera and don't have to think about "shooting using optimum lens settings". Just use whatever aperture you like. It's so sharp, that the gain in shooting at f2.8 or f4 is negligible compared to f1.8.

Martin.au said:

Excellent lens. I use mine a lot for indoor sport, and low light wildlife. It's the sort of lens, like the 12-40, and 60mm macro, that you chuck on the camera and don't have to think about "shooting using optimum lens settings". Just use whatever aperture you like. It's so sharp, that the gain in shooting at f2.8 or f4 is negligible compared to f1.8.

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Naughty, naughty kea. I've heard the stories! (Weatherstripping and gaskets are highly overrated, so....)

Cheers,

Rick

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

Skeeterbytes said:

Martin.au said:

Excellent lens. I use mine a lot for indoor sport, and low light wildlife. It's the sort of lens, like the 12-40, and 60mm macro, that you chuck on the camera and don't have to think about "shooting using optimum lens settings". Just use whatever aperture you like. It's so sharp, that the gain in shooting at f2.8 or f4 is negligible compared to f1.8.

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Naughty, naughty kea. I've heard the stories! (Weatherstripping and gaskets are highly overrated, so....)

Cheers,

Rick

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

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The stories are all true.... They even eat sheep, and baby petrels.

Evil birds.

D Knisely said:

Looking at your flickr stream, I think you would definitely get on with the 75/1.8. I do most urban and street photography, and the 75 was one of the main enablers for my move from DSLR to Olympus. I have not been disappointed in the least.

I've added a couple of lenses, so my core set for serious street photography are the 12/2, Panasonic/Leica 15/1.7, and 75/1.8 (with the 60/2.8 macro and 45/1.8 available in reserve). My first instinct is now to grab the 15/1.7 and the 75/1.8 since both lenses offer impeccable handling and produce stunning results.

Some 75/1.8 stuff that I have shared:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/126284142@N04/

The long minimum focus distance is sometimes annoying, and it is not a good closeup lens, but it does work well with a diopter in a pinch for closeup. For nighttime street tele, I don't think there is anything like it on any camera system.

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Thanks for the advice. That combo you mention is indeed reflective of my latest thinking, the 15 1.7 I've recently admired on flickr (maybe your stream, the link you posted was to my stream ... can you post yours?) and then the 25, 45 and 75.

Martin.au said:

Excellent lens. I use mine a lot for indoor sport, and low light wildlife. It's the sort of lens, like the 12-40, and 60mm macro, that you chuck on the camera and don't have to think about "shooting using optimum lens settings". Just use whatever aperture you like. It's so sharp, that the gain in shooting at f2.8 or f4 is negligible compared to f1.8.

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Love shots 1 and 3, very good. And yes, I've had to chase those away from my rental car a few times!

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Flickr stream at https://www.flickr.com/photos/126284142@N04/

Well I had a play with the 75mm today in the shops and it does seem to generate remarkably sharp images and lovely DoF. A serious chunk of glass it is on the front, think a clear filter would be in order to protect that! It's also not light compared to other primes but to be expected.

AUS $800... will need to consider....

Pepyn said:

A serious chunk of glass it is on the front, think a clear filter would be in order to protect that!

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That would ruin it ;-)

The optional lens shade should protect it well.

The oly 75 is my favorite. It outperforms the 45 1.8. I use it mostly for "candid" portraits not disturbing the scene. It does need some shutter speed to really get all the sharpness. There is a cashback campain running right now.

BUT for indoor lowlight in smaller venues I still prefer the colour rendering of the Zeiss Planar 50 1.7. The Planar is MF only of cause. The modern Zuiko lenses are less lively in colours, so I have to RAW process the shots quite more.

maybee the long Pro zoom can do a similar job, but it is even more expensive. Weather sealing of the Pro zoom is nice if you go out in dusty damp and wet environments. But I never had problems without weather sealing.

I chose this fabulous short tele prime lens in favour to a body upgrade.

Thorfinn said:

The oly 75 is my favorite. It outperforms the 45 1.8. I use it mostly for "candid" portraits not disturbing the scene. It does need some shutter speed to really get all the sharpness. There is a cashback campain running right now.

BUT for indoor lowlight in smaller venues I still prefer the colour rendering of the Zeiss Planar 50 1.7. The Planar is MF only of cause. The modern Zuiko lenses are less lively in colours, so I have to RAW process the shots quite more.

maybee the long Pro zoom can do a similar job, but it is even more expensive. Weather sealing of the Pro zoom is nice if you go out in dusty damp and wet environments. But I never had problems without weather sealing.

