If you could only have one prime...

Alex Notpro · Mar 5, 2016

Unless you think it's too big, then consider trading it for a Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 pancake.

The 42.5 f/1.2 is a "better lens" but the FL is not general-purpose.

Any other lens you look at will be slower than f/1.4 and/or not significantly smaller.

Robert Garcia NYC · Mar 5, 2016

Panasonic 15mm 1.7

dscottsatx · Mar 5, 2016

Panasonic 20mm/1.7 first generation.

JohnLock · Mar 5, 2016

nt= no text.

JL

jalywol · Mar 5, 2016

VZA said:
which one would you choose? No zooms. Just one prime to handle all of your shooting needs. Don't factor in price.

I've only shot with the 25mm PanaLeica and I'm very pleased with it. I'm just throwing this out there to see whether I should invest in another or just stay content with what I own. Thanks!

Just buy the Sony RX1RII and be done with it.

Seriously. The beauty of an interchangeable lens camera is that you can pick and choose the optimal focal length lens for whatever subject you are working with. If you use only one focal length, then you really have no need for an ILC, and you would be better served by the best integral body/lens camera you can get that covers your desired focal length.

Since I shoot very long (birds, nature) and very wide (architecture, urban), I would need more than one lens to have a camera that works for me more than 50% of the time. I could probably get by on a 12mm prime and the 100-300mm, if I really had to, but just one lens? No.

-J

Narcosynthesis · Mar 5, 2016

VZA said:
which one would you choose? No zooms. Just one prime to handle all of your shooting needs. Don't factor in price.

Easy, the Panasonic 20mm f1.7

While I will admit it isn't the perfect lens (a mkIII with improved focus speed, internal focus and other minor improvements would be lovely), for me it is still my choice for a general use lens on mft. The focal length I find is a good balance between being wide enough to capture a scene while avoiding the more obvious distortion and look of a wide angle lens that you get with something like a 14mm, the physical size is also nice and neat and handles well whether mounted on a GM1 or any of the larger bodies.

The Panasonic 25mm f1.4 or Olympus 17mm f1.8 would also do a decent job (and in some ways better), but this is still the lens I normally reach for first.

morpheus777 · Mar 5, 2016

If we're talking M43 lenses, Olympus 25/1.8.

DonParrot · Mar 5, 2016

PannyLeica Summilux 25 1.4. Its a true gem and although the Nocticron 42.5 1.2 and the n.Zuiko 75 1.8 are still better, 25mm (µFT) is my favourite focaö length and the Summilux os one of only four lenses in the µFT range poviding an IQ similar to the FT Pros and TopPros instead of prior focusing far to much on sharpness as the designers did when designing the other µFT lenses.

dulynoted · Mar 5, 2016

jeffharris said:
dulynoted said:

jeffharris said:

VZA said:

which one would you choose? No zooms. Just one prime to handle all of your shooting needs. Don't factor in price.

Click to expand...

That's easy.

Voigtländer 17.5mm.

But I prefer two… so, the 17.5mm and Voigtländer 42.5mm. I carry those two most of the time anyway, so it's a no-brainier combo.

Click to expand...

I recently talked to a voigtlander rep. . Even including their m mount lenses they think the 42.5mm is the best lens they have ever made. Just a neat tidbit. I really wanna buy one but I have other things to get first.

Click to expand...

That's interesting. The 42.5mm is probably my favorite lens.

its a darn tempting lens, I will probably buy one this year after I get a new computer.....Im still using a vintage 85mm on an adapter as my portrait lens, even when i speedboost it it is a bit on the long side sometimes. It produces stunning images but it takes more work and the output doesn't have the same rendering as the voigtlanders.

Najinsky · Mar 5, 2016

The Wide Angle Tri-Elmar 16-18-21 F4 (WATE) would be a good general purpose FLs on M43, APS-C and FF. The F4 is a bit small for a single M43 lens but APS-C and FF can compensate for that.

So:

FF : APS : M43

16 : 24 : 32

18 : 27 : 36

21 : 32 : 42

So if I bought an E-M5 Mark 3, Pentax K3 mark 2 and Pentax K1 mark 1, I would chose the WATE, giving me 16, 18, 21, 24, 27, 32, 36 and 42 EFLs.

