Reading mode: Light Dark

Weather Sealed Small Pancake Zoom?

Go to last post
fuesting

fuesting

Forum Enthusiast
Messages
348
Reaction score
176
Location
The Steel City, US
Any small pancake zoom that's weather sealed available? No need for wide aperture.

Something in the 12-40mm area but emphasis on pancake.

If there isn't one there should be. Looking to pair it with the OM-3 to be very pocketable.

Thanks!
 
AFAIK no WR pancake zooms, the smallest WR zoom I believe is the 'Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-45mm f4 Pro'.

Size Ø63.4 mm x length 70 mm

Weight [g] 254.00
 
Last edited:
kalisti said:
AFAIK no WR pancake zooms, the smallest WR zoom I believe is the 'Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-45mm f4 Pro'.

Size Ø63.4 mm x length 70 mm

Weight [g] 254.00
Click to expand...
and the cheapest and lightest is the O 12-50mm. The Lumix 12-60mm is splashproof.

A

--
Infinite are the arguments of mages. Truth is a jewel with many facets. Ursula K LeGuin
Please feel free to edit any images that I post
 
Last edited:
ahaslett said:
kalisti said:
AFAIK no WR pancake zooms, the smallest WR zoom I believe is the 'Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-45mm f4 Pro'.

Size Ø63.4 mm x length 70 mm

Weight [g] 254.00
Click to expand...
and the cheapest and lightest is the O 12-50mm.
Click to expand...
Just about to write something similar. Not the best by a long way but apart from the length it's pretty small, light and of course WR. I bought one with my original E-M5... and hated it.
 
Sadly, I actually own the 12-50mm and the 12-45mm f4 is too large for what I'm looking for. In my mind, if I have either of those I might as well use my 12-40 f2.8 as its marginally larger and none of these are pocketable.

This feels like a good opportunity to OM System to refresh the 14-42mm EZ much like they did with the recent 2 primes.

I assume Panasonic has nothing either. Bummer
 
John Bean (UK) said:
ahaslett said:
kalisti said:
AFAIK no WR pancake zooms, the smallest WR zoom I believe is the 'Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-45mm f4 Pro'.

Size Ø63.4 mm x length 70 mm

Weight [g] 254.00
Click to expand...
and the cheapest and lightest is the O 12-50mm.
Click to expand...
Just about to write something similar. Not the best by a long way but apart from the length it's pretty small, light and of course WR. I bought one with my original E-M5... and hated it.
Click to expand...
 
fuesting said:
Sadly, I actually own the 12-50mm and the 12-45mm f4 is too large for what I'm looking for. In my mind, if I have either of those I might as well use my 12-40 f2.8 as its marginally larger and none of these are pocketable.

This feels like a good opportunity to OM System to refresh the 14-42mm EZ much like they did with the recent 2 primes.

I assume Panasonic has nothing either. Bummer
Click to expand...
Get a 12-32mm, a 20/1.7, and a plastic bag? Actually a Ziploc bag for my GM1 is an interesting option.

A

--
Infinite are the arguments of mages. Truth is a jewel with many facets. Ursula K LeGuin
Please feel free to edit any images that I post
 
Last edited:
fuesting said:
...Looking to pair it with the OM-3 to be very pocketable.
Click to expand...
I don't see how an OM-3 is going to be "very pocketable" even without a lens. Have you tried it?
 
David5833 said:
fuesting said:
...Looking to pair it with the OM-3 to be very pocketable.
Click to expand...
I don't see how an OM-3 is going to be "very pocketable" even without a lens. Have you tried it?
Click to expand...
I guess this is somewhat subjective. Maybe based on how big your pockets are hah. There's a joke about deep pockets in there somewhere too.

I think the body with a lens the size of a 17mm f1.8 sits in my jacket pocket just fine. I am not talking about jeans pocket.
 
fuesting said:
Any small pancake zoom that's weather sealed available? No need for wide aperture.

Something in the 12-40mm area but emphasis on pancake.

If there isn't one there should be. Looking to pair it with the OM-3 to be very pocketable.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
My guess is that it is difficult to weather seal a zoom lens that extends from its collapsed pancake position and when zooming, so you may not find one.
 
fuesting said:
David5833 said:
fuesting said:
...Looking to pair it with the OM-3 to be very pocketable.
Click to expand...
I don't see how an OM-3 is going to be "very pocketable" even without a lens. Have you tried it?
Click to expand...
I guess this is somewhat subjective. Maybe based on how big your pockets are hah. There's a joke about deep pockets in there somewhere too.

