Lenses for M43

emzee wrote:

justgo99 wrote:

I must ask why you don't want to go for any of the f/2.8 pro lenses? They may cost more ($700+) but they are easily the most versatile, highest performing lenses, especially if you want to do more run-and-gun sort of video. Primes are fantastic, make no mistake, but the pro lenses do wide, they do short tele, they're fast and they're sharp, so it would make sense. They're also weathers sealed if that matters.

I would probably recommend that you steer clear of the superzooms such as the 14-140mm. They may be versatile, but their slow aperture combined with the middling ISO performance of m4/3 means that they won't be very good for low light at all.

The 12-32 is a cracker of a lens for its size, but it has no MF ring and if you were going for such a compact lens then you wouldn't be getting a GX8, a quite sizable camera. As a mid-level zoom, the kit 14-42mm will do a decent job if you want to save more money for primes.

Thanks. 14-140 is now ruled out as I read many issues with that lens. For standard zoom, I am trying to find whether 12-32mm or 14-42mm II or the 14-45mm is the right one. I am planning to use them for sometime and then upgrade to F2.8 zooms later (if needed). The price of these 3 zoom lenses are the same range, but not sure which one to pick. I may not need the 12mm wide end. Other than that is there any advantage to 12-32mm in terms of image quality?

Regards,

emzee

I have the 14-45, and the Panasonic 14-42mm II, the 14-45mm is a great kit lens and can be picked up used at a good price. However I got the 14-42II along with the GX8 and it seems to be very close to the performance of the 14-45mm with the advantages of being smaller and lighter another advantage for the 14-42II is that it is compatible with the dual-IS of the GX8 , the 14-45mm lens is not.