You didn't say only one body, so I assume multiple bodies is fine.

However, if it were just one body I would probably choses the Pentax K1 (subject to testing) with the:

Medium Angle Tri-Elmar 28-35-50 F4 (MATE).

Problem with that is MATEs are rarer than rocking-horse poo as they have been out of production for many years.

But did I cheat, is the Tri-Elamar prime or zoom? I come from the James T. Kirk school of rule breaking and declare it a Tri-Prime!

-Andy

drcPhoto · Mar 5, 2016

dulynoted said:
jeffharris said:

VZA said:

which one would you choose? No zooms. Just one prime to handle all of your shooting needs. Don't factor in price.

Click to expand...

That's easy.

Voigtländer 17.5mm.

But I prefer two… so, the 17.5mm and Voigtländer 42.5mm. I carry those two most of the time anyway, so it's a no-brainier combo.

Click to expand...

I recently talked to a voigtlander rep. . Even including their m mount lenses they think the 42.5mm is the best lens they have ever made. Just a neat tidbit. I really wanna buy one but I have other things to get first.

Hiphopapotamus · Mar 5, 2016

Well, having shot with the Olympus 12mm F/2, Panasonic 20mm F/1.7 and Olympus 45mm F/1.8. Out of the three I'd probably end up with the Olympus 12mm F/2 as my favorite lens. It's like a precious gem, shiny and beautiful on the outside and sharp enough to cut glass on the inside. It's one of the lenses that says this is why you should shoot with Micro Four Thirds.

dulynoted · Mar 5, 2016

drcPhoto said:
dulynoted said:

jeffharris said:

VZA said:

which one would you choose? No zooms. Just one prime to handle all of your shooting needs. Don't factor in price.

Click to expand...

That's easy.

Voigtländer 17.5mm.

But I prefer two… so, the 17.5mm and Voigtländer 42.5mm. I carry those two most of the time anyway, so it's a no-brainier combo.

Click to expand...

I recently talked to a voigtlander rep. . Even including their m mount lenses they think the 42.5mm is the best lens they have ever made. Just a neat tidbit. I really wanna buy one but I have other things to get first.

Click to expand...

0MitchAG · Mar 5, 2016

The Panaleica 45mm F2.8! I'm not sure I could live without access to the macro world...

TejasRamakrishnan · Mar 6, 2016

If I had the option to carry only one prime in my kit in my life, then it would be the Canon EF 85 mm f1.2 lens . From the feedback I had read about it, and heard from some users, and also the samples, it is a beauty. A bit pricey for my pocket now, though.

Louis_Dobson · Mar 6, 2016

Najinsky · Mar 6, 2016

TejasRamakrishnan said:
If I had the option to carry only one prime in my kit in my life, then it would be the Canon EF 85 mm f1.2 lens . From the feedback I had read about it, and heard from some users, and also the samples, it is a beauty. A bit pricey for my pocket now, though.

You have the option to choose any prime, and choose one you've never even seen?

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Amen

rxbot · Mar 6, 2016

Najinsky said:
The Wide Angle Tri-Elmar 16-18-21 F4 (WATE) would be a good general purpose FLs on M43, APS-C and FF. The F4 is a bit small for a single M43 lens but APS-C and FF can compensate for that.

So:

FF : APS : M43

16 : 24 : 32

18 : 27 : 36

21 : 32 : 42

-Andy

I see (equiv) fl that are most popular as 35mm.40mm and 50mm. Most other choices were portrait. As a 1.5 crop fan looking for walkabout street lens I think of 24 (36),28 (42) and 35(52). But there is a catch to my choice as my DX cam has a in camera 1.3 crop that doubles the focal length I have to think in terms of

24mm >36mm + 48mm

28mm >42mm + 56mm

35mm >52mm + 70mm

To me it is a toss up between the 28 or a 35 but I tend to favor the 28.

katy C. · Mar 6, 2016

I'd Have to agree with Louis the 42.5mm 1.2 Pana/leica,

But in all honesty I do not think I'd survive which just one lens.

Could I choose also the 25mm 1.4 and maybe the Oly 60mm macro

for a longer reach when needed?

katy

horsth · Mar 6, 2016

What else ?!

If you could only have one prime...

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