One prime only, which one?

I have searched the forum and internet and read many posters, I am still undecided yet. Here is my situation: I have zuiko 12-60 + 50-200 swd, plus em1. I never used prime lens before, I was scared about the fixed focal length, and I might not really need one. However, I was recently allured by the prime and I want to buy (only) one prime. It might be stay on em1 for most of time, for low light, for indoor, for family and friend gathering, and etc.

I asked this question in Four Thirds forum, and people recommended oly 17mm and pana leica 15mm (thanks). I read about oly 25mm f1.8, pl 25mm f1.4 (I cannot afford the oly 25mm f1.2, and oly 12mm maybe too wide.)

I compared my old pictures, it seems I liked to use my lenses on either wide or tele side, focal lengths in between are far less used.

I checked price online and local stores (Canada) and they are so expensive. They are also not cheap on eaby.ca as well. I am desperately in needing the input, advice, and suggestion from you, the experienced photographer, to help, and hopefully I can buy one during the holiday with a good deal.

OK, I am going to be shouted down, I expect, but I don't think a prime is the best use of your money for the type of subjects you mention

Even though you could take photos in lower light if you choose one, it will be with the lens wide open and you will lose DOF. For family and groups, you will find that you are stopping it down to keep folks in focus, and will be no better off than you are with your zoom, and are limited in field of view adjustment by how far you can walk forward or back.

For my money you should invest in a decent off camera flash (or two) so that you can bounce flash from different angles and get the lighting you want. Note I am not suggesting using on camera flash, which produces such terrible results that I wonder why anyone uses it.

I am not sure about the Olympus remote flash protocols, but assume that there is some wireless or optical method which allows the off camera flash to be controlled by your body, either through the pop up or another add on.

Just a thought!

tom

You said you used lenses on either wide or a tele side. Any prime will make you have to think differently and when you discover why past masters were partial to them, you'll know you've just discovered a lot more about photography. Even medium format classics, like a Rollei twin lens, would force us to think at a single focal length and the consistency of image character proved incredibly popular, even today. The photographer appeared to know what they were doing. They recognized the potential of what was happening and they knew how their lens would capture it.

Remember the good old days when we took beginner's photography classes? We'd use the most normal prime, an 80mm for 120 or 50mm for 35mm film. It was driven in so we'd be forced to explore the use of a 50mm. There was an incredibly valuable reason for it. The lens was not only more in focus but so was our mind. The most normal lens usually offered more utilization than any other focal length, even zooms since zooms offered less DOF effects, speed or skill development. "Zoom" denotes convenience but for any consistent success, they may require more skill levels than primes. Zooms can lure us into an infinity of options or variations and thence dubious decision making. In the time it takes to arrive at what seems to be the best framing, the spectacle of the photograph could have already vanished. In fact, zooms were taboo in the photography school. 50mm lenses were the best lens to teach photo principles and they could mimic wide or tele if you knew how to position yourself, frame the shot and use aperture and time effects. You won't have much luck shooting panoramic with a tele lens or a portrait with a wide but a 50mm equivalent (Micro 4/3, 25mm f1.8) can make anyone wonder what we used if we learn how to utilize it.

Here's someone to vouch for 50mm!

.http://erickimphotography.com/blog/...esson-can-teach-you-about-street-photography/

tb06mar said:

I asked this question in Four Thirds forum, and people recommended oly 17mm and pana leica 15mm (thanks). I read about oly 25mm f1.8, pl 25mm f1.4 (I cannot afford the oly 25mm f1.2, and oly 12mm maybe too wide.)

I compared my old pictures, it seems I liked to use my lenses on either wide or tele side, focal lengths in between are far less used.

Click to expand...

Using zooms mostly at their wide/tele ends often means that the photographer has two aims in mind:

1. To include everything to the photo (wide end)
2. To include as much detail on a single subject as possible (tele end)

Usually neither of these aims will lead to a more desirable goal: an outstanding photograph.

The good thing with primes is that they force you to look things from a different angle. Instead of replicating an old idea of a good photo in your head, they make you think about different compositions. Therefore, a 20mm, 25mm or 30mm prime could positively change your photography. For me, trying out new things and succeeding is the most rewarding thing in photography.

