Jan van't Veld
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What is your opinion of the 8-25 f4 pro lens?
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comment23neo
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Yes! This is a great combo IMO.
dicky109
Well-known member
I have a similar setup and use case as you, except no 12-200.
On a recent trip to New Zealand, I brought the OM-5, OM 8-15, PL 14-140 and OM 75-300. The big lens mostly stayed in the bag and the rest were with the other 2, with the 14-140 being the most used. That said, the 8-25 took a number of shots that would have been impossible with another lens and the quality is excellent!!
I have also used the 8-25 to shoot a friend's wedding without flash or other than room lighting (I'm not a professional) and was very happy with it's performance. It also handles well on the small OM-5.
StevenAdler
Senior Member
I don't have the 8-25 but it looks like a terrific lens. I have had the 12-40 f2.8 for a decade and I love it. While 12mm isn't wide enough all the time, when I need to go wider I just turn the camera into portrait and fire off three shots and stitch them later into a panorama. That's using the same lens as an ultra wide.
Asherax
Leading Member
This is a perfect example of using a quality piece of glass properly and with imagination, and I would add that it's relatively distortion free.. the bonus being, if you use HUGIN, the open source panoramic stitching app available for Linux, Windoze and Mac.... then it is also FREE!I don't have the 8-25 but it looks like a terrific lens. I have had the 12-40 f2.8 for a decade and I love it. While 12mm isn't wide enough all the time, when I need to go wider I just turn the camera into portrait and fire off three shots and stitch them later into a panorama. That's using the same lens as an ultra wide.
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Hugin, is a stand alone panoramic stitching app and by far and away the best available in 2025... save your cash for other equipment, use what you have creatively, and don't for a moment think that just because something is free it is somehow inferior, because in HUGIN's case that is definitively untrue!
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Happy Snapping! and thank you AIGreen for the perfect example of what is possible with a little imagination, and post productive know how.
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Here is a little link to a quick HUGIN tutorial
Photography is poetry made visible; it is the art of painting with light!
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Jan van't Veld
Well-known member
Thank you everyone for the replies to this post!... I hope to receive my copy of the lens tomorrow, and I'm looking forward to trying it out!! 
cr0100
Senior Member
Once you get used to the "uncollapsing" required before you can use it (same as the 40-150 f/4), you'll love it!
Sam Bennett
Veteran Member
Spoiler Alert: You never get used to it (at least, I haven't).
WilyKit
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I didn't think I would but I did get used to it after a whileSpoiler Alert: You never get used to it (at least, I haven't).
Sam Bennett
Veteran Member
I think the problem for me is that I don't use it on a regular basis. I generally only use it while traveling or hiking, which I'm not doing much of these days, sadly.I didn't think I would but I did get used to it after a whileSpoiler Alert: You never get used to it (at least, I haven't).
comment23neo
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I think the problem for me is that I don't use it on a regular basis. I generally only use it while traveling or hiking, which I'm not doing much of these days, sadly.I didn't think I would but I did get used to it after a whileSpoiler Alert: You never get used to it (at least, I haven't).
Sam Bennett
Veteran Member
I don't have a "problem" per se. I think it's a perfectly fine design "compromise" for this kind of lens where compactness while stored is desired. It just hasn't become second nature to me at this point. Maybe if I was bouncing between the 8-25/4 and 40-150/4 it would have sunk in better, but I don't have that one (yet).I’m curious what it is that people find problematic about collapsing designs. I tend to extend it once at the beginning of use and only collapse it when it’s put back in the bag. As I have the camera on a sling strap I only put it away at the end of a session or if I change lenses. I guess it could be a pain if the camera is constantly in and out of a bag.I think the problem for me is that I don't use it on a regular basis. I generally only use it while traveling or hiking, which I'm not doing much of these days, sadly.I didn't think I would but I did get used to it after a whileSpoiler Alert: You never get used to it (at least, I haven't).
I wouldn't discourage anyone from using this lens based on that aspect - as many, many others have said otherwise this lens is fantastic.
James Stirling
Forum Pro
It is just habit once you used the lens for a spell. Though I don't have the 8-25mm yetI’m curious what it is that people find problematic about collapsing designs. I tend to extend it once at the beginning of use and only collapse it when it’s put back in the bag. As I have the camera on a sling strap I only put it away at the end of a session or if I change lenses. I guess it could be a pain if the camera is constantly in and out of a bag.I think the problem for me is that I don't use it on a regular basis. I generally only use it while traveling or hiking, which I'm not doing much of these days, sadly.I didn't think I would but I did get used to it after a whileSpoiler Alert: You never get used to it (at least, I haven't).
