Question on M43

Clayton Jones wrote:

Sorry for the late reply, was gone for a few days.

Thanks for the reply. Since you came from medium format and APS-c, did you notice any image quality issues with M43?

No because I don't make large prints. The only restriction from the smaller sensor is the size of the prints that can be made, and that's partly a resolution issue (16mp vs 20 or 24mp). Other than that, the only IQ issues would come from the ISO/noise/DR arenas and the lens quality. Most of the m43 lenses are excellent to superb, and the newer m43 sensors and processing engines are competitive with APS-C (I use the new G7 and it's a superb camera). So I would say that the print size would be the major concern.

Regarding the Panasonic 14-140, any other options that you can recommend (either a standard zoom or super zoom)? I am not looking for 12-35mm lens from Panasonic as I am not sure whether it is worth.

I've used a number of standard range zooms and my favorite is the Lumix 14-45. It's sort of the Rodney Dangerfield zoom these days because of the newer and more expensive models like the 12-35. But according to my own experience and the slrgear.com interactive resolution widgets for lenses I haven't personally used, the 14-45 is more consistantly sharp across the entire frame than any of the 14-42 models, Oly or Lumix (I had an Oly 14-42 on my first m43 camera that was horrible in that regard). That's important for me because I do mostly landscape work where softer corners can ruin an otherwise good image. But lots of shooters don't seem to mind that and choose the 14-42 II because it's slightly sharper in the center.

The 12-35 is as good or better but it costs 3x as much. I've never found the 14-45 to be inadequately sharp, even for my largest 11x14 prints, and I don't need weather sealing, so I'm not tempted to get the 12-35 (and I often use the lens above 35mm (40-45mm is a great portrait length) and almost never find 14mm to be not wide enough, so the 12-35 range would be restrictive for me. The 14-45 is a winner and many users in this forum speak highly of it. It's my most often used lens and lives on the camera full time, only removed when some specialty lens is needed, such as a fast prime like the 42.5/1.7 for indoor portrait work. I recommend it without hesitation.

Clayton

I have had the 14-45  since getting it as a kit zoom with the G1.

It's got a very nice image quality and I often use it when I must pack a light camera kit.

However, I find it a little slow for indoor work, and some times not as wide as I want, and so I have the 12-35/2.8 as well, and this  gives a 24mm equiv view as well as the ability to get more background separation at the telephoto end.

But I find I'm not ready to give up the 14-45.