Sharpest portrait lens for Olympus Pen F

GaelleK · Jan 4, 2017

Hello,

Well I got an Olympus Pen F for Christmas, and now need a decent lens for it. I am quite picky when it comes to sharpness, from my previous use of prime lenses on DSLRs... My favourite was the Nikkor 60mm macro which I miss dearly. I have tried the Zuiko 25mm 1.8 and was not impressed at all, so sold it immediately. I currently have the 17mm kit lens which really isn't floating my boat either...

I've seen a Panasonic Leica 42.5mm 1.2 had very high praise but the price is really too much...

I'm stuck! Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Jim Salvas · Jan 5, 2017

GaelleK said:
Hello,

Well I got an Olympus Pen F for Christmas, and now need a decent lens for it. I am quite picky when it comes to sharpness, from my previous use of prime lenses on DSLRs... My favourite was the Nikkor 60mm macro which I miss dearly. I have tried the Zuiko 25mm 1.8 and was not impressed at all, so sold it immediately. I currently have the 17mm kit lens which really isn't floating my boat either...

I've seen a Panasonic Leica 42.5mm 1.2 had very high praise but the price is really too much...

I'm stuck! Any suggestions?

Thanks.

If you liked the Nikon 60mm macro, why not try the Olympus 60mm/2.8 macro? It is twice the effective focal length of the Nikon, but it is small, relatively inexpensive ( a little cheaper than the Nikon) and very sharp. As a bonus, you get 1:1 macro capability, which is apparently something you liked or you wouldn't have bought the Nikon lens.

The 60 macro is not a bokeh monster, but with proper selection of background it can make some nice portraits.

Sup Mylo · Jan 5, 2017

GaelleK said:
Hello,

Well I got an Olympus Pen F for Christmas, and now need a decent lens for it. I am quite picky when it comes to sharpness, from my previous use of prime lenses on DSLRs... My favourite was the Nikkor 60mm macro which I miss dearly. I have tried the Zuiko 25mm 1.8 and was not impressed at all, so sold it immediately. I currently have the 17mm kit lens which really isn't floating my boat either...

I've seen a Panasonic Leica 42.5mm 1.2 had very high praise but the price is really too much...

I'm stuck! Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Olympus (M. Zuiko) 45mm 1.8. Probably the best MFT lens in the whole universe without any exaggeration (well, maybe just a little bit). Seriously, it's a very good lens for portraits.

Cheers

Sup

GaelleK · Jan 5, 2017

Astrotripper said:
The Sigma Art 2.8/60 is very sharp. It's actually one of the sharpest lenses in the system. Not gonna offer you the super shallow DoF that Nocticron can, but that Sigma is like $200 or so.

And you can always go for Panasonic 42.5mm f/1.7, a much cheaper and smaller alternative to the Nocticron. Or a bit cheaper Olympus 45mm f/1.8.

Or a Sigma C 30mm f/1.4, which is also a record breaker in terms of sharpness (stopped down obviously) and is a fraction of the price of something like Olympus 25mm f/1.2.

Thank you all for your suggestions. I think I might for the Sigma 30mm or 60mm to start with. I see online that a lot of canon mounts etc. Stupid question : do i need to find one specifying that it has an olympus pen mount or is there another more general mount which would work on my camera? Thank you!

Ulric · Jan 5, 2017

GaelleK said:
I'm stuck! Any suggestions?

Yes. The Olympus 45/1.8 is the one to get. The 75/1.8 is a better lens, but then you'll want the 45 as well.

Androole · Jan 5, 2017

Strictly from a sharpness point of view:

1) Panasonic-Leica 42.5/1.2

2) Olympus 75/1.8

3) Sigma 60/2.8

4) Everything else...

The Sigma is the clear bang for buck winner, but can't produce the images that the other two can.

The Panasonic 42.5/1.7 or the Sigma 30mm/f1.4 (stopped down slightly) would probably be the next options I would pick.

Androole · Jan 5, 2017

GaelleK said:
Astrotripper said:

The Sigma Art 2.8/60 is very sharp. It's actually one of the sharpest lenses in the system. Not gonna offer you the super shallow DoF that Nocticron can, but that Sigma is like $200 or so.

And you can always go for Panasonic 42.5mm f/1.7, a much cheaper and smaller alternative to the Nocticron. Or a bit cheaper Olympus 45mm f/1.8.

Or a Sigma C 30mm f/1.4, which is also a record breaker in terms of sharpness (stopped down obviously) and is a fraction of the price of something like Olympus 25mm f/1.2.

