Lack of up to date pancakes in M43?

Tom Caldwell wrote:

eques wrote:

James Stirling wrote:

cba_melbourne wrote:

EZGritz wrote:

Interesting POV

Why is it that recently designed and delivered high performing M43 lenses are too expensive, but older, inexpensive M43 lenses are too slow to AF and don't produce high performance results?

It's all relative. The 20mm some describe as slow, actually has a lightning fast AF compared to C&N lenses of 20 years ago . It is also fast compared to 4/3 lenses, the predecessor system to m43.

I have never had any speed issues with the AF of the 20mm { I use AFS though} . It is not as fast as some other m43 lenses, but I would not call it slow . For video it is not the best AF m43 performance for sure

I have been using the mkII since it came almost free with my GX8 and the mk I since I bought my GF1 . For me as well as attracting me to the system in the first place it epitomizes what m43 is all about. I have taken thousands of shots with it in all kinds of situations.

Fully agree after more than 100k photos with it. Still, a new version with up to date AF would be highly appreciated - even if without other improvements like WR.

Peter

This sort of begs the question. Can focus speed be improved with firmware - it probably can and is from time to time? Does a new version labelled as MkII or MkIII, etc actually qualify as a new lens - surely it is just an updated production run of basically the same thing with some improvements (maybe including a physical change to improve focus performance). If so it is not really a new lens - just one modified - such as you might buy the next generation car where they have had the opportunity of a facelift makeover to also squeeze a little more horsepower out of the engine.

Much like that extra horsepower it might be hard to recognise the difference in focus speed in real life use. It does help sell gear though. Despite having a few MkI’s I have found it hard to justify buying a MkII when my MkI seems to be doing a great job.

Some of the MkII lenses just mean that they now can use dual stabilisation because they had some limitation issues with this in the MkI. As far as I know all the Panasonic lenses can have their firmware updated to recognise DFD.

It pretty much has to move the whole lens to focus.  That’s how a fast lens can be small and cheap.  It’s always going to be noisy but you can speed focus lock by prefocussing.  It’s almost second nature, once you are used to the lens.  You can capture running children, providing they run in a straight line and aren’t sprinting.

If you want something fast with better AF, choose a different, larger and more expensive lens.

It’s an iconic lens as far as I’m concerned.

Andrew