Recommend a lens for a GX7 for indoor photos of parrots

Tatouzou wrote:

avianb wrote:

Max Iso wrote:

Grab the Panasonic 30mm macro. It's "faster" at f/2.8 but also has OIS (bc the IBIS in the GX7 is a bad joke), which will help you in lowlight. Birds tend to move intermittently (at least the ones i have had) so it shouldnt be hard to catch them in between movements with a slower SS thanks to OIS.

It's also a macro so you can get close, and it will be very sharp. It's also on sale right now for $300. Set that GX7 in silent mode burst and fire off a ton of shots, you are bound to get a bunch sharp and in focus.

A few people have recommended that lens. I would have thought that this wouldn't work as well in low light compared to the lenses that can open up to wider apertures.

What about the Sigma 30/1.4 Contemporary? Not finding a lot of posts about that here.

I like to take photos of my birds when they are quietly perching but also when they are active. I think the more interesting photos are when they are busy doing something.

IMO, 30mm is too narrow according to your previous posts. It has the same angle of view than 40mm on your Pentax gear.

I suggest you first check with your present gear which focal length would suit you best.

Also note than neither IBIS nor OIS wont work on moving parrots, you will get motion blurr.

IMO f1.4 primes will be much bigger and much more expensive than f1.7 primes for only 0.5 stop extra brightness.

If 25 mm is wide enough, the Panasonic 25mm f1.7 is both the safest and cheapest option.

The 20mm f1.7 will give you a wider field of view and, if you can cope with AFS only, it is a very nice and versatile prime, with outstanding rendering.

If you need wider, f1.7/1.8 is only available in Premium expensive lenses, like the PanLeica 15mm f1.7 or the Olympus 17mm f1.8.

If you want affordable wide primes, I suggest you either the Panasonic 14mm f2.5, which is 1 stop brighter than a f3.5 kit zoom, or the Olympus 17mm f2.8, also 1 stop brighter that a kit zoom zoomed in at 17mm.

All these primes are affordable and can focus quite close, around 20cm. They also will be useful for general photography, beyond your parrots.

Thanks. I've been experimenting with my various lenses to try to figure out what works best.   I do use a range of focal lengths when I take photos of the birds but generally it's about 16mm to 35mm, give or take.  However, it really depends where they are, in cage or out of cage.  I have more space and more flexibility when they are out and away from their cages.   Maybe I should just get a better zoom but when I checked the prices the ones I like are too much money for me.   Would like one that is 1.8  throughout. I don't believe those exist for micro four thirds.  There are some with 2.8 throughout but those are out of my price range.

So I just want a better prime  lens. one that would let me take photos in low light situations, no flash so I can use faster shutter speeds and that is why I've been looking at lenses with 1.4, 1.7, etc. rather than 2.8.  I do realize that  the wider the aperture the more shallow the DOF will be.