Advice on possible zoom lens purchase

traveler_101 wrote:

Ulric wrote:

traveler_101 wrote:

I am looking for a lens for wife's birthday. I don't use zoom lenses with my E-P5 and am not that familiar with the options. She has a E-M10 and started with the kit zoom (14-42 R) which is no longer acceptable to her critical eye. She has been using the 40-150/4.0-5.6 which she likes, but it leaves her without a normal range lens.

I suppose the best solution would be the 12-40 PRO but it's a little too costly. I am in Norway right now so I have to deal with prices here. Anything mail ordered from abroad will be taxed at 25% in addition to other fees.

What about a 14-150 II? Is that an improvement on the 14-42 and as good as the 40-150 in their respective ranges?

If you can think of another solution please let me know.

I don't think the 14-150 is going to improve anything over what she already has. The 12-40 would.

Thanks. I have been gravitating toward this position myself.

I see that you have several primes in your gear list. Have you considered letting her try those?

It's a good suggestion, but so far she has been resistant. I can try again, of course. The problem lies in her own long-standing preferences. Her introduction to photography came during the film era with Nikon fully automatic cameras with built-in zoom lenses. She still has one sitting in a closet somewhere. Even though I think primes are better for a number of reasons, I just want her to be happy. I will probably pick up a 12-40 when I am stateside in November and then she will have a nice Christmas present.

What's the sample variation like on the 12-40.?  I've been buying my lenses locally so I can easily return them if there's a problem.  Out five Olympus lens purchases, I've only had to return one so far, but I prefer to be careful, especially if the lens is expensive.