-
Welcome to the new forums! Please read this first. For known issues we are working to resolve, click here.
Best ‘spirit of mft’ lens
- Thread starter Atho
- Start date
Raises an interesting question as to what the spirit of MFT is.
You might choose the Samyang 7.5mm fisheye, Panasonic 12-32mm or Olympus 150-400mm, depending on the answer.
Andrew
rurikw
Veteran Member
Of my own lenses, I might choose the Oly 9-18. Feather light small and quite capable. At the other end my Panny 45-150 is very compact for a 300mm equivalent lens and also delivers on IQ.
Impulses
Veteran Member
I miss the 9-18 sometimes, I think it's somewhat underrated for what it was... 9-18 + 35-100 f4-5.6 covers a nice little range in a package smaller and lighter than some of the favorite premium zooms. Toss in a 20/1.7 for low light and you're set, that was my kit for a while. Tele primes often lure me away from the 35-100 now tho, not too mention the 35-100 f2.8, and I love shooting wide enough that most of my current ones are larger.
Impulses
Veteran Member
As much as I wanna point to a classic like the 20/1.7, I'd say at this point it's the teles... Take your pick. For most wides you can often find something roughly equivalent and about the same size in other systems and formats, but many of the M4/3 teles are still a pretty unique proposition.
The only way to match the 75/1.8 on a small body is by cropping a shorter equivalent lens (or shooting a much larger combo), which just isn't as enjoyable for some use cases. Nobody makes slower tele primes for other formats anymore, let alone f8 zooms or premium internal f5.6 zooms.
Even the older 10x zooms and stuff like the 100-xxx are lenses there's no equivalent for elsewhere, sure the shooting envelope with them is narrower but they make teles accessible to people and in situations where the larger gear would just be sitting at home IMO. Oly had a bunch of new teles on their roadmap, I'd like to see if OMDS ends up bringing out even a couple of em.
The only way to match the 75/1.8 on a small body is by cropping a shorter equivalent lens (or shooting a much larger combo), which just isn't as enjoyable for some use cases. Nobody makes slower tele primes for other formats anymore, let alone f8 zooms or premium internal f5.6 zooms.
Even the older 10x zooms and stuff like the 100-xxx are lenses there's no equivalent for elsewhere, sure the shooting envelope with them is narrower but they make teles accessible to people and in situations where the larger gear would just be sitting at home IMO. Oly had a bunch of new teles on their roadmap, I'd like to see if OMDS ends up bringing out even a couple of em.
Last edited:
I agree with you on this one. The 45-150mm lens is small, light, inexpensive but a great performer. Lenses like this are a good example of the MFT advantage in terms of size and weight.
Tim Reidy Productions
Veteran Member
- Messages
- 5,302
- Solutions
- 4
- Reaction score
- 1,941
I think the 17mm 2.8 is the spirit of m43
small and mine even ended up lighter after losing a ring.
The other lens is the 35-100 f4-5.6 as it is a compact beast for a telephoto.
all they need is a lens to compete with the pentax 06 lens.
small and mine even ended up lighter after losing a ring.
The other lens is the 35-100 f4-5.6 as it is a compact beast for a telephoto.
all they need is a lens to compete with the pentax 06 lens.
StefanSC
Leading Member
It hits such a great spot of size price and performance.
It also has the perfect aperture for most common use.
On the short list, I would add:
The Panasonic 8-18mm as one of the best behaved UWA I've ever used and a joy to use at less than 400g.
The 12mm f2.0 for it's plain small size (but the price and a few too many compromises for my taste).
Also, the Panasonic 50-200 would make my shortlist but it is a bit too expensive.
The 'other spirit of m43' lens is the 75mm f1.8. Beautifully built, beautiful image but a bit pointless.
On the other hand, in the 'spirit of why are these a thing', the f1.2 primes get a nod and also the 40-150 f2.8 and the 35-100 f2.8.
It also has the perfect aperture for most common use.
On the short list, I would add:
The Panasonic 8-18mm as one of the best behaved UWA I've ever used and a joy to use at less than 400g.
The 12mm f2.0 for it's plain small size (but the price and a few too many compromises for my taste).
Also, the Panasonic 50-200 would make my shortlist but it is a bit too expensive.
The 'other spirit of m43' lens is the 75mm f1.8. Beautifully built, beautiful image but a bit pointless.
On the other hand, in the 'spirit of why are these a thing', the f1.2 primes get a nod and also the 40-150 f2.8 and the 35-100 f2.8.
UrbaneHobbit
Veteran Member
- Messages
- 1,753
- Solutions
- 1
- Reaction score
- 2,545
“Smallness” takes two forms with M43: as small bodies and truly flat-as-a-pancake lenses that in some cases become pants-pocketable, and then on the tele side with very long focal-length equivalent lenses that in some cases still fit inside a jacket pocket.
I suppose one could say that there’s a third form, which is stabilization, which – in both bodies and lenses – benefits from component smallness to provide industry-leading results.
I suppose one could say that there’s a third form, which is stabilization, which – in both bodies and lenses – benefits from component smallness to provide industry-leading results.
brentbrent
Veteran Member
Another vote for the 20. Small pancake, fast, sharp, inexpensive, and among the very first MFT lenses released. No newer lens has replaced it to this day in terms of all of those attributes and a comparable focal length, and it's still being used by many.
Although I'm fine using the bigger MFT gear, I agree with many that MFT's ability to go very small is a unique plus for the system. You can't get much smaller than a GM5 with the 20 mounted (neither the 14 nor the bottle caps can really compare to the 20). My first foray into MFT was a used GF1 with 20mm and 14-45mm. Still have the 20.
