New to MFT and need lens advice

dlevitt wrote:

CJackJr wrote:

Hi all,

I've been an Olympus 43 owner for many years (see my gear list) and a member of the Olympus SLR forum (although I haven't posted for a while). I recently purchased a Panasonic GX7 with a Lumix G Vario 12-32 lens. I'm quite happy with it and now MUST add to my lens collection. Being new to MFT I have a few questions:

1. Is it worth getting a 43-MFT adapter to use my Oly FT lenses on the GX7? If so, any recommendations?
2. Is there a benefit to sticking with Panasonic MFT glass on a Panasonic camera or do Oly (and other manufacturers) lenses work just fine?
3. Even though I have the 12-32, I'm considering the 12-60 as my "walk-around" lens. (I have used the Oly 12-60 on my 43 gear and really liked its range.) Any thoughts on which 12-60?
4. Lastly, I'd like something longer than the 12-60 to use occasionally for wildlife and candid photos of my grandkids playing. I've been looking at the Lumix 45-175. Any thoughts on that lens or anything else I should consider that is in that general price range?

I'll really appreciate any and all responses to even just one of my questions. I know from past experience that members of these forums have a wealth of valuable information and are more than willing to share advice/opinions. Thanks in advance.

Regards, Conrad

1 - They likely will focus slower on the GX7. These lenses were not designed/optimized for contrast detect autofocus [or the DFD enhanced version]

2. Some features [dual IS; DFD focus; focus stacking...] require matched body and lens brands.

AFAIK, most native M43 lenses would support Panny's version of in-camera focus stacking ( Post Focus) or any of the 4 bracketing modes including focus bracketing. Panny bodies will make use the AF feature of the lens. It is done differently from Olympus.

However, GX7 is not DUAL IS, nor DFD compatible. Since it is not 4K ready, it does not support Post Focus as well. There is only 1 bracketing mode (Exposure) on GX7...

3. You probably would be happier without the adapter for the 'walk around' normal, so the choice would be mostly between the Panasonic and Panasonic / Leica flavors of the lens.

Indeed Olympus M43 lenses also 😀, except for the IS because the IBIS of GX7 is merely nothing.

4. An alternate might be one of the travel zoom lenses, again favoring Panasonic, with in lens image stabilization .

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