Question on M43

emzee wrote:

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

Thanks for the suggestions. The Panasonic 14-45mm lens is not a newly releases lens. Is that correct? Any comments on other Panasonic 14-42 lenses?

Also any comments on Panasonic 12-32mm lens?

I got a 12-32 with my GM1. I don't find it's optical qualities very remarkable, it's main feature is it's small size.

My impression is that it's easily damaged, I discovered a small nick in the barrel after a recent low risk vacation trip and found the sharpness somewhat degraded -  the first time that has happened to me since I started in photography in 1972, even with 10 day wilderness canoe trips here and there.

I have since replaced the lens.

Regards,

emzee