I chose this fabulous short tele prime lens in favour to a body upgrade.

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Where is the cash back campaign running?

Pepyn said:

Thorfinn said:

The oly 75 is my favorite. It outperforms the 45 1.8. I use it mostly for "candid" portraits not disturbing the scene. It does need some shutter speed to really get all the sharpness. There is a cashback campain running right now.

BUT for indoor lowlight in smaller venues I still prefer the colour rendering of the Zeiss Planar 50 1.7. The Planar is MF only of cause. The modern Zuiko lenses are less lively in colours, so I have to RAW process the shots quite more.

maybee the long Pro zoom can do a similar job, but it is even more expensive. Weather sealing of the Pro zoom is nice if you go out in dusty damp and wet environments. But I never had problems without weather sealing.

I chose this fabulous short tele prime lens in favour to a body upgrade.

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Where is the cash back campaign running?

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I've seen Olympus run their cash back at all retail outlets at the same time. Right now you can find it at B&H for $100 off.

Pepyn said:

--
Flickr stream at https://www.flickr.com/photos/126284142@N04/

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Pepyn said:

... using both EM10 and EM1 and 12-40 (workhorse), 25 1.8 (love it), 45 1.8 (love it), 17 1.8 (sold it en route, rendered terribly), and 40-150 f4-5.6 (rarely used).

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Hi, I have a question based on your gear and your recent travel experience.

Given a good zoom such as 12-40/2.8, is there a benefit to having the f/1.8 primes in that range (12mm, 14mm 17mm or 25mm)? Is it just the faster aperture? I am guessing that weight wise it is three light primes vs. one heavier zoom.

Would the 12-40mm and 45/1.8 be sufficient in this range for extended travel? Or did you see a situation where the 12-40 wouldn't work but the f/1.8 prime does?

Thanks.

Satyaa said:

Pepyn said:

... using both EM10 and EM1 and 12-40 (workhorse), 25 1.8 (love it), 45 1.8 (love it), 17 1.8 (sold it en route, rendered terribly), and 40-150 f4-5.6 (rarely used).

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Hi, I have a question based on your gear and your recent travel experience.

Given a good zoom such as 12-40/2.8, is there a benefit to having the f/1.8 primes in that range (12mm, 14mm 17mm or 25mm)? Is it just the faster aperture? I am guessing that weight wise it is three light primes vs. one heavier zoom.

Would the 12-40mm and 45/1.8 be sufficient in this range for extended travel? Or did you see a situation where the 12-40 wouldn't work but the f/1.8 prime does?

Thanks.

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Difficult question and many would have different opinions. Depends on your use I guess, if you're looking to be doing a lot of low light work then the 1.8 would definitely come into use but if like me most photography was day time then 12-40 is almost unbeatable as an all round lens, and so sharp. I do admit that I liked the 'look' of the photos coming out of the 25 f1.8 more than those of the 12-40, it renders really nicely and has a nice DoF effect at 1.8. I found for evening/night stuff the 25 was more fun and better obviously being lower light.

You certainly can't go wrong with the 12-40 and 45 combo. I'd say 90% of my shots were 12-40 and I'd have missed a lot of shots if having to switch lenses. Especially at the wider end, 12mm is very useful, 17 was just too tight in narrow streets and for architecture. The 12-40 is also built like a tank, weather sealed, which helps during travel. As you say it's not that light and when I didn't feel like taking a camera but knew I should it was always my EM10 with 25 as a light walk around, also less intrusive for street photography.

Your question is would it be sufficient, I would suggest yes most certainly. There was no situation where the 12-40 didn't work as such due to being 2.8. I did have a TINY little tripod with me in my daypack that I used quite a few times at night to get long exposures (like multiple seconds). Actually in dark places like the cistern in Istanbul, it was awesome to have a tiny tripod!

If you see my flickr, nearly all 12-40.

Pepyn said:

Thorfinn said:

There is a cashback campain running right now.

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Where is the cash back campaign running?

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in the EU it is a chashback: https://bonus.olympus.eu/

in the US there are some discounts and deals:
http://www.getolympus.com/us/en/featured_weekly_deals

http://www.43rumors.com is always up to date with the latest deals, cashback campains and refurb offers.