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Newbie Olympus Lenses

Started Jan 24, 2017 | Discussions thread
Gary from Seattle Veteran Member • Posts: 7,852
Re: The M.Zuiko 12-40mm F/2,8

If by outdoor and landscape, do you mean you hike? How important is portability to you?

Your choices will also depend on what in particular you like to shoot. For my self, I find the 12-40 is wide enough for most landscape and hiking/backcountry skiing uses and long enough in landscape in many cases depending on the topography. I carry the 12-40 on most hikes (if photogenic), and also carry the 35-100 F2.8 Panny (instead of the 40-150) about 40% of the time. The FL is long enough at 100mm for mammals in nature - unless you want head shots like you can get at the zoo. The far less expensive 35-100 would be a reasonable option as it is supposed to be very good. While the 12-100 is likely to be as good as the 12-40 (except for astro/landscape) the question would be, "Would you always want to carry a lens with that FL on the upper end. My own experience tells me no. You might be different.

I also shoot ultra wide perhaps 10% of the time. For me, because when I shoot UWA, I am likely to go as wide as I can, the 8mm F1.8FE is my choice. It is light, is very wide - 180 degrees - and is great for astro/landscape. By centering the horizon, you will not be able to tell the lens is a FE in landscape - excepting if you shoot around trees. Even then, the FE gives the opportunity for imaginative compositions with a bit of an arty look.

My current camera is the original EM-1 which works well enough for all I shoot (I have 2 of them). The new EM-1 II would excel comparatively for birds/sports. The EM-5II is another good choice.

The only time I need the ultra wide aperture of the FE or the F2.8 of the 12-40 is in astro/landscape. Otherwise, in nature, I never need an aperture wider than F4.5-F5.6. Shooting people hiking at dusk would be different.

 Gary from Seattle's gear list:Gary from Seattle's gear list
Olympus E-M1 Olympus E-M1 II Olympus OM-D E-M1X Olympus Zuiko Digital 1.4x Teleconverter EC-14 Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 75-300mm 1:4.8-6.7 +7 more
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