On the other hand, it might as well be that you simply would not use that prime lens at all.

tb06mar said:

I checked price online and local stores (Canada) and they are so expensive. They are also not cheap on eaby.ca as well. I am desperately in needing the input, advice, and suggestion from you, the experienced photographer, to help, and hopefully I can buy one during the holiday with a good deal.

Click to expand...

Panasonic 25mm f/1.7, Olympus 25mm f/1.8, Sigma 30mm f/1.4 are all quite affordable. Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 and Panasonic Leica 25mm f/1.4 are not terribly expensive either. Sigma 19mm f/2.8 and Sigma 30mm f/2.8 are cheap.

Panasonic 42.5mm f/1.7 and Olympus 45mm f/1.8 are great affordable lenses for portraits and for shallow depth of field.

If you are in doubt, buy a second hand lens from a respectable seller. This gives you an option to sell the lens for approximately the same price as you bought it.

Either 17 1.8 or 25 1.2 PRO.

The 20mm is my most used lens.

If focus speed is important to you I'd go for the 17mm 1.8 instead.

A used voigtlander 17.5 at a good price.

You will either like it and never look back or hate it and will be able to sell it without loss of money.

Have a look at https://www.flickr.com/groups/1920748@N23/pool/. And let the pictures speak for themselve.

Of course this is a specialty manual focus lens, but you will learn a lot and will be rewarded with great images when you learn to use it.

if you don't see the difference between the images of the voigt and the other primes you consider, you are not ready to decide. Then i think it is best to train your skills and vision with the zoomes at the different focal lengths (for instance one fixed length a day, tape the zoom ring).

Steven

...would likely be an old MF lens with appropriate adapter, say OM 50 1.8 with an OM to m43rds adapter. Likely not as sharp as modern lenses, but they can be loads of fun. Also, by slowing the process down, it forces you to be more considerate in making images. If you prefer other brands of lenses, like Pentax, Contax etc... there are a wide variety of adapters available.

Intended to respond to the original poster

--
shinndigg
www.pbase.com/shinndigg

There's a reason that manufacturers make fixed focal length high end full frame cameras with 28 or 35 mm lenses. Because they work in a wide range of situations. Where does that leave us? Anywhere between about 14-20 mm in m4/3 world. The Penny 14 f/2.5, Panasonic Leica 15 mm f/1.7, Olympus 17 mm's, & Panny 20 f/1.7 all fit the bill. Ultimately, the choice is yours. Wider or tighter.

If budget is your primary concern, you can find very good deals on the pana 25mm 1.7. If you need something shorter, the 15mm 1.7 is generally regarded as the superior lens (I haven't used it myself), but you can find pretty good deals on the 17mm 1.8 through the Olympus refurb store when they have a sale there.

tb06mar said:

tb06mar wrote: I was recently allured by the prime and I want to buy (only) one prime. It might be stay on em1 for most of time, for low light, for indoor, for family and friend gathering, and etc.

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My honest answer is that you don't sound like a prime guy.

People who ♥ Prime usually owns several of them. They want maximum IQ and is willing to sacrifice zoom flexiblity @the cost of owning several prime to cover the focal length of a single zoom.

People who want just 1 Single Lens are much better off sticking with a Zoom. Based on your writing, this is clearly who you are. Trying to buy a Single Prime to cover all your photographic needs is a walk down the path of disappointments.

tb06mar said:

I asked this question in Four Thirds forum, and people recommended oly 17mm and pana leica 15mm (thanks). I read about oly 25mm f1.8, pl 25mm f1.4 (I cannot afford the oly 25mm f1.2, and oly 12mm maybe too wide.)

Click to expand...

Prime satisfaction are highly personal by nature. Some people favor 50mm perspective, other swear by the 35mm focal length. Making it worst is that Different System also affect the prime choices differently. For example:

I loved my Nikon 35/1.8 (52mm FF equivalents in 3:2 ratio), but

I dislike my Panasonic 25/1.7 (50mm FF equivalents in 4:3 ratio)

They are mathematically similar, but artistically different enough to me that I strongly love one and dislike the other. Which bought about my point:

don't bother asking opinions, just buy a prime, TRY IT OUT for 2-3 months. Sell the one you don't like and you're end up with your perfect Single Prime.