Click to expand...

Thank you all for your suggestions. I think I might for the Sigma 30mm or 60mm to start with. I see online that a lot of canon mounts etc. Stupid question : do i need to find one specifying that it has an olympus pen mount or is there another more general mount which would work on my camera? Thank you!

For Micro Four Thirds mount. Sometimes abbreviated to M4/3, or MFT, or M43.

Here you go:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/918895-REG/sigma_60mm_f_2_8_dn_lens.html

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/918905-REG/sigma_60mm_f_2_8_dn_lens.html

Your choice of black or silver.

Davud · Jan 5, 2017

Take a look at this. Shot with Oly 45mm 1.8 @1.8

see at 100%

My only complaint with the lens is rather high CA in out of focus, contrasty areas when shot wide open.

--

500px

500px.com

captura · Jan 5, 2017

Astrotripper said:
captura said:

Astrotripper said:

captura said:

Sigma knew that is where most of their sales would go. ( the Sony bodies.)

The same was also true for the older Sigma f2.8 lenses of 19, 30 and 60mm variants.

Click to expand...

Two of which were lenses originally designed for their DP compact cameras, tweaked for mirrorless. So hardly designed specifically for Sony bodies.

Click to expand...

Nonsense. I've had years of experience with some of these lenses. I've seen the data; I could find it again if I really want to dig deep for it, but is it really worth my trouble?

Click to expand...

You're right. Only the 30mm looks like a modified optical formula from DP2M (the front set of lens elements seem to be identical, the difference is after the first ED element). The 19mm looks like a completely different design.

Thanks. The Sigma 60 arrived a few years later in the newer 'ART' style. It is super-sharp and gets the same sharpness ratings as the new Sigma 30/1.4 C lens.

Sergey Borachev · Jan 5, 2017

Androole said:
Strictly from a sharpness point of view:

1) Panasonic-Leica 42.5/1.2

2) Olympus 75/1.8

3) Sigma 60/2.8

4) Everything else...

The Sigma is the clear bang for buck winner, but can't produce the images that the other two can.

The Panasonic 42.5/1.7 or the Sigma 30mm/f1.4 (stopped down slightly) would probably be the next options I would pick.

Agree and I base my opinion on Lenstip reviews which I trust. However the actual difference in sharpness between these 3 lenses are miniscule and therefore negligible, as sample variation and other variables will affect results more.

So, the decision should consider how much do you want to spend on this one lens? The Panasonic 42.5mm f/1.2 is roughly twice as expensive as the Olympus 75mm, which is roughly twice as expensive as the Olympus 45mm f/1.8, which is pretty good as an all-round capable portrait lens and which is again roughly twice as expensive as the Sigma 60mm.

pdk42 · Jan 5, 2017

Donald B said:
Sounds like user error to me .

Cheers Don

Androole · Jan 5, 2017

Sergey Borachev said:
Androole said:

Strictly from a sharpness point of view:

1) Panasonic-Leica 42.5/1.2

2) Olympus 75/1.8

3) Sigma 60/2.8

4) Everything else...

The Sigma is the clear bang for buck winner, but can't produce the images that the other two can.

The Panasonic 42.5/1.7 or the Sigma 30mm/f1.4 (stopped down slightly) would probably be the next options I would pick.

Click to expand...

Agree and I base my opinion on Lenstip reviews which I trust. However the actual difference in sharpness between these 3 lenses are miniscule and therefore negligible, as sample variation and other variables will affect results more.

So, the decision should consider how much do you want to spend on this one lens? The Panasonic 42.5mm f/1.2 is roughly twice as expensive as the Olympus 75mm, which is roughly twice as expensive as the Olympus 45mm f/1.8, which is pretty good as an all-round capable portrait lens and which is again roughly twice as expensive as the Sigma 60mm.

Absolutely. It's splitting hairs in the end (perhaps literally?) and is a testament to the overwhelming cost associated with diminishing returns in the world of photography.

Tim Reidy Productions · Jan 5, 2017

micro four thirds mount , sigma sometimes sells refurbished cheaper on their site.

Denis 007 · Jan 6, 2017

GaelleK said:
Hello,

Well I got an Olympus Pen F for Christmas, and now need a decent lens for it. I am quite picky when it comes to sharpness, from my previous use of prime lenses on DSLRs... My favourite was the Nikkor 60mm macro which I miss dearly. I have tried the Zuiko 25mm 1.8 and was not impressed at all, so sold it immediately. I currently have the 17mm kit lens which really isn't floating my boat either...