I was curious so I looked at DPR's lens listings. Here are all eight MFT lenses announced in 2008 and 2009. Six Panasonic, two Olympus. I'd say that four of them, all Panasonic (marked by me with a blue star) continue generally to be held in high regard today. I guess some would give the Oly 17 f/2.8 a blue star . . . .
How far we've come, and what an amazing array of lenses are available to us today!
--
Brent
Although I'm fine using the bigger MFT gear, I agree with many that MFT's ability to go very small is a unique plus for the system. You can't get much smaller than a GM5 with the 20 mounted (neither the 14 nor the bottle caps can really compare to the 20). My first foray into MFT was a used GF1 with 20mm and 14-45mm. Still have the 20.
I was curious so I looked at DPR's lens listings. Here are all eight MFT lenses announced in 2008 and 2009. Six Panasonic, two Olympus. I'd say that four of them, all Panasonic (marked by me with a blue star) continue generally to be held in high regard today. I guess some would give the Oly 17 f/2.8 a blue star . . . .
How far we've come, and what an amazing array of lenses are available to us today!
--
Brent
Last edited:
Phocal
Veteran Member
Olympus MZ 300mm f4.0 IS Pro
MacOrneille
Forum Enthusiast
- Messages
- 388
- Solutions
- 1
- Reaction score
- 222
Not my absolute favorite m4/3 lens, but in the spirit of the question: the 15mm PanaLeica.
Cool question. Lots of candidates in my view:
20mm f/1.7: still one of the best small primes
14mm f/2.5: still the thinnest real lens for m43
12-32mm pancake: tiny normal zoom
9-18mm Oly: still amazed at how small it is after all these years
12-100mm f/4: not tiny, but there's absolutely nothing in any other system that combines its range and IQ in a weatherproof shell.
20mm f/1.7: still one of the best small primes
14mm f/2.5: still the thinnest real lens for m43
12-32mm pancake: tiny normal zoom
9-18mm Oly: still amazed at how small it is after all these years
12-100mm f/4: not tiny, but there's absolutely nothing in any other system that combines its range and IQ in a weatherproof shell.
rurikw
Veteran Member
Sounds like a great ultra compact setup. There's a GM1+12-32+35-100 in the household. The Ona bag echoes with emptiness unless packed with some non-photo stuff too.
I have 9-18+14-42+45-150+20/1.7+45/1.8. Marvellous to get such range for a relatively modest amount of money and so compact. Would like to complement with a Laowa 10/2 not because I really need it but having a fast UWA could come in handy in the occasional cathedral interior if travel ever becomes an option again.
Martin.au
Veteran Member
Black sheep nomination.
45-175
Or not so black sheep.
12-45 f4.
45-175
Or not so black sheep.
12-45 f4.
jalywol
Veteran Member
As others have said, it depends on whether you are looking for pocketable all purpose, or (relatively) lightweight long tele.
For the former, I would vote the 12-32mm, no question.
For the latter either the Panasonic 100-300mm or the PL 50-200mm with TC (depending on your budget
)
You could argue for the tiny 35-100 f4-5.6, or the pancake primes, too, but I'm not a fan of most of those, personally. I mean, a GM5 with the 12-32 and the 35-100mm is a TINY kit, and I do take it when I want to travel very light, it's just I rarely use the 35-100, preferring the long teles even though they weigh a lot more.
The Panasonic 42.5mm f1.7 is larger than the pancakes, but has OIS and is still really pretty tiny...And the Oly 12mm f2 is tiny and one of my all time favorite M43 lenses....and the Oly 30mm macro is also tiny and a lot of fun....so I would include all three of these as my picks, too.
-J
For the former, I would vote the 12-32mm, no question.
For the latter either the Panasonic 100-300mm or the PL 50-200mm with TC (depending on your budget
)You could argue for the tiny 35-100 f4-5.6, or the pancake primes, too, but I'm not a fan of most of those, personally. I mean, a GM5 with the 12-32 and the 35-100mm is a TINY kit, and I do take it when I want to travel very light, it's just I rarely use the 35-100, preferring the long teles even though they weigh a lot more.
The Panasonic 42.5mm f1.7 is larger than the pancakes, but has OIS and is still really pretty tiny...And the Oly 12mm f2 is tiny and one of my all time favorite M43 lenses....and the Oly 30mm macro is also tiny and a lot of fun....so I would include all three of these as my picks, too.
-J
Last edited:
Barry Twycross
Veteran Member
I'll go for the 12-32. Great lens, tiny, and versatile.
Honorable mentions to to 20/1.7 and the 100-300 (both mkII). The 100-300 is a stupid big tele I actually carry with me because it's tiny (for what it is), the 20/1.7 is there as well as it fits in the spare space next to the 100-300.
Honorable mentions to to 20/1.7 and the 100-300 (both mkII). The 100-300 is a stupid big tele I actually carry with me because it's tiny (for what it is), the 20/1.7 is there as well as it fits in the spare space next to the 100-300.
Not sure if "best spirit of MFT" implies the speed or weight.
So I offer up my Panasonic 12-32mm f3.5-5.6 lens; smaller, lighter at 70g, and better built' but I will give yours faster.
addlightness
Veteran Member
For its audacity to embrace a popular cellphone FL, breaking away from the usual 24mm, 28mm, 35mm efl.
For its IQ, which IMO, ranks amongst the top wide-to-normal prime lenses. The aperture ring is a welcome on Panasonic bodies.
For its IQ, which IMO, ranks amongst the top wide-to-normal prime lenses. The aperture ring is a welcome on Panasonic bodies.
Keyboard shortcuts
- f
- Forum