I have the Nikon Z 14-30mm which does a similar thing. Like you I would typically only be mounting the lens once in a session. The size of the lens in the bag is what matters and this kind of design save some space.Sam is not alone I have seen a few folk mention this. I think it will be my next m43 lens so we will see if I am eating my words
Skeeterbytes
Forum Pro
For me, primarily as an extra step most noticeable when trying to start up a camera quickly to get a fleeting shot. The menu doesn't display until the lens is unparked.I’m curious what it is that people find problematic about collapsing designs. I tend to extend it once at the beginning of use and only collapse it when it’s put back in the bag. As I have the camera on a sling strap I only put it away at the end of a session or if I change lenses. I guess it could be a pain if the camera is constantly in and out of a bag.I think the problem for me is that I don't use it on a regular basis. I generally only use it while traveling or hiking, which I'm not doing much of these days, sadly.I didn't think I would but I did get used to it after a whileSpoiler Alert: You never get used to it (at least, I haven't).
Reminiscent of my compacts that park the lens powered off, and are quite leisurely in the speed at which they extend before the camera is ready (usually requiring an additional zoom step).
8-25 is quicker for me than the little 12-32, which seems more fiddly and delicate.
Rick
Sam Bennett
Veteran Member
Yeah, I wish they didn't "block" access to the UI (almost) entirely. It makes it harder to put the camera into WiFi mode, for example (you can work around this by going into the menus, but I'm not really used to doing that). If you're just double-checking your shot settings, you'd have to click "Info" to get there. I wish the UI was still "overlaid" with the "Lens is not extended" message in the background.For me, primarily as an extra step most noticeable when trying to start up a camera quickly to get a fleeting shot. The menu doesn't display until the lens is unparked.I’m curious what it is that people find problematic about collapsing designs. I tend to extend it once at the beginning of use and only collapse it when it’s put back in the bag. As I have the camera on a sling strap I only put it away at the end of a session or if I change lenses. I guess it could be a pain if the camera is constantly in and out of a bag.I think the problem for me is that I don't use it on a regular basis. I generally only use it while traveling or hiking, which I'm not doing much of these days, sadly.I didn't think I would but I did get used to it after a whileSpoiler Alert: You never get used to it (at least, I haven't).
WilyKit
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Personally I don't have to collapse it when I put it in the bag, so I only do it when I'm not gonna use the camera for a while, and when I just store it.Yeah, I wish they didn't "block" access to the UI (almost) entirely. It makes it harder to put the camera into WiFi mode, for example (you can work around this by going into the menus, but I'm not really used to doing that). If you're just double-checking your shot settings, you'd have to click "Info" to get there. I wish the UI was still "overlaid" with the "Lens is not extended" message in the background.For me, primarily as an extra step most noticeable when trying to start up a camera quickly to get a fleeting shot. The menu doesn't display until the lens is unparked.I’m curious what it is that people find problematic about collapsing designs. I tend to extend it once at the beginning of use and only collapse it when it’s put back in the bag. As I have the camera on a sling strap I only put it away at the end of a session or if I change lenses. I guess it could be a pain if the camera is constantly in and out of a bag.I think the problem for me is that I don't use it on a regular basis. I generally only use it while traveling or hiking, which I'm not doing much of these days, sadly.I didn't think I would but I did get used to it after a whileSpoiler Alert: You never get used to it (at least, I haven't).
I understand the decision to display that notification, because many new users would be confused why there's no image, but it's really lame not to allow users to disable this notification. They have a million menu items already, and a billion user manual pages, so why couldn't they just add one more menu item?
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cr0100
Senior Member
I remember the first time I rented the 40-150 f/2.8 and accidentally had the focus ring pulled back (MF mode). I'd have LOVED an overlay saying "focus ring is in manual mode" back then!I wish the UI was still "overlaid" with the "Lens is not extended" message in the background.
J4Hug
Senior Member
I have the 7-14 that I purchased when it came out, after the release of the 8-25, I waited almost a year, but the advantages of the lens, lighter, smaller and filter compatible, it was almost a no-brainer once I'd saved the cash. Optically, I think it is as good as the 7-14.
For landscape travel, I use the 8-25, 12-100, 100-400 OMD/Oly lenses, all take the same filters in my case, Maven magnetic filters. Those three lenses cover a massive range and are not too heavy fr a 72yr old. For travel around town, it is good too.
It is also in my bag for wildlife 8-25, 40-150 & Gandalf (150-400) I could have touched the gannet's wing in the first flight image below.
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Jerry
For landscape travel, I use the 8-25, 12-100, 100-400 OMD/Oly lenses, all take the same filters in my case, Maven magnetic filters. Those three lenses cover a massive range and are not too heavy fr a 72yr old. For travel around town, it is good too.
It is also in my bag for wildlife 8-25, 40-150 & Gandalf (150-400) I could have touched the gannet's wing in the first flight image below.
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Jerry
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Sam Bennett
Veteran Member
I have both as well, and go one step further and say it’s actually better optically in at least one way - the 8-25/4 exhibits way less ghosting, which is super important for me since I primarily use this kind of lens outdoors, often with the sun either in the photo or close to it.
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