I've seen a Panasonic Leica 42.5mm 1.2 had very high praise but the price is really too much...

I'm stuck! Any suggestions?

Thanks.

The Panasonic Lumix 42.5mm f/1.7 is an excellent lens regarding sharpness and contrast wide open. It's light, compact and stabilized too.

amipal · Jan 7, 2017

The Sigma f/2.8 60mm is a very sharp lens, and renders out of focus areas beautifully. Check out some examples over on Flickr (though you'll want to make sure you're viewing m43 bodies, so ignore any Sony ones!).

I'm also on the look out for a portrait lens, having just sold my Oly f/1.8 45mm. My intention was to purchase the Lumix f/1.7 42.5mm with the funds, but this thread has me seriously considering the Sigma.

Regards,
Paul

obsolescence · Jan 7, 2017

I doubt that sharpness is the main criterion for selecting a portrait lens. Central sharpness is easy to attain with any decent lens. Other characteristics of imaging and functionality are more likely what I would look at. For imaging, view samples. For functionality, determine what's most important for your working methods and preferences.

If you're willing to practice manual focusing, don't rule out adapted MF legacy lenses such as Contax-Zeiss, Nikon, and Voigtlander -- they can produce some very pleasing portraits, and they're reasonably priced on the used market.

Consider how much of the frame you want to fill and how you want to render the physiognomy of your subject before choosing a focal length. For example, a tight head shot and/or a subject with a big nose or other protruding feature might benefit from the use of a somewhat longer lens, which also could provide more isolation from the background. For most individual portraits, I suggest a range of 25-75mm max, 30-60mm sufficient on MFT.

addlightness · Jan 7, 2017

amipal said:
The Sigma f/2.8 60mm is a very sharp lens, and renders out of focus areas beautifully. Check out some examples over on Flickr (though you'll want to make sure you're viewing m43 bodies, so ignore any Sony ones!).

I'm also on the look out for a portrait lens, having just sold my Oly f/1.8 45mm. My intention was to purchase the Lumix f/1.7 42.5mm with the funds, but this thread has me seriously considering the Sigma.

What's wrong with your 45/1.8?

I have both the 45/1.8 and S60/2.8. The 45/1.8 when I really need the 1+ stop (difference between ISO1600/3200) for indoors basketball events. I don't use the S60/2.8 much but it's indeed a sharp lens with a different color rendition. I'm planning to replace it with a 75/1.8, again for tighter indoors basketball framing.

amipal · Jan 7, 2017

addlightness said:
amipal said:

The Sigma f/2.8 60mm is a very sharp lens, and renders out of focus areas beautifully. Check out some examples over on Flickr (though you'll want to make sure you're viewing m43 bodies, so ignore any Sony ones!).

I'm also on the look out for a portrait lens, having just sold my Oly f/1.8 45mm. My intention was to purchase the Lumix f/1.7 42.5mm with the funds, but this thread has me seriously considering the Sigma.

Click to expand...

What's wrong with your 45/1.8?

Nothing really - certainly served the need at the time. But I fancied the OIS and closer-focussing distance of the Lumix lens.

addlightness said:
I have both the 45/1.8 and S60/2.8. The 45/1.8 when I really need the 1+ stop (difference between ISO1600/3200) for indoors basketball events. I don't use the S60/2.8 much but it's indeed a sharp lens with a different color rendition. I'm planning to replace it with a 75/1.8, again for tighter indoors basketball framing.

I've been impressed by the examples I've seen. Despite being "only" f/2.8, it seems the ideal focal length for some very nice portraits!

Cheers,
Paul

traveler_101 · Jan 7, 2017

Voigtlander 25/0.95 is very good. Manual focus. Shoot wide open for portraits and stop down for exquisite sharpness. Wish i could afford one. Here:

Pardon Our Interruption...

captura · Jan 7, 2017

amipal said:
The Sigma f/2.8 60mm is a very sharp lens, and renders out of focus areas beautifully. Check out some examples over on Flickr (though you'll want to make sure you're viewing m43 bodies, so ignore any Sony ones!).

I'm also on the look out for a portrait lens, having just sold my Oly f/1.8 45mm. My intention was to purchase the Lumix f/1.7 42.5mm with the funds, but this thread has me seriously considering the Sigma.

Regards,
Paul

Donald B · Jan 7, 2017

pdk42 said:
Donald B said:

Sounds like user error to me .

Cheers Don

Click to expand...

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