I think the body with a lens the size of a 17mm f1.8 sits in my jacket pocket just fine. I am not talking about jeans pocket.
Click to expand...
It's not a joke. If you've bought a OM-3 you already proved your pockets are deeper than mine.
 
While it isn't at the image quality of a micro 4/3rds camera, consider getting a TG-7 (or TG-5/TG-6). Its lens is equivalent to a 25-100mm lens on a 35mm film camera, or 12.5-50mm lens on a micro 4/3rds.

Unlike the micro 4/3rds cameras, it is fully water proof (up to 15 meters), and not just splash resistant.

If you feel you need a viewfinder, you can get an add-on loupe like the GGSFOTO S8 3X Optical Magnification Camera Viewfinder that I just bought on ebay for my XZ-2 camera.
 
Last edited:
fuesting said:
Any small pancake zoom that's weather sealed available? No need for wide aperture.

Something in the 12-40mm area but emphasis on pancake.

If there isn't one there should be. Looking to pair it with the OM-3 to be very pocketable.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
If you find one, let me know. I keep my 14-42 EZ on my OM-3 and it works great, but not WR, and not what I would call pocketable. As Michael M. suggests, consider the TG7 for inclement conditions,; very pocketable, very capable, and fun…and cheap. I use mine a lot.
 
fuesting said:
This feels like a good opportunity to OM System to refresh the 14-42mm EZ much like they did with the recent 2 primes.
Click to expand...
I've been thinking the same.
 
fuesting said:
Sadly, I actually own the 12-50mm and the 12-45mm f4 is too large for what I'm looking for. In my mind, if I have either of those I might as well use my 12-40 f2.8 as its marginally larger and none of these are pocketable.

This feels like a good opportunity to OM System to refresh the 14-42mm EZ much like they did with the recent 2 primes.

I assume Panasonic has nothing either. Bummer
Click to expand...
It might be impossible in a removable lens, but having the 25-100 all-internal zoom, like the TG7 is what I would like.
 
I have a TG and have no interest in carrying that around. I was hoping for a weather proof small zoom; not changing platforms completely. Thank you for the suggestion. If I did switch platforms, it would be to something completely different. Weather sealing is just a want, not a need at this point. I have plenty of sealed lenses but none that pair well with the OM-3. I purchased an OM-3 + 12-45mm f4, which is arriving today. I'll consider trying the 12-45mm but was planning on selling it.

I think OM System has a super-mature line of lenses that are almost all stellar. It's rare I don't like a lens. We're really lucky. I do think all other systems have largely caught up. If OM System doesn't have the capacity in capital or talent to create new lenses, then the next best thing is perfecting existing designs by adding features such as IS and weather sealing. The last, worst thing is adapting full frame lenses, which is sadly what I think they're doing. Huge mistake IMO.

Again, I appreciate the recommendations but I was hoping there was an old or maybe a 3rd party sealed small zoom. If the 12-40mm can be sealed, so can a pancake. I think the problem is that m43 users are likely not going to pay a premium for a pancake zoom with small aperture.

Thanks
 
fuesting said:
I have a TG and have no interest in carrying that around. I was hoping for a weather proof small zoom; not changing platforms completely. Thank you for the suggestion. If I did switch platforms, it would be to something completely different. Weather sealing is just a want, not a need at this point. I have plenty of sealed lenses but none that pair well with the OM-3. I purchased an OM-3 + 12-45mm f4, which is arriving today. I'll consider trying the 12-45mm but was planning on selling it.

I think OM System has a super-mature line of lenses that are almost all stellar. It's rare I don't like a lens. We're really lucky. I do think all other systems have largely caught up. If OM System doesn't have the capacity in capital or talent to create new lenses, then the next best thing is perfecting existing designs by adding features such as IS and weather sealing. The last, worst thing is adapting full frame lenses, which is sadly what I think they're doing. Huge mistake IMO.

Again, I appreciate the recommendations but I was hoping there was an old or maybe a 3rd party sealed small zoom. If the 12-40mm can be sealed, so can a pancake. I think the problem is that m43 users are likely not going to pay a premium for a pancake zoom with small aperture.

Thanks
Click to expand...
Give 12-45 a fair chance when you get it! It’s honestly an underrated lens. I actually bought one used for OM3 again. I had one before but gave it away to my brother. I bought OM3 with 17II. I was initially going to use 12-40II I already own, but it was just a bit too large for casual daily carry for me. 12-45 is larger than the tiny pancakes, but the image quality and the zoom range makes up for it and it’s just small and light enough to carry comfortably in my wotancraft easy rider bag that I take everywhere.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top