You can read about my personal journey here:

why I bought PL15/1.7, 25mm is too TIGHT for indoor use

Good Luck. No amount of reading can replace In-Person Experience on ownership.

If you get only one prime, and you're on a budget, get the Olympus 45/1.8.

Hi

I have the Voight 17.5mm, pana 20mm, oly 17 f1.8mm, oly 45mm as well as the 12-40 and 12-32 zooms.

If I had to choose one prime only it would be the Oly 17mm. Followed by the Pana 20mm, and then the Voight 17.5mm, even though the Voight 17.5mm is the best lens by a fair margin and I love it. It looses on convenience only.

You cannot go wrong with either the Oly 17mm or the Pana 20mm. I will be selling the Oly 45mm. Its a super lens in so many ways, it's just that I never use it.

All the best

Berni

tb06mar said:

need one. However, I was recently allured by the prime and I want to buy (only) one prime. It might be stay on em1 for most of time, for low light, for indoor, for family and friend gathering, and etc.

Click to expand...

There is no simple answer and only you know what focal length you use the most.

For example, if I would have to bring only one prime lens with my Pen F, without knowing what exactly I will actually need, I would choose 12mm. I like wide angle very much and 14, 15 or 17mm is simply not wide enought for me. I'm not afraid to crop heavily, if needed.

On the other hand, I often go out in the evening with only the Mitakon 25mm f/0.95. Sort of, because in that case I almost always put the 9mm body cap in the pocket, just in case. Or sometimes 14-42mm pancake zoom, which is also so small that it can be put in any pocket.

Anyway, the whole point of having interchangeable camera is to have more than one lens at hand at any time.

The fact that the only meaningful subject clue you give can be found in "family and friend gatherings" would lead me to say "go wide." I like my 15 1.7 but the 12 or 17mm focal length may suit you better.

tb06mar said:

I have searched the forum and internet and read many posters, I am still undecided yet. Here is my situation: I have zuiko 12-60 + 50-200 swd, plus em1. I never used prime lens before, I was scared about the fixed focal length, and I might not really need one. However, I was recently allured by the prime and I want to buy (only) one prime. It might be stay on em1 for most of time, for low light, for indoor, for family and friend gathering, and etc.

I asked this question in Four Thirds forum, and people recommended oly 17mm and pana leica 15mm (thanks). I read about oly 25mm f1.8, pl 25mm f1.4 (I cannot afford the oly 25mm f1.2, and oly 12mm maybe too wide.)

I compared my old pictures, it seems I liked to use my lenses on either wide or tele side, focal lengths in between are far less used.

I checked price online and local stores (Canada) and they are so expensive. They are also not cheap on eaby.ca as well. I am desperately in needing the input, advice, and suggestion from you, the experienced photographer, to help, and hopefully I can buy one during the holiday with a good deal.

Click to expand...

First, if money is an issue (and when isn't it :-( ) buy used lenses.

If I were to limit myself to only one prime. It would be a 17mm (17.5mm from my current lenses). 25mm is often too narrow out on the street or indoors, while 12mm is a it too wide for general shooting. 17mm gives you just enough wide angle, but not too much.

An experiment. Set one of your zooms at 12, 17 and 25 and spend a couple of days shooting at each setting./ If you must, put some tape on the lens to lock the length. It's instructive and you'll get a real sense of what each focal length is like as you only option.

My guess? You'll like prime shooting. There's something liberating certain limitations. AND leaving behind the constant tinkering with zooms.

Panasonic 15 1.7 would be my choice followed by the 25 1.4. The aperture ring on the 15 makes working with it very easy an fast (on Panasonic bodies). Small, sharp and fast. The 25 1.4 is still a super lens, but the narrower focal length may be more restrictive than you like. It is one of the lenses that I will not trade in.

I like my PL 15mm f1.7. At the moment, it is the one prime I pack in my kit.

Not sure about other smart phones, but if you have an iPhone, and like the field of view from its camera, then you would be in familiar territory with the PL 15mm.

Tom

Get the ZD 150mm f/2.0 and both TC's if you don't already have them. Will be like having 3 amazing and fast prime lenses.

Olympus 17 oder 25 mm (I prefer 25 for 50 mm FF)

Pana 20/1.7 (very fast and small)

My personal feeling however is that a 12-40/2.8 would be very good and much more flexible.

Cheers,

Mattia